Joe Marson – Lost in the Sun

By starrymag | August 8, 2017

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Electric Soul Magic

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Jeff Buckley, Jimi Hendrix, the Chili Peppers, Ben Harper and Bobby McFerrin. These are all my soul animals. The thing these artist have in common is they are all bit hard to describe because they pull from a lot of different genres. They sort of pick out the soul from different walks of life and combine them to make their own thing.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Lost in the Sun.”

 

A) I wrote the song about my six-year battle with crippling depression that I experienced in my teens into my mid 20’s. I was held back from going after my dreams of playing music and felt very distanced from my friends and family. I eventually could not take care of myself and was very close to ending my life before finding the right combination of things that literally brought me back from the dead; and made me stronger than I have ever been. I know the analogy of a Phoenix rising from the ashes is an oft used one, but that is an accurate description of my experience. I am huge advocate for mental health and although I don’t feel like I am fighting for my life anymore, I will be managing my depressive tendencies for the rest of my life.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I think everyone has experienced some amount of darkness in varying degrees.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) I am constantly examining my creative process. As time goes on, I feel like I have a better ear for what moves me and what is true to me. Thus, writing with a stronger sense of self. It’s a journey I have been on since I was fourteen years old and one that I will continue down for the rest of my life. I think my biggest accomplishments as a musician can be found in certain parts of certain songs, the ones that I can’t wait to get to when I am playing them live or hear back on a recording. They are rarer than I’d like, but I’m pretty critical of myself, for better and sometimes worse. 

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I produce all of my last record and all of this one too…I have both hands firmly in it!

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Joe Marson performance?

 

A) Someone meeting everything out, not holding back and strange stage banter in between.

 

Q) Which songs of the EP are you most looking forward to performing for an audience?

 

A) “This is Magic” hits pretty hard. [smiles]

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) Well, one of them was just last year. I played my favorite venue, Rockwood Music Hall, and sold out the big room, which has been a goal of mine since I got to New York City three years ago. Not only that but the show itself was a magical experience…The stars were just aligned for us that the band that night.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Instagram has been very great for me. I’m now up to 13K followers and a lot of them have been coming to shows, buying music and spreading the word.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Thank you for listening and every time you share my music a unicorn smiles down from its heavenly rainbow.