Joe beats has been involved with Providence way before I even knew this city existed. He has been one of the most prominent, if not THE most prominent beatsmiths from this state ever! He is currently on tour with Blak going up and down the east coast over the next couple of weeks. He granted me this interview, I just hope your ready for it.
HW: Its been a minute, some people might not have been paying attention but what have you been up to since the non prophets album?
Joey Beats: in the woodshed pretty much. The most notable thing I did was an remix project called Indie Rock Blues. I felt very good about that work. Everything else I’ve done since, I’ve been a lot more insecure about. So I hit the woodshed. I’m just trying to get better. I realized I wasn’t very good and I needed more practice/growth. Ive been building on a relationship with an emcee named Blak from Jamaica via Tampa, we’ve done some tours together and are going back out on the road again. we’ve been doing stuff for about two years and are finally coming into our own.
HW: How has the reaction been to these tours and recent projects with blak?
Joey Beats: better and better. The first tour was a very rough, very bare bones, we did it ourselves only a month out so it was difficult. The second one we had booking help and it went swimmingly, the third was better than that, and now we’re on our fourth…and it looks like it’s goin in that same direction, up and up, work work work. As for the music…We started off very strong…because things were very introductory and new, but then we hit a period of both not knowing what we personally wanted to do. We hit a stride a few months back and got a load of material done, the reaction to the new stuff has been great.
HW: What do your live sets consist of?
Joey Beats: very simple…me on twin sp-404 samplers and blak on the mic. We perform on the floor, thats a compromise for my sake so people can see what I’m doing on the samplers if they choose, the set is expanding though.
HW: What would you say to someone on the fence about coming to the show april 5th at AS220?
Joey Beats: say what up to humpty dumpty for me. If chillin on the fence is better for you, then shit…stay on the fence. haha.
HW: Your all-time favorite track? and why?
Joey Beats: Rap?
HW: Doesn’t matter.
Joey Beats: well I’ll just do hip hop, because if I include all genres I’ll go nuts and get all geeky. My favorite all time hip hop track is Looking At The Front Door by Main Source. why? A variety of reasons. Along with it giving me the same feeling today as when I first heard it – It still fucks with me. As a producer, I know he samples Think Twice by Donald Byrd, puts it with Detroit Emeralds, and layers “Chick-A-Boom” in for the chorus. I know it’s “Chick-A-Boom”. I have it on wax, I love it. But to this day…I still hear the vocal saying, “Games, games, games.” Long story short, it took me years to figure out, he eqd the reverb on the Chick – A -Boom sample and disguised what’s being said. Even still knowing that, I still can’t get away from hearing what Iheard as an 8th grader. The song still fucks with me. Heavy.
HW: holy shit, that is some shit right there.
Joey Beats: yeah man word.
HW: It’s been awhile since NP, are there any plans to do a sequel to that?
Joey Beats: no.
HW: What was your favorite live performance ever?
Joey Beats: that I’ve done? or that I’ve seen?
HW: seen and done.
Joey Beats: we’ll keep it hip hop again, becuase I would tell you sade if we werent in the hip hop realm, but…we’ll keep it hip hop. Hip hop. Summer 1991. Rocky Point Park. KMD. De La Soul. BRand Nubian. Leaders of the New School. I was 13. I grew up right down the street from Rocky Point.
HW: Rocky point park? like the theme park?
Joey Beats: yeah, so we used to sneak in there as kids.
HW: that place was crazy.
Joey Beats: yeah.
HW: I never did figure out why it shut down.
Joey Beats: there’s a movie out about it on dvd, etc.
HW: forreal I gotta find that.
Joey Beats: its called “you must be this tall” I think. URI cat made it, Dave Beatencourt I think. Godhead dude.
HW: Godhead?
Joey Beats: yeah yeah an old URI mag, sorry hah.
HW: so what has been your best show?
Joey Beats: well…one of two: Troubadour in Los Angeles or First Ave in Minneapolis -both on the 2004 FCC tour. I personally loved those. special venues, etc.
HW: If a tree falls in a forest does it make a noise.
Joey Beats: I think so. the world exists when you close your eyes.
HW: Any closing comments?
Joey Beats: well I appreciate your time and the questions. I thank you.
HW: well I thank you too.
Joey Beats: indeed.
HW: cause without you their is no interview.
Joey Beats: vice versa.
HW: I guess, but someone else would and could take my spot.
Joey Beats: point being: we’re both replaceable.
HW: noone is doing what you doing and doing it as well, just my words.
Joey Beats: well I appreciate that.. thankas a lot. please forgive me, if I decide not to believe you, haha.
HW: well thank you mr beats and for the people out there where can they look you up on the interwebz?
Joey Beats: joeybeats.com, myspace.com/joeynosebeats
Tags: Joe Beats, Non Prophets, wax
