Bio

Hi I’m Joe, predominantly a Guitarist and Songwriter, I also play Piano, Drums, Bass, as well as recording and producing my own projects.

With over 15 years experience in the music industry, I am an experienced performer and composer, having been involved in a wide variety of different musical projects, spanning multiple genres and styles. From rock to Pop, Acoustic to Metal, Blues to Hardcore Punk, the music I play is as eclectic as my own taste, and I am always looking for opportunities to expand my musical horizons and be involved in new projects.

Here’s my musical story…

I first started learning guitar at the age of 8 after being inspired by a picture of Eddie Van Halen mid-solo on a guitar magazine. I had private lessons (from ages 8-20) as well as attending extra curriculur guitar lessons through Secondary school.

As my passion for music grew, I aimed to make it a career and left Secondary school with an A in GCSE Music. I then studied Popular Music Performance at Leeds College of Music (BTEC Diploma, 2005-2007), during my time there I played in 3 local bands (a Metal band, a Rock band and a covers/function band), performing at venues across Leeds such as The Wardrobe, The Key Club and The Brudenell Social Club. I also hosted open mic nights across various small venues and pubs across Yorkshire, performing acoustically and singing a wide selection of cover songs as well as performing guitar and backing vocals with a full band.

I started teaching guitar at a young age to friends which then grew in to professional teaching by the age of 18, I obtained a grade 8 in guitar performance from the Register of Guitar Tutors (RGT) and taught a number of students privately.

My quest for performing music led me to move to London in 2010, I attended Westminster University, gaining a Distinction in Popular Music Performance.

Whilst studying, I formed a Metal-core band called Traitors Gate, I wrote and arranged all the parts to give as sheet music to the other musicians in the band to perform on the recording. We released a 5 song EP and performed at many small London venues including The Barfly, Dublin Castle, Water Rats and 229 Club. https://www.facebook.com/TraitorsGateBand/

I recorded Acoustic and Electric Guitar parts for a studio session at Universal Studios (Kensington, London) for Pop artist ‘Laura Jean’. Before the session I liaised with the artists management and was sent a demo track to work out the guitar parts by ear. For the recording session, I worked with the producer to achieve their idea of how the guitar parts should be. http://www.laurajeanne.co.uk/music.html (2014)

After I finished Westminster University, I craved for more of a performance related course and studied a Professional Music Performance Degree, achieving a 2:1 BA (Hons.) at The Academy of Contemporary Music (Guildford, 2012-2014). I thoroughly enjoyed the high level of musical training and rigorous schedule of exams, coursework and extra curriculur activities such as Songwriting masterclasses, jam nights with varying genres, sight reading and music theory workshops as well as performing in a function band in my spare time with fellow students.

I am currently working on a Mathcore project, I composed and arranged all the parts whilst writing notation to give to the other musicians in the band, I took on Electric Guitar and Bass Guitar duties for the recording,
releasing an EP in the near future, that I have recorded and produced.

Lighting Design:

Having worked in the live music industry for 8 years, with knowledge of production for live performance, I have worked at legendary London Venues including Shepherds Bush Empire, The 02 Forum Kentish Town, Union Chapel (Highbury) and Koko (Camden), soaking up the inspiration and gaining insight into professional artistry and performance.