Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Jacobs.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started playing music at the age of three (or so my dad tells me)! I grew up in Lakeville, MN, and was involved in many bands throughout high school. I always had a knack for producing music and I began learning how to play guitar, bass, piano, and sing during my teen years. I also had a few callbacks on the Voice in my early twenties and got to tour with Aaron Carter briefly. He was a great performer and I was very sad to learn of his passing last year.
Throughout my twenties, I wrote many songs and produced records for other artists. I developed my songwriting/production skills and began to work on creating pop music. I used to be into heavy metal and never pictured liking (much less creating) pop, but I got hooked! It turns out that writing pop is extremely difficult and I began to take on the challenge. Listening to major pop records and dissecting every aspect of them.
I spent a lot of time mimicking other singers (Phil Wickham, Gary Levox, Justin Bieber, Usher, etc) and eventually developed my sound. This was particularly challenging due to all my years in the choir (I was taught to sound like everyone else in the group). Because of that, finding my unique voice was quite an endeavor.
In 2021, I began connecting with other local artists and producers and was introduced to Andrew Thomas (Snoop Dogg, Brian McKnight). Andrew began to mentor me and we worked on my song ‘Emotions’ together. That song received airplay on KDWB during the Dave Ryan in the Morning show! It was incredible to hear my music on the station I grew up listening to.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest challenge has always been my mind. It’s very difficult to pursue music when your inner doubt rears its head. Throughout the years, I’ve attended therapy sessions and spent time trying to understand who I am as a person.
This is an imperfect process, but well worth it. It can also be very tricky to have high points with music that doesn’t have follow-up plans. There needs to be an inner drive that keeps you going, and it’s been difficult to maintain that throughout the years.
Everyone in the industry will tell you what’s wrong with you and what you need to improve on. Specifically, online presence, branding, and having a clear direction with the art you create. Sometimes, I just say to myself, “can’t it be enough that the songs mean something to me?” It’s a wrestling match between creating music because I love it and creating it to make a career for myself.
Another big challenge for me is picking a lane within the music. I play four instruments, produce records, perform live, write songs, and mix live sound and I have a knack for comedy and impersonations. There are days when I wish it was easier to narrow my focus and set my course.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I would just like to let people know that it’s ok to acknowledge their pain and forgive those that have hurt them in the past. We all carry things we wish didn’t happen, but each day is a new opportunity to love God and stay humble. I love spending time with my wife and kids and am working to become the best father I can be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joejacobsofficial.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/songsbyjoe/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joejacobsmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/songsbyjoe
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85ozBHCM3hI
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@songsbyjoe
Image Credits
Padraig Collins
