24 April 2023

What was the inspiration behind the EP?
The original idea was to create 3 songs with each intending to represent a different emotion – sadness, anger and hope. The overall structure was inspired by Kanye’s Late Registration and Kendrick’s To Pimp A Butterfly with complex arrangements featuring multiple voices and varied sections. The 8 rappers and singers involved come from the USA, the UK and Ireland. Most of these people I met through working on a project for US rapper Asher Roth.
Did the pandemic have an impact when recording the EP?
No all the collaboration was done remotely anyway, I produced and mixed everything at home and the featured artists recorded themselves.
How long did the EP take to create from start to finish?
15 months but while studying and working.
Which track was written first?
For A Reason (feat. Tracee Shade, Marcus Smith, Code Will, Thea Garcia and Donna Roche).
Do you have any personal favourite tracks?
Worry / Free (feat. Marcus Smith, Adam Cully, dorothy & Thea Garcia).
Were any tracks difficult to write?
For A Reason (feat. Tracee Shade, Marcus Smith, Code Will, Thea Garcia & Donna Roche) took the longest. I found it very hard to give it a complete feeling and took many forms trying to get it right. Adding a string section and changing the rhythm section really helped it come together.
What do you have coming up in the next 12 months?
I’m currently recording a follow up EP which will be a change in style, as I’ve previously only worked in the hip-hop world. The new EP is all recorded with live instruments using limited recording techniques, all inspired by The Beatles, and will be featuring US singer Marcus Smith.
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Released: 14th April 2023
You can find out more about Cork artist Joey via Amazon Music, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Deezer, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify or Twitter.
You can read my Independent Music Monday interview with Joey here and you can read my interview with him about his later EP “Loose Time EP” here.