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BOTW Vol 16: Joel Piper
The first presidential debate of 2012 was held less than a week ago. The discussions overheard at coffee shops, bars, and lunch counters the following day reaffirmed what most of us already know: our country is severely divided when it comes to politics. The same can be said of Joel Piper’s fans when they discuss the contrasts between his work as a pop artist and that of his heavier projects, such as Confide. But, the same question we ask of our politicians can be asked of Joel: is what he’s doing good? The answer, at least from my side of the isle, is yes.
According to Wikipedia, ‘pop music’ is “a genre of popular music which originated in its modern form in the 1950s, deriving from rock and roll.” The idea that pop music was born out of rock and roll may not sit well with some fans of so-called harder music, but it makes perfect sense of the progression in Joel Piper’s song writing. Joel began playing drums in junior high on an electronic drum kit, which makes you wonder if the digital sounds made by hitting those drums left a lasting impression in Joel’s mind of the kind of tones he’s always wanted to hear in his music. While with the screamo/hardcore band Confide, it was Joel’s voice that popped to the forefront, enabling the masses to sing along. He even proclaims in one youtube interview, “No matter what band I was in…one day…I [knew] I was going to be writing pop music.”
It’s understandable then that Joel Piper’s first solo record ‘Dying to Live’ finds him not just attempting, but mastering the elements of pop music. His vocal melodies get stuck in your head, then force their way uninvitedly past your lips and into the silence that surrounds you even hours after the album stops playing. The record even manages to take one of the most annoyingly overused tricks in pop music today, auto-tune, and give it a unique rhythmic twist that makes the played out effect interesting again.
The bottom-line is Joel Piper makes pop music fun, interesting, and engaging for me again.
9 Questions with Joel Piper
BEACON: First concert you attended?
Joel: The first concert i attended was a band called Newsboys from the 90′s. I remember seeing the drummer and the singer do a dueling drum solo on a hydraulic platform that raised up and went vertical. I thought it was the coolest thing ever!
BEACON: All time favorite album?
Joel: I dont have an all time favorite album, but Paramore’s “Riot” and Chris Browns “Fortune” are probably close to that.
BEACON: Favorite musician?
Joel: My favorite musician would have to be John Mayer .
BEACON: Favorite restaurant?
Joel: My favorite restaurant would have to be Yardhouse. I eat there all the time.
BEACON: All time favorite movie?
Joel: My favorite all time movie is Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
BEACON: Vinyl or MP3?
Joel: MP3
BEACON: Dylan or The Beatles?
Joel: The Beatles.
BEACON: Stevie Wonder or Bob Marley?
Joel: Bob Marley.
BEACON: Most bizarre location that you have written a song?
Joel: Jail, after getting arrested for climbing a water tower in TX on tour.
The Sounds of Joel Piper