“Life is so much better when you smile” – Joonie

“My audience is anyone who enjoys a great love song and great vibe”

– Joonie

You’ve done a fair bit of touring, how does it feel to play a love show in front of thousands of people?

I’ve done quite a bit of performing both as an artist and as a musician for other artists. There’s the adrenaline rush, energy and excitement that comes while doing the arena shows for thousands, and then there’s that warm feeling in an intimate setting when you can literally feel the audience savoring the emotion of each song. Both are equally amazing experiences.

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“I feel as if the melodies are always in the sky to pull from when needed”

– Joonie

What is it that motivates you to create, and if you’ve experienced a ‘creative block’, how do you typically combat that?

I’m usually motivated by what’s happening around me or a fantasy of how I’d like things to be. I’m always feeling creative so I’ve never experienced creative block but I have experienced writers block. When this happens I move to another song or step away and do something that usually non-music related to clear my head and then try again later.

Can you describe your creative process; do you have any processes or customs that you apply to each project?

My creative process changes often. Sometimes I’ll grab a guitar and just right what’s on my mind or play around a voice memo I may have recorded earlier on my phone. Other times I’ll create a music track, grab a microphone and sing “gibberish” until a melody sticks. Then I’ll write the lyrics. The process varies.

You’re known for your guitar and piano skills. What other instruments can you play?

I play anything that’s put in front of me enough to get the point across on record but I’m most fluent on the piano. The piano is my mental therapy buddy. It’s an instrument I can bring my problems to, swim in a melody and walk away feeling refreshed.

You’ve got quite a back catalogue… is there a track/ project you’ve written that you’re particularly proud of, or has special meaning for you?

Acoustic Love (2010), Contrast (2014) and Yellow Dust (2020) are all albums I’m proud of. At some point in my life I really became infatuated with the idea of self love and romantic love, the beautiful parts and the not so pretty parts. Each album captures what I want to convey in the most genuine way.

Is there a particular lyric, or quote, that means something special to you?

“Life is so much better when you smile” from my song Life’s Better featuring Elliott Yamin. It’s a reminder that we have the ability to combat adversity and potentially change the outcome of any tough situation by taking simple positive actions. A smile isn’t to say everything is ok but it’s a way of saying I’m not defeated.

We’re all about supporting undiscovered artists, and those on their way up… what’s the best advice you’ve been given in your career, and what advice would you give artists that are trying to break through?

I was told to never stop learning. I’d suggest that any undiscovered creatives focus less on being discovered and more on creating genuine content you personally love, and create your own lanes. Music and the industry has changed and will continue to change. Never be bitter about those changes.

What have been the most effective means of promoting yourself as an artist in your experience?

Word of mouth has worked for me over the years but with my latest album Yellow Dust I’ve been exploring “ads” and the more I understand how to us it the better my results.

Are you working on anything new at the moment that you’d like to mention?

I’ve been in my music bag… lets see what the year brings.

“Yellow Dust” is the pollen of a sunflower which I’ve defined as positivity in the face of adversity given the sunflowers’ ability to absorb radiation. This album is my positive offering in hopes of absorbing some of the negativity in the lives of those who choose to listen.”

– Joonie

With features from Tweet and Javonte´, each song has it’s on story and love and positive vibes are the
foundation of this album.

You can find Joonie’s work, including his recent album ‘Yellow Dust’ on all major streaming services. Huge thanks from the IAMUR team and we wish him every success for his musical journey.