Exclusive Interview With MARKJOSEPH

MarkJoseph is a singer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. After graduating from Berklee College of Music and moving to LA in 2018, he released multiple singles as a solo artist, while also joining Nick Jonas and The Jonas Brothers as a background vocalist for several global tours and performances including the GRAMMYs, the Video Music Awards, the American Music Awards, Saturday Night Live, The Ellen Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a Park MGM Vegas residency and more. Check out the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

MARKJOSEPH: I’m from Boston, MA. Music’s been part of me since before I can even remember. I was always singing around the house, singing at school, singing after school, writing songs/jingles etc. It wasn’t until my sophomore year in High School that I started taking it seriously. That’s when my choir teacher, Ms. Knight saw my potential and started signing me up for as many vocal programs as she could. Sometimes without me even wanting her too! haha. I was going into the city every weekend because of these programs. She pushed me and I’m grateful for that. I got into Berklee College of Music soon after, and I feel like it’s thanks to her.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

MARKJOSEPH: I have training – my roots are in classical voice. That started in 10th grade, thanks to Ms. Knight signing me up for it. I had voice lessons at Berklee all 4 years, as well. We had some songwriting classes at school, but I feel like that’s something you can’t actually teach. It’s such a subjective thing.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘MARKJOSEPH?

MARKJOSEPH: Boyz II Men, Brandy, Beyonce, Celine Dion. Those were my “BIG 4” and they’ve stuck ‘til this day. My actual name is Mark Joseph. Growing up, everyone would always mention how I have two first names and how it was pretty cool. I always got called by my full name growing up, so it just stuck when I decided to be an artist. I took out the space between Mark and Joseph to make it more unique and distinguishable.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

MARKJOSEPH: I bleed the ‘90s. In every song I work on, I can’t help but either sprinkle or downpour some ‘90s over it. Whether it be a melody, a vocal arrangement, or something in the production. That, for sure, is a key element. Also, I have an obsession with background vocals. I was infatuated with acapella growing up so I tend to incorporate hooky/catchy background vocal parts in my music, as opposed to the normal oohs and ahs. The background parts are usually doing their own thing, having their own moment back there while the lead is doing it’s thing. Working together like an acapella arrangement does. This is something that I recently realized that I subconsciously do. And I’ll catch people singing the background parts more than the lead sometimes, which I think is fun. I would describe my sound as a time traveler from the 90s who brings the sauce from back then, and mixes it up with the Pop-R&B-Rock sounds of today.

5. Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

MARKJOSEPH:

I usually start with a concept, or I’ll be in a co-write and we’ll talk about what’s going on in each other’s lives/heads and riff off of those things. I’ve gotten more into co-writing lately. It used to make me nervous, but then I realized creating should be fun and low stakes. Now, I love to co-write and collaborate with others.

6. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

MARKJOSEPH: The most difficult thing so far in my life was losing my mother in 2020. The first and only time I’ve ever truly dealt with a death was with hers.

7. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

MARKJOSEPH: Getting to tour the world singing background vocals for the Jonas Brothers takes the cake, for sure. I’ve seen so many places and have been on stages I never even imagined I could be on. It’s a gig that teaches me so much – and inspires me just as much.

8. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

MARKJOSEPH: I notice it sometimes, but I don’t pay attention to it at all. Music is subjective. I’m not about to be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s fine. I work hard to make myself happy with myself. So that – if there is criticism, I’m able to either take it constructively, or with a grain of salt, without it deterring me.

9. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

MARKJOSEPH: This one is so hard because I love both! Ah! I would have to say creative work in a studio. I was just talking to a friend the other day about how the studio is like a playground to me. You mean I get to record it, and add to it, and sculpt it until I feel like it’s damn-near perfect? LOCK ME IN THERE. That’s just a different level of fun to me. But I love interacting with a live audience as well. It’s like hanging out with a bunch of homies and sharing an experience. Actually, it’s exactly that.

10. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

MARKJOSEPH: I think everyone should be free to interpret songs in their own personal way. That’s one of my favorite things about music. For example, when I first heard the chorus of “Easy On Me” by Adele, of course I thought it was about a lover. Come to find out, according to Adele, that chorus is a message to her son who was affected by the divorce of his parents. That’s a message she hopes “older” him is able to hear and understand, as he’s too young to understand right now. Stuff like that is so beautiful to me and blows my mind. Who would’ve ever thought?