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The Hoot Meets: Joesef, a new alt-indie artist on Mel B, Hyde Park and his debut album
"I was a late bloomer I didn’t think I would be a singer but aye just in my bedroom making turn and now here we are at Live at Leeds".
Sophie Smith -
25th October 2022 
Elton John played Joesef's tunes on Rocket Hour, earlier this month- and if that isn't a high enough recommendation for an artist that's yet to release their debut album, we're not sure what else is.
Brought up on a "melting pot of good tunes", an eclectic combination of old soul and 90s bangers, Joesef started making music in his bedroom. In a world where anyone can plug their guitar into a laptop and sing over FaceTime, it can be difficult to cut through the noise, but the soothing melodies of the Glasweigan singer are a Spotify favourite for good reason.
mad that @eltonofficial knows who i am, listen to the big man play Joe on the Rocket Hour only on @AppleMusic ✨🥹👉🏼👈🏼 pic.twitter.com/Rq8QLtCIkN
— joesef (@joesefjoesef) October 10, 2022
Effortlessly fusing soul and pop comes naturally to the independent artist, but Joesef never intended to set out to become the rising singer-songwriter packing out crowds across the UK, including last weekend at Leeds' own Live At Leeds: In The City festival, where we were lucky enough to catch up with the artist.
"I was a late bloomer I didn’t think I would be a singer but aye just in my bedroom making turn and now here we are at Live at Leeds".
Inspired by the works of The Cure, Mamas and Papas and Joy Division, three years on from putting out his first single, Limbo, Joesef is now preparing to release the highly anticipated debut album Permanent Damage- which pays homage to the evolution of his musical career to date.
Ever humble, Joesef describes the album as "more of an evolved sound than people have ever heard before", having been recorded in a professional studio, rather than just plugging his guitar into a laptop, grinning at the countdown to the album release in just a few short months.
Permanent Damage will hit the shelves on Friday 13 January 2023, blowing away the new year blues with never-heard-before soulful melodies. Naturally, the alt-indie singer will be back in Leeds to bring the album to one of "the closest crowds to Glasgow"- a huge compliment given the musical talent of Joesef's home city.
"The energy is just unmatched [in Leeds] and it feels like we’re all mates, I think it’s just a northern thing […] my first Leeds gig I had people crying and that it was so funny, I can’t remember which venue it was at but we were on the floor and basically we were standing at the same level I could see everyone [...] Leeds crowd is amazing man, they always show up."
Joesef went on to explain that having played at Brudenell, Hyde Park and now headlining Live At Leeds: In The City on the Belgrave Music Hall stage, he's constantly watching the Yorkshire crowds evolve, with a solid fan base of those returning time-after-time to catch new tunes in different venues.
"I’m starting to really recognise people as well I did a wee session at Hyde Park Book Club and I’ve seen the crowd at the front at previous gigs"
Read More: Live At Leeds In The City: the day-festival celebrating the best of indie artists
We don't need telling twice that Yorkshire is full of musical talent, from Bring Me The Horizon and Alex Turner over in Sheffield to our own Kaiser Chiefs here in Leeds, but for Joesef, there was one name that outshone the rest: Mel B.
"Honestly zig-a-zig-ah! When I was a wee kid that was me and my mums first obsession and my brothers were with Oasis and we had my mum dances Spice Girls, so big up to Mel B!"
"Mel B aye she’s a Leeds icon but obviously in Yorkshire you’ve got Arctic Monkeys and that cannae knock them, cannae knock them, they’ve done alright haven’t they!"
You can catch Joesef at Stylus at Leeds University Union on Friday 17 March 2023. For more information about the upcoming tour, visit Joesef's website.
Thankyou to Live At Leeds: In The City Festival for organising this interview.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
