Rising Stars: Meet Alyssa Joseph

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Joseph.

Hi Alyssa, 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?
I’ve always been a performer. From a young age I was taking piano lessons, acting and singing in plays and musicals, competing in dance competitions, you name it, I was on stage. I’m from New Jersey, specifically the suburbs of Philly. My parents always encouraged me to find my passions and follow them.

Music was always a part of my home growing up. My older brother had severe special needs and LOVED Disney movies and music. We would always sing his favorite songs with him, so music was ingrained in me as something that made people happy when I was very young.

In terms of writing my own music, I started writing melodies and lyrics around the age of 12, before I even knew how to play guitar. I was a serious Swiftie (still am) and loved singer/songwriters like Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne, and just kind of fell into writing songs. I had a lot of emotions and needed an outlet.

I went to Drexel University for Music Industry, and then moved to Nashville as an artist.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I have definitely not had a smooth road in life. I am grateful for my road, though. Coming from a family with a lot of medical issues, I do not take health and basic needs to granted.

As for music, I think it’s very hard in the current climate to “make it” without coming from financial privilege. There are a lot of barriers for entry, and I think overcoming those is the biggest challenge of my career. I think a lot of other local and small artists feel that way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a singer/songwriter. I describe my sound as sad girl/grungy indie rock. My songs are raw and real and vulnerable. I just released an album, “guts,” at the end of October. It’s a record where I quite frankly, spill my guts, and share my experience post-grad.

After college, the road you have been on your entire life stops. And, you have to make your own path, which is absolutely terrifying. So the album is about doing just that – forming my own path, my experience with anxiety, abusive relationships, making mistakes, and still loving myself at the end of it.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The music industry is an odd one. I would love to see it move in the direction of valuing artists and writers more, and paying them their fair share – specifically streaming services. I hope other voices are pushed to the top – not just the privileged or the white or the conventionally pretty.

Contact Info:

• Email: alyssajosephmusic@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.alyssajoseph.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssajoseph27/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssajoseph27/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/alyssajoseph27
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alyssajosephmusic
• Other: https://alyssajoseph.bandcamp.com/merch

Image Credits
Hannah Hall
Ashley Gellman