We were lucky to catch up with Joey Ferber recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joey, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Recently, I got a call to do a cruise ship gig on short notice. 15 days sailing Across the Atlantic Ocean from the Netherlands to New York City with a few in Europe before hitting the open ocean. I’d never been on a cruise ship, let alone been hired to play in a band 4 times a night for two weeks straight while floating on top of water several miles deep.
I was afraid to say the least. Not only that but I was leaving behind work and relationships that I’ve built for myself on the ground in my home city of St. Louis to work for a company I had limited communication with and to play with musicians I didn’t know. I felt like I was putting my organic growth in jeopardy to go out on a limb and see what this unfamiliar situation could bring.
In my gut, I knew it was good for my character to jump out of my comfort zone but my logical mind found every reason to not get on that plane to Europe. Luckily I had the support of loved ones at home to hold me accountable to my word and help me follow through with the gig.
Needless to say, it was unlike any opportunity I’d ever had as a professional guitarist. A red-eye to Amsterdam. The red-light district on no sleep. Then straight to a boat to play the next day as we set sail into the English Channel. 50 sets of music over 2 weeks while I enjoyed a view right next to a window overlooking Atlantic waves that look identical to how they would have 100 years ago when my Ancestors immigrated to America. Waves that look identical to how they would have before humans walked the earth.
The intensity of ship life…a heavy work schedule on this alternate universe that has limited to no connection/internet or cultural with the lands it floats beside and between juxtaposed with a seemingly boundless ocean. Its a laughably absurd experience to feel the human emotions of success and failure while trapped inside this floating hotel/retirement home/casino and then step outside to watch the waves and remember none of it really matters.
I traveled across the ocean by boat. I always wondered what sea life was underneath me at a given time. I realized I really only need 3 T shirts.
It’s been a rocky readjustment to life at home as the season has changed and so has the nature of my lifestyle. Even when people asked me how it was going or would I do it again, It was almost impossible to speak. It’s hard to describe but when ur so in something I guess it’s hard to judge it.
Now, a couple weeks removed, I suppose I have gained some perspective. Or affirmed what I already knew…that It was good for my character to take a risk and face challenges despite how difficult they have been to work through. If anything, to evolve and build whatever muscle it is that faces fear, knowing that in some other form I’ll have an opportunity to flex again.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Simply put, I’ve been playing the guitar for a long time. I suppose that is how I’ve acquired work. by showing up to practice on my own and playing with other people. I started when I was a kid but was too busy playing sports. I took it more seriously a few years later.
I’ve clutched onto the idea of being a successful musician for so long. Thinking that material goals and achievements will fulfill what I was looking for. A big LOL to that.
It’s hard to know exactly what to say. I’m constantly changing. What you find of mine on the internet is a mere sample of who I am in real life, in performance and just in nature. I’m always working on music that probably sounds way different from stuff thats out on the digital world. I also feel like boundaries are dissolving between the music and other artistic disciplines. I write pages in my journal every day and feel anxious without a pen and paper close by.
I work on my self so much. Sometimes being a musician doesn’t allow me the time I truly need to be healthy and well in all regards. When I have the time, my life is an ongoing process of fine tuning, in my body, mind and environment to help me navigate through the world.
I suppose that what I want people to know about my work is that when I’m able to, I really do intentionally work on projects and with people. Im very sensitive and feel very deeply, so my capacity is limited and if we’re together, in work or in space, it’s…special? hopefully not in some pretentious sounding way but in a way that acknowledges the significance of the moment the power of creation. and the mindfulness of being intentional with what we’re consuming and producing in the world.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
My initial feeling was that they’re not my speed. i still think that they’re not my speed. I guess some people made a lot of money off em. I saw Berber lost a million off of one.
I probably should have been diagnosed with ADD or something when I was a kid. I came home and tried to play video games as if it was homework because thats what all my friends loved to do. But I could never get heavy into them…
I always found myself outside running around. I still find my self outside running around. Its where I feel better. I dont feel good when im on the screen for a long period of time. I kinda wished this interview was live with a real human but I understand.
NFT NFT NFT NFT NFT. I still don’t know what it stands for. NFT … NOT For … me?
They’re cool…I guess. But yea idk ….
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Man I’ve always struggled with my emotions. Without getting too much into it…I’ve dug into attachment style theory the last couple years I efforts to understand some of my core wounds and trauma’s. Having to do with ways I don’t believe in myself, or in love.
having to work with triggering moments where I feel a large emotional response to a small situation has made me investigate why my brain has trained itself to be sometimes overly protected.
Growing up, I was more used to a more chaotic home life. I’m more familiar with chaos as an adult find myself less able to relate to nourishing environments though I crave them deeply.
I’m having to heal patterns that have trained me to not believe in my own value. To please others as a means of survival. its a funny line to walk as a professional entertainer. I’m learning more and more how to meet my own needs and hopefully learn to be a someone who is and can provide a space of growth…for myself and loved ones. And then to have healthy boundaries of solitude and community rather than isolation and codependence.
Contact Info:
- Website: ferbworks.com
- Instagram: ferbworks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ferbworks/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ferbworks
- Youtube: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=vQOPf9nALGE
Image Credits
Annie Martineau