Original Link: https://yorkcalling.co.uk/2023/06/19/interview-ari-joshua/
Interview: Ari Joshua
Ari Joshua is a man of many talents – as well as being an astounding musician and songwriter, he’s also a business owner, running a music school known as The Music Factory. I checked out his fabulous release Spooky recently, and felt it was very different to the modern musical norms, which is one of the reasons I loved it so much. Ari covers many different genres within his sound, so there should be something for all our readers to love!
By Jane Howkins
You released a single titled Spooky. What can you tell us about the track?
One of my all-time favorite saxophone players happens to be one of the musicians on the recording. Skerik has a project called the Sycopaited Taint Septet. I loved seeing that group so much, and I wanted to pay homage to him through my writing. I also love old scores, I used to frequent a local VHS rental store called Scarecrow Videos and ask for referrals to films with dope music. I remember attending a master class with Wayne Shorter during my high school or college years, he also emphasised the influence of scores from old movies. I wanted that vibe.
Movies like Videodrome and Suspiria, known for their music, were a source of inspiration for me. I aimed to focus less on solos and more on capturing the melody and harmony. I also thought about Maria Schneider, a teacher of mine – she encouraged us to envision monsters and compose music that reflected their presence in our minds. Spooky was something that came from a stew of all that stuff. Delvon Lamarr nailed the bass parts, and drummer Grant Schroff also served the vision spot on.
How has the reception to the song been so far, and where can the song be purchased?
All my music is best purchased on my website, but also you can buy at Bandcamp. Spooky is on the Color Red Label. I would go there and get it through them if you can, they are doing great stuff and Eddie is doing good work there. The reception has been great for all the recent music, for certain better then in past years. Spooky landed on a few Apple Music playlists curated by the platform’s editors and it’s helped me reach some new listeners. I have gotten messages from people from all over saying they dig it and also want to place it on a playlist or something. There was a time when I wasn’t sharing my art just based on the fear of it not being covered. It’s been a good show of how courage can take you through shit.
Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future?
Yes a lot. Hundreds. I better get to it!
Are there any plans to release an album or EP anytime soon?
Yeah, my dream is to get enough supporters and fans/listeners that will buy a full EP, a vinyl and some physical merch. Hopefully someone is reading this and becoming a new potential fan. When the time is right, it will happen.
The track has an eerie dub sound, fitting the title well. What/who influences you most as an artist? What have you been listening to recently?
I grew up with a few friends who would create mix tapes on cassettes. I have boxes of mix tapes decorated with art and collages. One friend, Andrew Oldham, was a true maestro of dub reggae – also Mike Day, my roommate turned me on to the masters; King Tubby, Lee Perry, The Mad Professor, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Errol Thompson, cats like that. Jason Gray is the mixing mastermind on Spooky, he has a treasure trove of vintage outboard gear. For this track, he manipulated the audio, routing it in various ways, all done outside of the computer without the use of plug-ins. There’s a place for computers, but the sound on everything Jason does is in a big part due to his old super ‘OG’ gear.
As for my current musical influences, I cast a pretty wide net. It’s like the rings in a great big tree. These rings stretch back to my earliest years as a toddler, and new rings continue to form. Nowadays, my inspiration stems more from non-musical ideas – captivating concepts that arise during conversations or intriguing themes explored in documentaries I watch. Also people I really admire and look up to – I watch how they use their time and words.
You’re also a business owner! What is your business? How do you fit everything in?
My business is called The Music Factory, and it’s centered on music education and music lessons. All year round, for over two decades, I have been balancing a few different angles on what’s important to me, it just sort of happened around me. I have been in a lot of bands and projects, but they mostly seem to come and go, and it’s been hard to find a band to stay together, but the business has been solid as a rock. It’s been an anchor and a foundation.
I prioritise daily walks and incorporate long periods of rest. Before the pandemic, I had a car accident that laid me up. I used to party more and burn the candle on both ends, I got mixed up with some bad scenes and dangerous outlooks at times. Since the pandemic I have been staying home more, conserving energy – either way the business keeps floating nicely, it’s a good cause I suppose.
It also helps in that I am blessed to have a team of talented bad asses at work who I deeply love and trust. They all have a similar respect for the arts and the music, and their presence makes all the difference. I do really love them, and I feel like they accept the way I am and see things, that’s the real sauce. The financial returns may not be as substantial as those of computer or tech workers, but the mission itself is really beautiful. I used to really feel like I couldn’t do something that wasn’t in line with what I would do even if I had all the money I could need, but I am learning more about how that all works a bit now. I think a business owner should be prepared to sacrifice a lot, but it all works out in the end, as things just fit together over time.
Do you have anything else exciting coming up this year?
For this year, the plan is to continue making art and invest time into things that hold meaning for me, and that make the world better in some way. We’re building a walkway garden at the factory that was this week’s focus. Creating a garden has taught me a lot. It requires an initial investment, a dedication of time, a willingness to get your hands dirty and at least a basic understanding of how sun, water and dirt work. I think what is most exciting is approaching things that used to be a huge challenge with more maturity, sobriety and perspective. There is a lot of potential, I am open to opportunities.
You’re based in Seattle. How is the local music scene faring at the moment?
There’s things I miss about New York, but one thing I don’t miss is how hard it was to really curate a local scene. It was an international scene. That was a different thing. I think the local scene here has a lot of things for a lot of people. I don’t want to get critical in an interview, as all in all I am grateful for a lot of beautiful people in the scene. There are some pluses and minuses to the way things are in the scene, I guess that’s how it is anywhere. Life is always a mix of stuff.
One thing I will say is that there is a lot of new wealth that has been coming into the city, there is a lot of greenery and forests and mountains and natural beauty and new folks are coming in from all over the world. I think artists are being tangibly left out of the equation. A lot of folks are moving out of town, and there’s a lot shifting. People are really focused on just making it work. No doubt the talent pool is as good as anywhere on earth, but it’s like anywhere, just more green all year round.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
Oh wow I wish. Bring me out there, hit us up on our website and fly me out there! I have a lot of family out there. My grandmother was from England. She met my grandfather there and then moved to Cape Town, I even had a British Passport at one point. I loved the northern country, Dartmoor and that area called Devon in the south western part of England. I wanna write songs there!
Any last words for the fans?
Music is life, and all life is vibration. There is some profound stuff at work that artists are dealing with and always have for as long as I can tell. I REALLY appreciate some love and support, and I want to express my gratitude in advance to anyone that I resonate with. For you the reader, your life is a gift, and you are enough as you are. For whatever reason you are in the place that you are and if we are connecting, even at a distance, or for a brief moment in time, even that is a miracle. If you are reading this you are part of the big miracle that we are all apart of, and I know you may be struggling, but you are not alone, and it’s a great honor to be in the world with you. You keep on doing what you do, and only wish to make your life a little better. If you resonate with my stuff add me on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, or just listen in and know my art is full of love and I strive to come from the source as much as I can. Is that ok to say?
My last word is to have a blessed day, and to treat people with kindness and to be well! Thanks for the interview and for your interest in Spooky.