The Spotify playlist "Making Waves featuring music from the Gulf Coast" shares some of the amazing music being made from New Orleans to the Florida panhandle. Have a listen while you read the fifth article in the series showcasing one of its talented artists!
https://open.spotify.com/user/1227151884/playlist/5iz5WSw4rC6TUgpACZPyI5
Today the spotlight is on Joe Sims from the Big Easy - New Orleans, Louisiana. Joe contributes three bluesy soulful tracks to the playlist, "NOLA", "Run Away Girl (Forget About Me)", and "Alone".
Joe's music has been strongly influenced by his years in New Orleans, adding distinctive flavor to his tracks. "I was born on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain in Slidell. Through the years, I have lived, worked, and attended school in New Orleans. My band, The Huey P's, had a regular gig 3 times a week on Bourbon Street for years. I would say that 39 of my 41 years have been in the New Orleans area. There is no denying the uniqueness of the music gumbo here... every style represented. Rock, Jazz, Blues, Fusion, Country, R&B, Hip Hop are usually thrown in a pot to create a new delicious creation. Specifically, on guitar, I love to sometimes borrow the rhythm of a brass band for phrasing guitar licks. Most vocalists around here begin to take on a smooth, but rhaspy tone over the years."
"NOLA" is a prime example:
Joe was surrounded by music growing up and started playing piano at a young age.
"I grew up in a family where music was important. My Mother and Aunt Mary both play instruments and have beautiful voices, and their Dad played bass on the Louisiana Hayride radio show with Hank Williams Sr and other big names. As a child, I began with classical piano, then saxophone, followed by guitar at 13 years old. I also attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on a vocal scholarship before switching majors. I have been playing professionally in the Greater New Orleans Area since the age of 18."
Although Joe has been a professional musician most of his life, songwriting is a relatively new passion for him.
"Over the years, I did write a few songs. However, I didn't feel like I was any good at it... I began seriously writing again in 2016. I think there are many reasons for this; my daughter's birth, my father's death, and my experiences as a registered nurse since 2006 being a few of them. I honestly think one of the biggest reasons is because I have somewhere to do it. We bought a new house in the summer of 2016 and had an extra bedroom. I have always wanted a music room and home recording studio and the extra space gave me that opportunity. There is definitely something about having a space to create where all of the instruments are readily available and having a way to record ideas that has fueled the explosion in my songwriting."
In studio, Joe prefers to release his tracks as singles, saying "I haven't talked myself into the need for an album. Streaming and singles seem to be the way of the future."
As an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, he plays most of the instruments on his tracks, with his bandmate of 16 years, Doug Stepanek, on bass. In Joe's words "Doug ... plays bass on the overwhelming majority (because he is a better player)."
Joe is inspired by many artists along the Gulf Coast and is enthusiastic about the music community here. "I know there are definitely quite a few talented people on the gulf coast! I have ... met quite a few recently on this journey that has been amazing. I am honestly excited about us adding to that community!" A few local artists he especially admires are Samantha Fish, Amanda Shaw, and Tab Benoit.
Joe can be seen playing in New Orleans regularly with his band, the Huey P's, and will be featured in an upcoming Making Waves showcase in Mobile, AL, along with Adam Schrubbe and Gravity Blinks, bringing the music from the playlist to life.
For more information about Joe and how to see him play live, visit his website here
http://www.joesimsmusic.com
or follow him on Facebook here
http://www.facebook.com/joesimsmusic
Feeling more social? Here are a few more links to connect with Joe.
http://instagram.com/joesimsmusic
http://www.twitter.com/joesimsmusic
http://bit.ly/youtubejoesims
http://bit.ly/applejoesims
http://bit.ly/spotifyjoesims
Cheers and happy listening!
by
Rhonda Huete
http://www.rhondahuete.com
http://www.facebook.com/rhondahuetemusic
