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© Alex Rawson @ Bolthouse Film & Photo
Joe Turner gives a foretaste of his imminent second EP ‘Reflections’ (out on vinyl and digital July 23rd) with the release of summer dance anthem track ‘Wings’, out now on LG105. This year’s previous singles ‘Too Much’, and ‘Noir’ (feat Tom Dunne) put the Croydon multi-instrumentalist, DJ and producer well and truly on the map. The new EP is aptly named, as Turner gathers inspiration from personal experience, with all four tracks strong and distinct enough to stand alone, but all brandishing that signature Joe Turner sound.
He is a uniquely inspired musician, who has made a name for himself through a handful of tasty songs. We were pleased to speak with him around his current projects. Tune into ‘Wings’, close your eyes and let the sensations flow.
Hey Joe, for our readers who aren’t as familiar with you yet, where are you from? How did you get into music?
Hey! I’m Joe Turner and I am from south London, UK and I’ve been into music for as long as I can remember. I originally started off as a guitarist in bands but made the switch to production a few years ago. Electronic music has always been a part of my life and I feel so lucky to be able to be part of the scene right now!
You released your debut EP ‘Textures’ last year, and have announced the drop of ‘Reflections’ – how would you say your sound is evolving?
I’m always trying to evolve my sound. Some of the changes may be less obvious than others. ‘Reflections’ contains two tracks with full feature vocal performances, which has always been a huge goal of mine. I’m always learning about new production techniques or new instruments to experiment with - and I love implementing these elements into my music. That’s the beauty of writing music, there are quite literally endless possibilities so you always have the possibility to evolve and develop your sound - which is something I aim to do with every release.
How do you hope that your music influences or impacts your listeners?
I hope people can use my music to soundtrack moments in their life - whether that’s consciously or subconsciously. Music is such a powerful tool for nostalgia. I have received messages from people telling me my music has reminded them of some of their fondest memories, and I find that simply incredible. I write music because I love doing so, but when someone you’ve never met tells you what you’ve created has had an effect on them, I think that is the greatest compliment.
What artists and genres do you enjoy listening to yourself?
My taste can vary depending on what day it is - one day it could be Stevie Wonder, the next it could be Bonobo. I spend a lot of time searching for new music to play in DJ sets and end up discovering a lot of incredible new artists. Some of my favourite artists at the moment are Jacana People, TIBASKO, Bklava, Elkka and Barry Can’t Swim. All incredible British talent doing amazing things right now!
Things are going well and positive - Do you really think we can go back to "normal" events and festivals after the pandemic?
I have every faith that we will return to normal eventually. We have to accept there will be teething issues with the first handful of events, but this has to be accepted given the incredible circumstances of the last year or so. Everyone from bookers, promoters, artists and fans want to go back to what we had pre COVID, so I think everyone will work together to get there eventually. You HAVE to keep the PMA!
What other projects or exciting things are you working on right now or have in the pipeline?
I’m currently working on my live show for my headline debut on July 29th at The Cause in London. There will be some amazing support acts and I will be bringing on some special guests too. Alongside this, I have been working with some very exciting new artists and writing music with them for their own projects. There’s plenty going on behind the scenes right now!
How was ‘Wings’ born? Where did you get the idea for the track from, and how was the creation process?
Wings was born out of my burning desire to get back into the clubs again. I’ve been longing for the opportunity to hear loud music and see flashing lights ever since the world shut down last year. I wanted to write a track that I could hear blasting out the speakers at a club, something that was heavy on the bassline as well as a driving beat. I came up with the core idea of the track and then worked with my incredibly talented friend Krissy Twigge who came up with the awesome vocals to accompany the instrumental. The lyrics speak about wanting to lose control of ourselves and feeling free, which captures the exact emotions I was feeling when writing the initial idea of the track.
Let’s get philosophical for a moment - generally, what makes you happy?
I think the simple things make me happiest. Being content with my friends and family is key for me - I've become so much more grateful for the incredible people in my life since the lockdowns began last year. Every time I see those close to me, I feel like everything is okay and that’s an incredible feeling to have.
Being able to write and perform music also makes me feel extremely happy. There are times when it can be tough mentally, but when I get through the dark patches and I look at what I'm able to do with my life - I consider myself very lucky and grateful that I am in the position I am in today.
Do you have any final words of wisdom?
I think always try and stay positive - life will always throw problems at you and that's okay. We learn more about ourselves from going through our darkest days than we can when everything is perfect. Support your friends and family and also…. Don’t forget your mask!
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