Alternative indie artist JOE NORMAL has released an array of album's, single's, videos, and played live as well. No plans to play live anytime soon, but has released a new album! Joe himself discusses the album, his music making process, and what plans are ahead.
1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?
Back in the early 80’s everybody was coming up with punk rock stage names. We were all trying to outdo each other to find the most offensive or rude names, but none of that seemed to fit my true personality. I was really just kind of a normal guy, so that’s when it struck me, I’m Joe NORMAL. (My real name is Joseph). Did you know I actually had the name trademarked, too?
2. Why did you want to play this genre?
Well I might have started out playing Ramones or Gen X style rock, but my roots were in The Beatles, Queen, and The Who. I loved powerpop too, but it was the melody and songwriting that led the way for me. I was evolving and wanted less and less to be the lead guitar player, and more and more to be the singer and the songwriter. I knew I had words in my soul to express my thoughts and feelings in a direct way that regular people could relate, so I leaned more into the folk-pop, singer songwriter / rocker storyteller mode, which was really who I was underneath all along.
3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?
My first band was with my brother and an older neighborhood rocker friend in our hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey. We played for 10 years together as The Zeros (American Glam Band) before my brother and I left to start our own thing. Eventually we parted ways, too and I’ve since gone on to form my own bands with the best rocker musicians on the L.A. scene, always with me at the songwriting / singer / guitarist helm.
4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
I’m based out of Los Angeles, California and there is not a real scene here for the kind of music I play, so I don’t really do gigs anymore. It’s kind of a time-sucker when I could be recording and releasing and making permanent work like videos, records, and even Tik Tok videos. It’s more fun for me really, because my fans are scattered across the States, they’re in the industrial towns, the old rust belt cities and middle America. I’ve got fans in Australia, Germany, and England as well, so there’s no point playing locally anymore. Been there, done that.
5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?
My life experiences. Other people I meet and observe. When I see injustice in the world. When I see things that others don’t. When I have my emotions triggered in any way, both good and bad, and of course love, relationships, friendship and all that happy kind of stuff.
6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
My songs often lean into work life and everyday people and our problems, joys, and challenges. Working Class themes. Workers Rights. The human experience. Often rooting for the underdog, always trying to leave the listener with a sense of hope, that they are understood, and often with a sense of humor.
7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
Yes, I write my own songs. Mainly on acoustic guitar or piano, with a notebook and pen. I almost always come up with the song’s main riff and chords and melody first. I will hit on a few chord changes that trigger a strong emotion in me and I’ll keep playing that and see where it is leading me until some words start to come. I often mumble out gibberish and syllables and will get a phrase that sticks and maybe it kicks off the chorus or topic of the song, and once I get that bit, I’ve got it. From there it’s kind of like reverse engineering or putting together the rest of the jigsaw puzzle. I start pulling ideas and lines out of the air that fit and help to fully tell the story or relay the theme. Also I oftentimes have a listener or audience in my mind that I think the song is meant for.
8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
As JOE NORMAL I’ve been releasing singles, EP’s and albums since 2020. It’s all on streaming, however, I add many unreleased tracks and demos to my JoeNormal.BandCamp page for my fans. My discography goes back to the mid 80’s with various bands, so any hardcore JOE NORMAL fans can go backwards to find some of that work.
9. Do you have any new music in the works?
Yes, I just released an album called “I’M NORMAL PEOPLE.” The streaming version only has 9 songs. The CD & BandCamp version has 4 bonus tracks that don’t appear on the streaming version. I’m currently working on another album that will have a more jangle-pop / indie rock vibe… and it will be all love and heartbreak songs.
10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
No. I don’t plan to play live anytime soon unless something really monumental comes along that I can’t pass up. There are many, many younger bands out there playing for free and in the clubs that younger people would rather see. I’ve done too much of that in one lifetime to keep going back to that. I’ve paid my dues time and time again, and am happy to continue creating my art and putting my work into the world. Write. Record. Release. Repeat. That’s my plan.
11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
Maybe a documentary film, some videos, and onscreen stuff. Also I need to bone down on recording my ever growing catalog of songs. I’ve got literally albums of unrecorded songs and I’m always writing and creating. I’m worried I’ll never catch up!!
12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
If you truly love indie music makers, then please purchase CDs, downloads, and merch. My stuff is at https://JoeNormal.BandCamp.com.
If you like to stream, please remember to hit Follow and Save on SPOTIFY at https://open.spotify.com/artist/1X4euPJpNXzlyaddgVD3k2. Thank you for listening.
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