Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Lee.
Hi Joey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Starting when I was a kid, I always loved playing music, from when I started playing Saxophone in 5th grade and Piano in 6th grade, I couldn’t ever get enough. I remember a particular time when I made a guitar out of a shoebox, rubber bands, and a long wood piece. It didnt sound very good, but I strummed it to my parents chagrin. Throughout middle school I had searched for things I liked, and in my first year of high school I had found my instrument. I went into my english class on just a random day, and a friend had brought in a guitar. I remember strumming a few notes on the guitar and instantly was hooked. That Christmas my parents gifted me a guitar, unbeknownst to them starting a long long love affair with playing music and being in a band. From there I practiced every moment I could and eventually joined a band after high school before going into college. Me and 2 other friends(who were twins) formed the band Same Ol’ Sound. We formed the band because we loved all the old style of Rock n’ Roll, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers and loved the way they played their instruments. So we played around the Virginia area and eventually decided we had to move to a more musical city so we could spread our wings. We moved to Asheville, NC to start building a touring band. After about a year or so of moving we started touring on the weekends, and then a few months after that started touring for 3-5 months at a time. We toured the U.S probably about 7-8 times. After awhile I was getting burnt out on the constant touring and stress of being in this band as well as the constant friction of the members of the band. I left during a European tour(as I had planned to leave afterwards anyways). I put away the guitar after that for about 4-5 years just working a normal 9=5 job. As Covid pressed into the world, I decided that I should start picking up the guitar again. So i started writing songs again, and playing old covers I knew. Eventually that led me to a jam session with a friend. We had 1 jam session and came out with a good song(which would eventually be our first single). Then we had more and more jams and kept coming out with more and more songs. So eventually we decided we should record these songs and build a band! We Recorded them and they sounded amazing! Everyone that heard them before we even released them said “You might have something there.” As that happened, I finally started getting the feeling like I was actually living again. I was doing what I felt was my destiny. And now the story is continuing as I am working on releasing all the songs, and booking shows and building the band to bigger heights, than the last band was.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I went through horrible struggles personally and professionally with the last band that hurt me, and put me out of music for 5-6 years. And now, member of my current band was an alcoholic and was let go from the band after the first show. So for 2 shows I became the lead singer and only member of the band, when only planned to be a backup/1-3 song singer and lead guitar player.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I play music and am a songwriter/musician. It is funny because in my old life(playing with the old band) I was known as a musician and a really good guitar player, but after I took my hiatus and getting back into playing most people do not know me as a musician or a guitar player. If I play for people, they are surprised at how well I play and that I play in general. One of the things that I am most proud of is that, even through all the adversity of music and band members, I am still moving forward no matter what is going on around me.
I will always try my hardest and remain calm during those moments.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can work with me and collaborate with me playing songs or songwriting. People wanting to support can listen to Strawhouse’s music on Spotify or apple music or anywhere they stream the music.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strawhousemusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Strawhousemusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZKNZNL0_pgmTO6OP690iQ
Image Credits
Photo by Briana Autran Photography
