Joanna What sparked your interest in pursuing a career in music initially? Was there a specific moment or experience that fueled your passion?
I’m not sure there was one specific moment that particularly fueled my passion. I’ve always just connected with music from a really young age. At first it was singing as a child, then playing guitar as a teenager, and then writing songs when I became an adult. Most everything I was exposed to with music provided a rewarding and memorable experience. It should be noted that I come from a family of very talented musicians, so being exposed to that atmosphere greatly helped me develop as a musician.
Could you characterize your musical style and the genre(s) you associate with? Are there specific artists or musicians who have played a significant role in shaping your sound?
I tend to listen to a lot of different genres and think every bit of music I have listened to in my life has a role in shaping my sound. It’s a complete hodgepodge. To name a few, I’ve been shaped from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, The Band, and Pink Floyd to Dave Matthews Band, Ben Folds, Phish, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots to Jason Isbell, Bon Iver, and John Mayer to Leo Kottke, Larry Coryell, Kenny Burrell, and Charles Mingus. I’m failing to mention so many that I’ve been inspired by, but as you can see, I’m kind of all over the place. But that’s what makes artists unique, right? I think it’s amazing to be able to take in and digest all the various styles and see how it comes out in your own art.
Share with us the inspiration behind your most recent single. What triggered the creative process for this specific piece?
I’ll speak to the release of “Night Divine” in its entirety. I was approached by a friend of mine that sparked the idea of doing my own interpretations of Christmas classics. This was a challenging project as I wanted to choose songs that spoke to me and present them in my unique way. I’m proud of myself as well as those who helped me along the way with this album.
In what way do you anticipate your latest song resonating with your existing fan base and attracting new listeners? What message or emotions do you aim for listeners to glean from the song?
“Night Divine” provides an opportunity to let those who are familiar with my music to hear very familiar songs done with my own arrangements. It also provides an opportunity for those who love Christmas music to be introduced to my music. It’s a win-win!
How does this album contribute to the overarching narrative or theme of your upcoming album or project?
I’m currently working on an EP based on theme of “Summer” revolving around a sense of nostalgia and carefree times spent in Dewey Beach, Delaware, where I grew up. While it is a different theme, “Night Divine” contributes to this next project in the way that I am using the same musicians/engineers and will have similar instrumentation throughout, which will play nicely when listening to the projects back-to-back.
Maintaining creativity and motivation can be challenging. Do you have any rituals or habits that you find instrumental in sustaining your artistic drive?
You are absolutely correct! Both creativity and motivation can be very tough to chase at times. In the beginning of the COVID pandemic I really struggled with both. I had projects going on throughout this time, but I definitely was not inspired, writing much, and I finishing anything. I think “Night Divine” was an awesome way to break out of this slump I was in. So, in terms of sustaining artistic drive, I think completing a project really boosts your confidence and gets those artistic juices flowing. In terms of rituals, I do have a couple. Whenever I am inspred by an idea, whether it be a melody or a lyric, I record it on my voice memos app on my phone. I also use the Notes app to flesh out lyrics if I am away from my computer or studio. It’s amazing because I’ve been able to use these voice memos as a bank of ideas to delve into when working on new material. Technology is truly amazing these days.
Do you have any upcoming projects or releases that you’re particularly enthusiastic about? Can you offer any teasers or details?
Yes, there are two current projects I am working on worth noting. I have been working on a project with my cousin John B Hedges called “Cousin Hedges” and we are working towards a release this year. John B and I worked together amazingly on our first collaboration with my album “Slightly South of Stormy Clouds” where we shared producer roles and John B provided the amazing arrangements.
Also, as I briefly mentioned earlier, I’m working another EP with plans to release it this Summer. It currently has a working title of “Summer in Dewey” and is turning out to be a fun project based on the theme of being carefree, exploring love, and enjoying Summer! I can’t wait to share it with you when it is released!
