Meet Joshoo | Artist and Producer

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

Hi Joshoo, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I have really prioritized conquering my fears in both my life and career. I have found the vulnerability and bravery required to conquer fears is the the lifeblood of being an artist… and I believe if you’re not able to lean into risks and uncertainties there’s no future for you as an artist! I pivoted my career 2-3 times in my 20’s when I realized that I had started prioritizing a false sense of safety over my personal growth and self discovery…which was really hard and scary! That’s how I went from being a jazz musician, to a sideman to a producer and artist. So far, I have only been rewarded for taking risks.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
From the time I was a child playing music, I’ve prioritized finding as many ways to create feelings and emotions with music as possible. That’s why I’ve had so many careers in music already just in my 20’s. I am a jazz musician, and love playing in small clubs, I’ve written orchestral music for short films, I toured for years in a party/rock band. My last tour was with art-rock legend Peter Gabriel playing arenas and stadiums. I’m obsessed with electronic music and make all of my music on my computer.

The music I make is all about the combination of these elements to create something new that melds these feelings together. What would this indie/dance track sound like with a horn section? What if I added strings to this hipster slow jam? The endless possibilities keep me endlessly excited.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a native Californian, my favorite things in California are the nature and food. One classic tourist day that I’ve done is a day at the beach in Malibu (maybe Point Dume or one of the hidden beaches a little south of that?), with a lunch stop at Malibu Fish Co right on the coast. Driving along Highway 1 all the way up to Santa Barbara always makes me feel so grateful to live here after spending 10 years on the East Coast. My friends all know I basically eat my way Thai Town; fav everyday spot is probably Luv2eat Thai but Sapp Coffee Shop is super lowkey and Night + Market Sahm in Silver Lake never misses.

Chengdu Taste (Chinese) in San Gabriel Valley or Elena’s (Armenian) in Glendale after a day in Huntington Gardens. Late-night treks through the Valley looking for tacos after sunset in the Hollywood Hills. Taiwanese food at Joy in Highland Park and then a show or bar crawl on Figueroa? These are some of my go-to’s but every neighborhood has so much to offer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to send a shout-out to my Godfather, composer/arranger Michael Miller! When I fell in love with playing music and the trumpet (my first instrument) from a very early age, he dedicated so, so much time and love to mentoring me. He is a great trumpet player, and used to play duets with me every day. Not only did he help instill a very high level of discipline in me from a young age, he also connected me with so many other mentors as my interests expanded. Being introduced to older session musicians, master improvisers, classical virtuosos and composers did so much to give me the feeling that music is an endless platform for expression. This is the biggest joy for me about being an artist, and I’m happy to send Michael (or Mickle as we call him) this shout out!

Instagram: @its_joshoo

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

Youtube: @joshoo73

Other: TikTok: @its_joshoo

Image Credits
Photographers: Aaron Rapoport, Nikola Stajic, Tony Levin, Michael Wooten