Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Love.
Joel, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I started playing music in middle school, and I started on trumpet. I was never really all that great until one day in eighth grade. I decided that I wanted to unseat this girl who ALWAYS got first chair. I was able to beat her and pretty much never lost my first chair status in middle school and high school after that. When I was in high school, I started experimenting with the piano and music composition. I was always very curious about how music worked. I made the all-state band in high school on trumpet and decided to pursue a degree in music at my hometown school, Lamar University, in Beaumont, TX. At Lamar, I was able to play in the jazz band, sing with the choir, play in the wind ensemble, and also got the chance to work with people in film and art. I wrote just enough music to get me into the University of Houston, where I later got my masters in music in 2010. I learned SO much about composition, wrote a lot of music, and really started gigging as a jazz pianist during my time at UH. I was lucky enough to get into the University of Texas at Austin for my doctorate degree and finished up in 2014. I worked as a freelancer for a year and did many things: I worked as an accompanist to an improvised musical comedy group called Girls, Girls, Girls, worked in the studio of film composer/bandleader Graham Reynolds, and wrote lots of music. I got my job working full time at Houston Community College in 2015 and have happily been in Houston since!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why? And what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I create music in all kinds of genre: film, chamber music, large ensemble, songs, commercial music (TV/jingle, etc.), jazz, etc. You name it, I most likely have written it.
As far as my art/concert music is concerned, my music often has popular elements woven into it. For instance, right now I’m writing a Nocturne for solo piano, and I’m mixing the traditional sound of Chopin with the jazz language. Another thing I like to pursue in my writing is an aesthetic of sublime beauty. For instance, in 2013 I was commissioned to write a string quartet for the opening of a Skyspace in Austin, TX, by famed artist James Turrell. Since his art is so transcendently beautiful, I really enjoyed writing my second string quartet, Lightscape and was inspired by his stunning artwork.
My music is all over the place, but I can say (regardless of the style I am working in) that it is usually immediately accessible and people can often relate to its narrative. I hope people are moved by my music or that it takes them out of their day-to-day and helps them enjoy life for even just a few minutes.
The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
It’s really difficult to be an artist. I remember all too well struggling between the year-long gap between the final year of my doctorate and the first year of my new job. I worked five jobs (as a lessons teacher at two locations, studio assistant, church pianist, a jazz pianist taking gigs, and a composer fulfilling commissions). My only piece of advice is that if you believe in your artwork, you should do it even if you aren’t getting money from it and the money, gigs, notoriety, will come. Philip Glass was a cab driver and plumber in NYC for a long time before he got his big breaks. I have always found solace in the fact that my art is firstly a vehicle for personal fulfillment and that I do not have to do it for anyone else. Even if I would have never had any success in any way, I would still love playing piano, writing music, etc. because it is intertwined with who I am.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
A great many of my compositions can be found on my website, www.joellove.com. I also do have pieces played in and around Houston quite often. I try to be good about adding my local events to my website’s calendar. You can support my work through coming to any of those events, or you could send me a personal message of support. If someone were to like my music very much, they could consider getting onboard with a commission for a new work. Any kind of support, whether fiscal or non-fiscal and friendly is greatly appreciated.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joellove.com/
- Phone: 4096732376
- Email: joel@joellove.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fugalvoice/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joel.d.love
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/joeldlove
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/joellove
Image Credit:
Elizabeth Hoard
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