HEATHER JOSEPH AN UP-CLOSE INTERVIEW

Ct. native, Heather Joseph is more than an amazing singer. Her vocal prowess is undeniable but it’s her dedication to the New England music scene that is outstanding. Heather‘s passion for music is contagious. She steadily fosters a sense of community with her fellow players. She loves and respects her musical brethren and they do so in return.

Heather loved singing from an early age. Throughout her career she played in numerous solo, duo and group projects. Her range and ability to adjust to any genre has been her strongest point. Yet, she is still evolving. She is still pushing the boundaries. Heather‘s devotion to her craft is unquestionable. She’s also a magnet that attracts the true artisan.

Heather Joseph was kind enough to answer a few questions from AMP. Hope you enjoy.

AMP: What motivated your love of music?

HJ: My mother and father were active musicians when I was born. They were in a band together. Dad on vocals and guitar and mom on drums. My mother played while pregnant with me. So, I guess I really had no choice. They would practice in the garage a couple of times a week. As soon as I proved I had some rhythm (around the age of 5) I was handed a tambourine to play along. If I had to define how that motivated my love of music, I would say that ultimately, it was the joy they had making music. They smiled constantly. There was tons of laughter. My parents struggled to make ends meet. They both worked long hours to barely get by and went without so much to provide for me. So as you can imagine, there was plenty of anxiety and stress. But none of it existed when they played. It was an escape for them. It was part of the glue that kept them moving as a team. From those early moments of my life, music has proven to be my escape. It’s my happy place and it has saved me time and time again.

AMP: Who were your influences: past and present?

HJ: Out of the gate, I was listening to bands like Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin. CSNY was probably the my first heavy influence. They way they harmonized and blended to sound like one voice blew my mind. Pure beauty!! As far back as I can recall, I would look for and sing harmonies to every song I could find. I wanted so badly to create that beauty. Around the age of 10 I heard Janis Joplin. Her voice, her raw energy and passion. I wanted to be her minus her addictions, of course. My parents were no longer active in the scene at this time but we jammed in the basement on a regular basis. I asked my dad to learn “Piece of My Heart”. I would sing along until I literally bled from the throat. The love of Janis led me to find other female artists like Heart, Stevie Nicks, Bette Midler, Whitney Houston and Aretha. All of them influenced me in various ways. Trying to mimic their sound led to creating a voice of my own. It drove me to find a way to perform all the styles of music I loved. When Melissa Etheridge came along my father said “You sound a lot like her-you should listen”. I did and fell in love. She had the balls and soulfulness of Janis but could be soft and sweet as well. There was one thing that sealed the deal. She was a multi-instrumentalist. She could do it all by herself and to me that was bad ass. I had already learned to play (I use that term loosely) piano and guitar by this time. She inspired me to really learn and better my skills. She was also the only artist at that time that didn’t need to wear next to nothing or have a model’s body. Melissa was beautiful but she was true to herself and stood firm on her convictions. I adored and still adore her. Billy Joel was and still is my one and only man. He is THE MAN! Talented beyond explanation. His ability to write songs that connect everyone in one way or another is amazing.  Look at songs like “Miami 2016” and “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant”. I can literally close my eyes and see the scenery, the people, everything he describes and sings. If not the best, one of the best storytellers of all time. There are many artist since then that have influenced me. Some I connected to after their time in the light. I was even into opera at one time! Sting, the Police, Alanis Morrissette, Pink, Adele, Cory Glover, Rush, Geoff Tate—so many influences.

AMP: Your vocal styling has a wide range. You sing pop, blues, r&b and rock completely effortlessly. Which genre is your favorite?

HJ: Oh, that’s so hard to answer! It’s easier to say what’s not-like country and rap. Haha! If I had to pick one though, I would say good old rock and roll. I’m a hippy at heart. Pretty sure I was born too late because I’m positive I was supposed to be at Woodstock. 🙂

AMP: You have performed with a large group of “A-List” musicians. Any performances standout?

HJ: I truly have been blessed with so many talented musicians who have shared their gift with me and allowed me to stand and share in their light. I currently play in different projects with so many I consider “A-List” and I’m beyond grateful for it. I’m humbled every time I take the stage with them. Without a doubt, the most amazing performance was a few years ago at NAMM. I had been performing some local shows as part of Doug Wimbish’s (Living Colour) “All Star” group. The group included the likes of Paul Pesco, Corey Glover (a dream come true), Mark Rivera, Marc Ribler, Rocky Bryant and more. Every show was a moment to remember. But, at NAMM, I was able to take the grand stage in the center of it all. I was playing to a crowd I couldn’t see the end of with these amazing true to definition “A-Listers”. It was the largest crowd I ever played for and the greatest amount of voices I ever sang along with. For once I had a taste of what it feels to be a real rock star. It was exhilarating to say the least. I will never forget that feeling and will eternally grateful to Doug for bringing me along for the ride.

AMP: You currently sing in a good number of musical projects. How do you juggle your time?

HJ: That’s a good question. I’m still trying to figure the juggling out! I’m an IT engineer, a mom, a wife, and I play out on an average 3-4 times a week. I honestly don’t know how I do it. It just seems to work itself out. I have a truly supportive family which helps immensely. Without that support I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. I’m always tired but it’s worth it. I love music insanely. I love making people happy through music. And as I mentioned earlier, it’s my escape from the daily stresses of life. It’s my drug and I am totally addicted. I look at life as limited. We only have so much time here. So, I live to the fullest and try to fit in as much as possible.

AMP: What inspired you to create Little Secret- A Melissa Etheridge tribute?

HJ: For almost 20 years I’ve been known for my rendition of “Like the Way I Do”. To this day someone always asks for it. People who hear me for the first time always come to me during a show and say something like “I bet you’d kill Melissa Etheridge’s songs” or “you sound just like Melissa Etheridge”. My partner in music for 15 years, Steve Cioppa (drummer/percussionist), and I would talk about adding more of her music into our repertoire. “Little Secret” was our answer-a passion project. It was after a show dedicated to Etheridge a couple of years ago at the Trilogy that it was put into motion. We had a show at the Bijou Theatre which was awesome and were actively booking bigger venues. Then Covid and gigs unfortunately were cancelled. I can’t wait to get back on the road with that. The musicians on board truly make me feel like I’m playing with her band. It is an awesome experience for both myself and those in attendance. From my stage wear and attention to detail to all her songs by the band, we really try to provide the audience with the “next best thing” to seeing Melissa live.

AMP: You’ve been a long time Ct. musician. What changes have you seen in the Ct. music scene?

HJ: From the performer’s perspective, honestly, not much. Connecticut has an abundance of truly amazing artist with a limited amount of stages. While there are many clubs here that go above and beyond in their support of the music scene (Woodbury Brewing, Tipping Chair, The Cellar on Treadwell to name a few) there aren’t many big venues that get the “Industry” heavy hitters attention. Especially for the original scene. It seems like you have go outside of Ct. to either be seen or get signed. However, there are some great records being made in Ct. which is promising! Horizon Studio, where I do a lot of session work, has been putting out some killer tracks by killer artists. Neurotronix Records has been doing the same. The Ct. music scene has seen the rise of some our brothers and sister- Marc Lopes, Christian “Opus” Lawrence, Chris McCarvill, B.J. Zampa, Joey Concepcion, Caitlin Kalafus, Jimi Bell (touring around the world, making wide reaching recordings and performing for huge crowds). I’ve also met some young musicians who are going places. They give me so much hope. They will put Ct. on the map.

AMP: What does the future hold for Heather Joseph?

HJ: I’m in a great place with my current endeavors (Haptic Sense, Little Secret, The Heavy Hitters, The Pop Rocks, Those Guys Ct) and I hope the future brings greater success for all of them. I plan on expanding on teaching voice which I started doing this year. It has been very fulfilling. Looking forward to taking on more students. I caught the recording bug when I had my original band Chemical Z. I’ve done a ton of session work since. I’ve been wanting to record my own album for what it seems forever. Recently, I’ve met some people that I think will help me finally make that happen. Fingers crossed! This may sound kooky but I had an experience a few years ago that taught me the beauty in the “voice of the wind”. I’ve learned to listen and trust that voice. Everything it has led me to musically and personally has panned out well for me and those I love and care for. It leads and I follow. If I just listen, it will lead me to where I’m meant to be. Ultimately, I hope the future continues to bless me with the opportunity to perform and bring joy to people through music. If so, I will truly be satisfied and grateful.

Thank you Heather for your thoughtful words and your time. As we slowly return to some outdoor shows please give all of Heather‘s projects a listen. They are all throw out great music and awesome vibes.

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