Los Angeles based and Seattle born, indie dance-rock band Joe Fox & The Frantics came together in 2016 as the new creative project for singer/songwriter Joe Fox and producer/multi-instrumentalist Aaron Edwards (The Cab, Sick Puppies). The resulting band blends elements of indie, pop, and British alternative into a fresh take on indie-rock. Infectious grooves and strong story-telling are combined with energetic live shows to keep fans coming back for more.
What made you decide that music is the right path for you?
There are a lot of things that pushed me towards music; particularly performing. I’ve always loved being in front of a crowd, ever since I was a kid. Being on a stage has always felt really natural to me and my family’s love of music made it clear that playing music live was what I wanted to do. I’ve been in bands since I was a teenager; first as a guitar player, then as a bassist, then a drummer, and finally now as a frontman. Basically I would play anything I needed to in order to get in front of people.
Introduce yourself (yourselves) and your hidden talent!
My name is Joe and my hidden talent is that I’m quite a good cook! To me cooking and making music are very similar and fulfil a similar role in my life. I love making things for people to enjoy and consume and food is one of the greatest joys in the world to me. I love finding a new recipe and trying to make it the best I can; just like writing a new song or learning a new chord. It’s so satisfying to work hard and then nail it!
What’s your writing process like? Do you write the music or lyrics first?
My writing process is a very fluid, organic one. I’m very lucky to have such amazing collaborators in Aaron Edwards and Corey Walles. We often start with the rhythm section of a song (drums and bass) and then move on to melody and lyrics. We’ve worked together for such a long time that there’s a lot of trust among us. I never feel judged or afraid to try something new and that’s so important in the creative process. Those guys are so talented and they really make me better.
Do you prefer performing live or recording, and why?
I really prefer playing live over recording for a couple reasons. First, there’s nothing like the response of playing something for a live crowd. I think that’s the thing that COVID has made me realize the most. Also I get quite anxious in the studio. There’s pressure because it’s recorded forever but when you’re playing live there’s a spontaneity and freedom that reminds me why I started playing music in the first place.
What’s the best advice you’d give to your younger self?
I think the advice that I’d give my younger self is to trust yourself, your ideas, and the process. I think youth brings a lot of uncertainty and fear of not knowing the future. I definitely can be a bit of an overthinker and I was even more-so when I was younger. It took me a long time to trust my creativity and to trust the process of growing and becoming a better musician and a better person. I look at music I made ten years ago and know that if I had done it any other way I wouldn’t be where I am today. Sometimes you wish you could skip to the end, but the process is what makes the end what it is.
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