A Dirty Dozen with NICK REESE of JOYOUS WOLF – June 2019

According to a recent press release: “Southern California based Rock band JOYOUS WOLF has released their Roadrunner Records debut EP, Place in Time. Available today at all DSPs, Place In Time is highlighted by lead singles “Quiet Heart” and the EP’s title track, “Place In Time.” Currently on tour in the U.S. with Buckcherry, Joyous Wolf have also been announced to perform at this year’s Louder Than Life Festival on Friday, September 27th in Louisville, KY. Tickets for all dates are on sale now.” We get vocalist Nick to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

I think it’s definitely a record you’ll grow more into as you continue to listen. At surface level it all sort of blows past you. Lyrically I have a lot to say on this record so for me the next few listens will reveal a lot more of the subject matter I think. I wrote this record for my generation and the one coming up. It all fell together that way.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My father and other members of my family were musicians so there was always that in my early life. I was always a listener jazz, blues, 50’s rock and roll, and soul music from the 60’s was what my diet consisted of until I discovered more modern acts kn my teens. But the moment for me was when I got into Elvis Presley. I worshiped him. His records were the first I ever tried to sing with. Those records taught me how to sing.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

As far as albums one that truly changed how I thought about music was Pet Sounds. Brian Wilson is a true genius. That record left a significant mark on me. Elvis was my hero, but when I discovered James Brown something new clicked I realized my love of the beat and my love of dance. I always danced ever since. His performance on The Tami Show in 1964 was on TV once when I was around 6 or 7 years old. I saw the way he danced and made the crowd scream. According to my mom I instantly got up and started sliding around the floor in my socks. I listen to a wide range of stuff everything from Frank Sinatra to Phil Anselmo. I’ve always been sponge every great performer or musician has something to teach. I’ve been in class my whole life.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

That’s tough. If we are talking vocalists In no particular order. Ray Charles, James Brown, Elvis Presley, Chris Cornell, and Bono. Bands would be The Who, U2, Soundgarden, Led Zeppelin, and REM.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

That’s an interesting question… I would love to write a soul song or rocker with Billie Ellish, Lorde, or Sia. With big pop singers like that I always wonder what they could do in my sort of wheelhouse. That would be a fun experience I’m sure, or at very least entertaining for me.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Well I usually say it’s somewhere in the universe of Led Zeppelin and Soundgarden not that I think we come close to those acts but just sonically my joke to myself is that its somewhere between Howlin’ Wolf and Joy Division. One time some super drunk guy told me I sounded like Scott Stapp. I wanted to roll over and die. To me that’s quite the insult. I’ve heard mostly good comparisons though like Freddie Mercury and Chris Cornell which are shocking to hear so it balances out.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

The connection with an audience every night. I live for it. That and creating these pieces of music with my brothers. Our sound is ours and nobody else’s. I’m proud of that.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

We are very boring behind the scenes when we drink and hangout it’s always doing the same thing. Competitive team Super Smash Brothers!

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

I was sort of of star suffocated once. It was at Welcome to Rockville we were back stage I ended up talking with Pat Smear I did one of my stage tricks for him and he went and brought Dave over for me to do it again. We ended up having this conversation with half of Queens of the Stone Age, The Foo Fighters, and all the while Billy Idol was tearing it up on stage. I wasn’t “struck” but I was definitely overwhelmed. One of the greatest moments of my life.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

I think I’d like to be a chef. I’m a competitive person and I love to cook. I feel like I could excel at that.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Honestly I have no regrets every decision I’ve made has led me to this point. I’m loving this point and I’m not a regretful type of person to begin with.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would just like to watch, not perform haha. There are so many I’d choose but at this moment I would love to watch the sessions for The Joshua Tree by U2 a record I discovered as a young teen and have revisited lately it’s a perfect album with some of the best written songs ever to grace radio.

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Category: Interviews