Get To Know: Joseph J. Jones

This week we're profiling Joseph J. Jones, former boxer who, after being spotted wowing crowds on the East London pub circuit, traded real punches for metaphorical shots at our hearts.

The singer recently dropped Built On Broken Bones (Vol.1), a seven track mini-album journey through raw, brutally honest emotions. To find out more about the neo soul star in the making, read our introducing interview below!

1) For those who don’t know about you and your music, tell us a little bit about who you are and where you’re from…

"I’m a singer, writer, creative, born ex-boxer bred in East London repping real lyrics and honest music."

2) Describe your sound in three words…

"Honest, soulful, brave. "

3) Who inspired you to start a career in music?

"My whole family are musical so it’s been around me my whole life but my grandad was a jazz guitarist and when he passed away I properly got into his music sadly... but I quickly fell for jazz and soul. Learnt my craft in pubs and clubs, got my gig chops and decided I had more to say and wanted started writing."

4) Who are your biggest musical influences?

"Jazz, soul, gospel, grime, hip hop. The Streets, Johnny Cash, Kanye West, Chet Baker, Aretha Franklin, Joy Division, Amy Winehouse, Chance The Rapper, Sinatra, Kendrick Lamar, WHUFC."

5) Tell us about the writing and recording process for your new single/album…

"The writing process is like my therapy. I like to talk about what I am going through at a particular time. I always get the initial ideas down then go for a pint.  Writing is about experimenting and I push to make things sound as different as I can.

"For this album I recorded some tracks in Church Studios, others in various front rooms. This album was a snap shot of where I was was about 12-18 months ago. I’m already on the new wave but it’s nice to take yourself back to that place for a while."

6) What can we expect from your live shows?

"Intense, bold, soulful singing mixed in with sick live instrumentation from solid keys with a big dash of MPCs and bass. It’s real AF."

7) What has been your biggest career highlight so far?

"Touring all over. Still to play in America but it’s been amazing do shows in UK, Europe and Australia. I have got to see a lot of places I never would’ve made it to off the back of writing songs in people’s kitchens, living rooms and home studios!"

8) Have you met anyone and been totally starstruck?

"I met Teddy Sheringham once when he was playing for West Ham. Naturally I wouldnt’ve gone up to him had he still been at Spurs but I was singing at a charity thing. Got a snap with the ledge."

9) What’s on your iPod/playlists that people wouldn’t expect?

"Beethoven’s Symphony No.5. It’s good to work out to."

10) When can we see you live?

"You can catch me at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, 27th November. Gonna be a gooden. Last show of the year and possibly some new material. So it’s gonna go off!"

Grab tickets here: https://Tickets.lnk.to/JosephJJones