Joesef arrived as a fully-formed recording artist straight from his bedroom in Dennistoun. Earlier this year, he became the second artist to sell out King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut before releasing any music online (the first was Lewis Capaldi).
What we didn’t know at the time was that was also his first proper gig. His debut single was released around the same time. The delicate, catchy and soulful track, Limbo, announced the arrival of a songwriter layering Motown grooves, hip hop beats and jazz guitar under precise, ethereal vocals.
Joesef is originally from “Gartharmlock, Easterhouse way. It was always a bit colourful. Never a dull day getting the bus home from school.”
He now lives on Alexandra Parade. “I like to go into town and get on it with my pals. Glasgow is amazing. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else”.
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“Everything you hear has happened to me directly” he says about his music, a declaration of intent for other songs that are ready to be heard.
Second single Loverboy was released this week.
If you are quick you might be able to buy tickets for his Summer Nights gig at King Tut’s in August that went on sale this morning.
Glasgowist called Joesef for a chat.
The first single, were you pleased to start getting some music out there?
We had the song for a year and it was always my favourite tune. It was a very strange feeling. It’s such a personal tune. I felt like I was telling everyone my secrets, so it was a bit weird. Everything was really positive after that.
What about playing King Tut’s, was that a personal ambition?
I didn’t really know much about the Glasgow music scene. I didn’t really go to gigs. My management suggested it but I wasn’t really that bothered at first. Obviously I got more into it, found out Oasis had played there. Selling it out before putting any music out was very cool.
If it wasn’t from going to gigs, what made you choose music?
I’ve always loved music. Always loved tunes. My mum would have it on in the house all the time but I didn’t really see it as a career path for me. I didn’t want to be a singer. It wasn’t till I did a bit of singing at school and then I met my manager at an open mic night. I was pretty mad with it and I went up and did a song on the guitar and he said “you could be a singer if you wanted to”. Other people’s reactions made me think this was possible.
How much of the music is you when you are recording?
I do everything myself. I make all the tunes in my flat. I can plug my guitar into my laptop and use drum machines. I write it all myself. Produce it and mix. I’m a bit of a control freak anyway so I don’t think I would let anyone do it for me.
What’s the plans for releasing more tracks?
I feel like all my stuff is autobiographical so if things are happening I tend to write in bursts and then there are some weeks that I just can’t write anything.
I’ve got a project, an EP coming in August. I’m very committed to a body of work, not just singles. I write about stuff that happens in my life, so there will be them kind of stories, like Limbo and Loverboy. Hopefully an album next year.
What about performing?
We’ve just announced King Tut’s later in the summer. Then some select shows. I’m just trying to establish myself this year, then hopefully bigger venues next year and festivals and shit. Carve a bit of space on the ground for myself and then next year smash it.
After writing about Limbo being released I was at the bar in Saint Luke’s and I heard it being played there, it had not been out that long. It was good to hear it start to permeate its way around Glasgow. Did you have any moments like that?
Well, even just the first show at King Tut’s was wild. Limbo has a bit of a big chorus and I wasn’t expecting the crowd to respond like that. I felt like I was being hit by a train.
The single had only been out for a week and everybody was belting it back. I’ve been in H&M and it’s been playing. I’ve been in Cineworld in Glasgow and it’s been playing. Annie Mac playing it on Radio One. It’s still heavy weird hearing it.
What’s the story with the second single?
Loverboy is about me going to my first gaff party after I split up with my ex. He was there. It it about how you try to pretend you’re cool and the bit of bravado that comes with that but you are really just a mad steamin’ mess. That’s what it is. Because it kept happening, I kept going to places and he was there…. That’s the premise of the story.
Are you drawn to particular emotions when you write – Limbo has this uplifting melody and catchy feel but it’s dealing with heartbreak.
Aye. I don’t know, man. I feel like it’s getting something good out of a bad situation. That’s what I was thinking about at Tut’s – people taking their t-shirts off and dancing to these tunes that I’ve been sitting in my gaff crying about [laughs].
Are you more attracted to the live performance side of things now after that?
I feel like I was shitting myself a bit because I’d never really played live like that before. I thought this would kind of make me or break me. I never really thought about the live thing that much but it’s the best feeling ever. Like a pure clean high.
Now I know I want to keep doing this for the rest of my life.