We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joey Dean a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Joey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I can say for certain I’ve always felt like an outsider. I think that integral human experience conditioned a necessity to create. I believe artists are giant filtration systems. We are typically on the outskirts. We observe that which surrounds us—that which we do not feel connected to—and, in hopes to negotiate our existence in a world we do not feel like we belong to, we process that reality through art. We chew up and spit out the world to help make sense of it.
I have felt an undeniable connection to this narrative. To the story of the queer youth who hides, hoarding his feelings and authenticities. Until, eventually, the dam breaks the those bottled up emotions, stories, and perspectives come pouring out.
I was never the kid who enjoyed tossing a baseball or muddying his hands; I preferred pen and paper—poetry and paintings. When I was a wee little 90s kid, I watched Celine Dion perform My Heart Will Go On on the 1999 Grammys. The feelings she evoked carried with me in secret. I knew. I wanted to sing from that moment, but I didn’t perform in public for the first time until I was nearly 21.
For me, my first time on stage was the moment the dam broke. Everything I had always wanted and envisioned for myself came pouring out. I was incredibly frightened and nervous to the point of nausea, but I fought through knowing that my future self would thank me. It was one of the most cathartic and thrilling moments of my life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Following my first time on stage, I essentially didn’t leave the stage for the next 7 years. I quickly formed my first-ever band—then named Pros & iCons—and tackled stage after stage. We quickly rose to notoriety in NYC (our home base), and went on to tour nationally numerous times, performing on Vans Warped Tour, the Jingle Ball tour, and in the national college circuit. We performed on stages next to Meghan Trainor, Shawn Mendes, Charli XCX, Todrick Hall, Ava Max, and many others.
After one EP, one album, international radio play, and the aforementioned performance credentials, we sizzled out right before the pandemic. Misalignment and internal creative turmoil pulled us in separate directions. With the pandemic looming, I spent the next few years in a creative cocoon. I marinated in the amniotic fluid of my subconscious, reflecting on my experiences thus far and discerning who I wanted to be as I resurrected my career (and life).
The world was in a fragile, divided space. I decided to add something positive to the mix. I wanted to alchemize my unique experience and create something meaningful from the magic. In addition to launching my band / duo King Vagabond in May 2022, I began deeply researching the state of the music industry for independent artists. The latter venture has since transformed into Artist Alignment Academy, a music marketing blueprint course and coaching service for musicians to hone their authentic voices and connect with a soul-aligned audience.
My purpose in pursuing both endeavors was to actualize greater success of my own after years of turmoil so I could lead by example and hand over my toolkit to other dedicated and talented, yet struggling artists.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I have juggled this questions many times throughout my career in hope to uncover something deep and meaningful. However, at this point, I think the most genuine answer I can provide is pretty simple. I seek to help heal.
Help heal myself. Help heal others. Both listeners through my voice and lyrics and fellow artists through my efforts and example.
The state of the world and the state of the music industry are both bubbling, infected wounds. In our efforts to make something our efforts and find stability amongst the fray, us artists are constantly clawing at those wounds.
I want to crack the code—not just in digital marketing strategies—but in the spirit of the music industry. I want to leave an imprint for others to follow that transcends algorithms and trends. I want to help other artists be in better relationships with their music. I want the same for myself, of course. I too am in a constant state of healing. I think it comes with the territory of being an artist.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
My entire career in music has been a cycle of learning and unlearning. With the inundation of tasks necessary for independent artists to stay afloat paired with the volatile, ever-changing state of the music industry and social media, it’s hard to pin down the “right” way to be an artist.
My biggest lesson in this all has been tuning into my inner voice and disconnecting from what I think others want to hear. Instead of manufacturing a contrived image and sound, which I felt I did in part for many years, I have learned the importance of listening to that inner voice and leaning into its brilliance.
For years, I felt a bit like I was wearing a mask. Presenting myself in ways I thought would get me listeners and fans. Dedicated myself to a project for seven years and watching it fall apart put into perspective all the things I did for and against my best interest. Many of those choices were rooted in manufacturing some sense of self because I thought the world would not accept the real me.
Contact Info:
- Website: kingvagabond.com
- Instagram: MY PERSONAL IG: instagram.com/joeydeanofficial & MY BAND’S IG: instagram.com/thekingvagabond
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kingvagabond
- Other: My personal TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joeydeanofficial My Band’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekingvagabond?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc My Band’s Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0IFPjGzZUXA2DUkNy1j30L?si=CJmxRGPAR5aeCaKUh5mBMw
Image Credits
All live performance photos by: Justin Dodson All other photos by: Vyxen Visions