We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joe Barbour a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Joe, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
There are three projects that are most meaningful in my creative career, and it would be unfair not to mention them all.
The first is an ongoing project which is putting together live showcases for the bands with whom I perform at any given moment. We’ve done them at DIY house shows, outdoor stages like Fire House Gastro Park and Cheap Steaks, and more. They’ve been connected through my network called “A Few Local Bands.”
I think the most surreal experience I’ve had as an artist, where I felt completely weightless and lifted by a creation at my own hands and the hands of my closest friends, has to be a music video for “Gift” by the spontaneously formed (and never yet re-assembled) supergroup “Thrums.”
Finally, my musical partnership with the incredible singer, songwriter, guitarist and all-around performer Carson Lewis has been immensely rewarding as a producer, player and personal friend.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My mother taught piano lessons in my youth, and I grew up playing in church bands for youth and adult audiences. Following drum lessons and choir in high school, I went to school in NYC where I continued to gig occasionally and learned to produce on Ableton. After moving to Nashville for 2 years, where I struggled to break into the music scene, I moved to Dallas, where I’ve found much more artistic success.
I’m mostly known locally as a drummer and keyboardist, but the real fans know I can write a mean song on the guitar. I do make beats from time to time, but more often than not I’m either songwriting, practicing for a gig, or scheming some development that will better connect the artists in my network and continue giving us a bigger and broader platform.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
The biggest thing artists need to do is just get out there. Find a stage, get on at open mics, talk to venue owners, ask questions and believe in yourselves.
That said, some cities and communities are more conducive to the flourishing of the arts than others. Like it or not, there is a bit of a cabal you are obligated to impress in order to get your first shot.
Part of what I’d like to do is democratize the process – no barriers to entry, no possessiveness with the opportunities. Let the strength of the music be the only thing determining who gets stage time at the best venues around Dallas.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I really don’t know why I do what I do. Sometimes I wonder if my life should be spent on more beneficial endeavors for society as a whole. My sibling Jonah is in a hard science, working on sustainable energy sources for city-size power grids. My father is a licensed clinical counselor and my mother is now a civil servant. My days consist of making cups of coffee and taking cool pictures for Instagram.
However, the sheer visceral enjoyment I get from playing music on stage, in the studio or even just my bedroom tells me to keep going. Find some commercial success in music as a player, producer or songwriter, keep connecting artists with each other, then use whatever platform we’re able to achieve together to uplift anyone we can find with a guitar and a dream. That seems like a worthy enough goal for the time being, I think.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://afewlocalbands.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/josephdanielbarbour
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@afewlocalbands
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/beau-jarbor
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/69D4iDyWuvLMsFLk61aecF?si=ZD63iST1SwmNW6-CCGvPbg
Image Credits
Taylor Collins