Featuring an amazing voice and brilliant sound design, emerging pop artist Josh Deamer is making a huge buzz. The latest track by this artist ‘You Don’t Know Me’ is creating a stir among the listeners with its unique musical offering. Dealing with sensitive elements like drugs, self-love, and confidence, each of the tracks comes with a relatable subject matter that engages the listeners. We thank the artist for sharing a few words with us.
Daily Music Roll: Congratulations on your latest EP. Which track is your favorite from there?
Josh Deamer: Thank you so much! If I had to pick a track from the EP that was one of my favorites, I’d definitely have to say either the title track ‘You Don’t Know Me’ or ‘Best life’. I just had a great time working on those two tracks and I feel like it showcases some of the more progressive sides to my music that I don’t feel many people have
really heard before.
DMR: We never heard of this kind of pop representation. How did the idea develop?
Josh Deamer: So, the idea for ‘You Don’t Know Me’ came about actually a couple of years ago. I want to say around 2018 is when I had the melodic idea for the chorus but I didn’t quite know how to start the song yet or which direction it was going to go in. After a couple of years with this melody still in my mind, I realized that it has to be in a song someway, somehow. So, I gathered a few buddies of mine who helped me finish the track and I am beyond grateful for the way that it turned out. The verses, in particular, I feel really tell my story and experiences that I hope other people can relate to and know that they aren’t alone whether it be struggling with mental illness, sexuality, or drugs.
DMR: You have an amazing voice, are you vocally trained?
Josh Deamer: Haha well thank you. I do try to have a healthy regimen and keep good vocal technique which is very important in this industry. However, I wouldn’t necessarily call my voice trained at all. there are some great operatic and classical singers I personally know of with amazing technique who can blow me right out of the ballpark with their voices, but in the type of music, I make (pop music) I feel that the inflections and imperfections in our voices are what really drives a song and makes it amazing. Having a nice tone is great and all, but as long as a performer is singing from their soul and you can hear that in the recording or live performances is what it really comes down to.
DMR: Who inspired you the most to pursue music?
Josh Deamer: I would definitely have to say my family inspired me the most. Growing up they would play a lot of rock ‘n’ roll from the 70s and 80s from bands like Queen, Elton John, and Billy Joel which definitely defined a generation. But growing up I listened to a lot of hip-hop and electronic music which I feel has really helped me develop my current sound.
DMR: You write, sing, and produce all by yourself. Isn’t that too much work for you?
Josh Deamer: It is a lot, haha, but it’s what I really love to do. My true passion is in melody writing but I know that people really like the beats that I produce so I started producing beats for other artists and helping write tracks for them as well. I started around my high school and college years, building connections, and constantly working on my craft, which then set me up to where I am today. If other people can relate to a track or get some kind of feeling from a beat or lyric, then I feel like I succeeded as a music creator.
DMR: As a songwriter, how do you like to write? – Music first or lyrics?
Josh Deamer: I would say it really depends on the session and who else is in the room. Typically, will start off with a chord progression, then take a minute to build melodic and lyrical ideas. But I’d say a lot of my inspiration I find currently has been coming from the new wave r&b music that’s been released lately like SZA, August 08, and 6lack. I like how their writing style conveys stories in a multitude of emotions which is something I like to display my personal music.
DMR: Since you incorporate trumpets and violins in your music, do you play them all? When did you start playing first?
Josh Deamer: So, I’ve always been into music since I can first remember. I learned Trumpet around age six or seven which really taught me the core fundamentals like reading sheet music, time signature, circle of fifths. Then within the next couple of years, I taught myself piano, bass guitar, and guitar, to where I learned to record and produce my own music still self-teaching myself on Logic Pro on my MacBook which is how I make most
of the tracks today.
DMR: As a rising music artist, what are your thoughts on the modern music industry?
Josh Deamer: I think the styles and the blending of different genres are amazing and should keep growing in that direction, however, my thoughts on the way creators get paid through the evolution of streaming services taunts me a bit. With so much music being released every single day, it’s hard for new artists to really make a footprint in the industry, but as long as you’re doing it out of good intentions and it’s something you truly love then I fully support it.
DMR: We are still on the effect of the Global Pandemic. How did it affect your music?
Josh Deamer: So, I had a couple of plans for 2020 which definitely changed throughout the course of the year. In the beginning, using video calls was a difficult way for me personally to write since I like being in the presence of other people, but like anything, you got to work around it. With the heat of the political climate and everything else going on I feel I’ve been a lot more conscious of what I say in my music and the lyrics I put out into the universe. I mainly want to support the ideas of equality and acceptance and will continue to spread that message as best I can through my art.
DMR: Dealing with the sensitive subject matter, do you think music can make a change in society?
Josh Deamer: Absolutely, music has such a psychological power to heal people. I think the act of multiple people liking a certain song brings a sense of unity that I don’t think many other careers or forms of art can really display better than music can. In the track ‘You Don’t Know Me’ I talk about some sensitive and explicit topics, but I feel that really honing down on the specific subject matter that I’ve dealt with personally, and for others to hear that someone like them has gone through some of the same experiences, can make impactful changes in society and bring awareness to certain issues that we never thought about previously like mental health, the LGBT community, and addiction.
DMR: Would you like to give some tips to the rising independent artists?
Josh Deamer: I would say to keep doing it out of the good intentions of your heart. If you love it then it will manifest itself and others will recognize that. There’s always going to be people who try to tear you down just because they’re envious you’re doing what you love. But keep pushing and developing your craft. You never know what can happen in a few days, weeks, or years. Society changes so much and what is in trend now could change in an instant so just stay curious.
DMR: Is there anything you would like to tell your listeners?
Josh Deamer: No matter your background, experiences, education, there is always room for growth and development. Spread kindness and be more conscious about yourself and the energy that you give off. We’re all in this fight for the human condition together, so stay authentic to yourself and care for one another.
