Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Blaylock.
Hi Joshua, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Nashville Native that started playing piano at the age of 3. I grew up in the church (playing drums at first and then later piano and organ). Then in middle school, I started playing trombone in band (concert and jazz). I went to Belmont University from 2009 to 2014 (originally for Radiology but later switched to Commercial Music on Trombone with an emphasis in Music Technology).
I always felt like I was put on this earth to help people. I volunteered at Baptist Hospital (now called St. Thomas Midtown) for 4 years to gain experience before college and had a moment of clarity. While volunteering, I would play the piano in the main entrance and see its immediate impact on people as they entered the hospital. That moment gave me the confidence to inevitability change my major from science to music and follow my passion.
After graduating in 2014, some close college friends and I started to tour in a band (formed in 2012) called Dynamo. My time in that group involved making 3 live albums, touring almost 200+ days a year, and sharing the stage with several musical heroes. It was also a pivotal time for my musical growth and learning my role in multiple genres. In 2018, I started being more open to playing for and recording with other artists. That opened the door to playing bigger shows and festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Newport Folk Festival and many more! In 2020, covid gave me time to start over. I wanted to be more intentional about my work load / life balance. I not only started to play with artists such as Devon Gilfillian, Joy Oladokun and Grace Bowers, but I also started focusing more on producing and being a studio musician.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say it was smooth but I’m grateful that my hard work has opened doors I never dreamed I’d walk through. Becoming a working musician takes a lot of patience and loads of time practicing. I’m also grateful that I’ve built a good enough reputation that people feel they can speak my name in rooms I’m not in.
My biggest struggle early on was not saying “No.”
I put myself in a lot of situations where I took on more work than I could handle. I’m grateful that my closest friends were honest enough with me to hold me accountable. And to say to me things like “I don’t have to say yes to everything’ and “this is my mess.” It hurt to hear but I needed to hear it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I play piano, keyboards/synths, and organ and produce.
The genre(s) I play in mostly tend to be in the r&b and soul range. But I also love playing pop, jazz, gospel, and hip hop as well
I’m very proud that a lot my musical heroes are peers and, in most cases, friends. I never expected to be able to fellowship with so many people that I admire.
I pride myself on being able to convey emotions well through music. I believe that music is a language and approach every project as a conversation—each chord, melody, and rhythm serving a greater narrative.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
The feeling means so much to me (or how the music is felt).
I think if the message being delivered musically is received, then I’ve done my job.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbmookie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jbmookie411
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jbmookie411
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jbmookie411
