Meet Joi Harper | Composer, Vocalist, and Teaching Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joi Harper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joi, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in Portsmouth, Virginia, a city that is part of the larger area known as Hampton Roads or the “757.” I didn’t know this growing up, but many musical artists come from the area. Think Ella Fitzgerald, Pharell Williams, Victor Wooten, and Missy Elliot who just had a street named after her near where I grew up. But I didn’t actively think about the culture I had around me growing up. Actually, for a lot of my more formative years, I was separated from that culture. One thing that I had going for me was that my parents always encouraged me to go for my dreams. It was never a question of if success in the field of music was possible, but instead, what is success to you and how is that going to happen? So at 18 when I suddenly flipped from the idea of pursuing a career in medicine to a career in music, my parents didn’t stifle that dream. That support from my family has made it possible to sustain momentum, even when other people doubt what I do with my life. It really helped me learn that I get to pick who I surround myself with, and it is with my current community and network that I feel capable of creating and practicing my artistry.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I view my music differently than many I know in the classical music world. As a child, I was surrounded by such a variety of musical styles, that though I lean into Western instrumentation, I tend to stray from the traditional sounds of Western Classical Music. I think of all musical styles as fair game, and try to incorporate as many different sounds as I can. This flexibility around style and genre allows me to use different sounds as creative devices, helping me create stories with my music. I truly feel like every time I write music, I am becoming more of myself and I’m excited by how much I learn about myself as an artist. Once I got to college, I took a rather traditional root to being a composer, going through both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Composition. But my musical upbringing before college is what created a challenge for me. I grew up playing many instruments, but I never heard anyone mention the idea of being a composer in the 21st century until the end of high school. It took me years to figure out what that could mean and led me to try to separate myself into these individual pieces, one of a songwriter, and one of a composer. And it didn’t help being the only black composer in the room for most of my training. In fact, that solitude is what forced me to find composers around me in all different genres and from all different backgrounds. My experience as a black composer has given me a unique lens on music and how it relates to the world. I’ve come to realize that imperative to my artistry and creative process is a sense of honesty about what is happening in the world. Seeing the world and the various experiences that we have as humans, fuels my need to tell stories about our unique experiences.
I’ve had to unpack the traditional idea of what it means to be a composer, and that process has set me free to be exactly who I want to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you come to visit me in Boston there are so many amazing things to check out. For outdoor adventures, we’d check out the Arnold Arboretum or the Charles River Esplanade, both beautiful places for a walk to clear your head. For a fancy eat, we’d head to The Pearl in Dorchester or my favorite restaurant Shaking Crab for a delicious Cajun crab feast. I love to enjoy a show at the House of Blues or City Winery. There are just so many places to see!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that have brought me to where I am today. My first mentor and composition teacher, Dr. Michael Nickens showed me how important I am and why my work is important to the world. My grad school composition teacher and mentor, Kate Pukinskis helped me not only find my stride as a composer, but also as a new adult just trying to figure life out. Of course, my parents provided such a supportive environment that allowed me to grow from a young age. And my spouse, bassist, John-Marc Diner has supported me every day musically and personally in such amazing ways. Most recently, in Boston, I’ve found two amazing homes through Community Music Center of Boston and its executive director, Lecolion Washington, and Castle of our Skins and its executive and artistic director, Ashleigh Gordon, both people who have shaped and challenged the way I see the world in incredible ways. I have such an amazing village with so many more people, and I truly wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am without them.

Website: joiharper.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayo_its_joi/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joi-harper-8706b5188/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joiharpermusic

Image Credits
Headshots (in the blue blazer) by Taylor Rossi Singing shot (elephant earrings) by Gabriel Rivera