Simply Six: Brother Joscephus

Just recently we did a Spotlight on Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution and today we're doing a Simply Six with the leader of the group, Brother Joscephus himself.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

I grew up worshipping music. My younger brother and I would listen to the Beatles and Elton John and would sing and harmonize all the time. We also did a weekly ranking/arrangement of our collection of 45’s, spreading them out all over the floor in order of how we felt that particular week.

Believe it or not, the defining moment for me was when I had a visual to go with the audio – in my case it was MTV – back when MTV really was music television, when it was JUST starting out. I remember being around 10 years old and watching the guy from Men at Work play guitar and thinking – yep, time for guitar lessons.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

I’m a total iPod geek. I’ve spent years and years honing my iPod collection – sometimes up to 10 hours a day when I was really researching the importance of the iPod collection and trying to leave no stone unturned in the musical history archives. Every track in my iTunes is meticulously labeled and has the correct year of creation (live performances trump release date), original album, artwork, etc. If I download something that’s a compilation I have to find the original albums that the songs appeared on.

I like to make all kinds of intricate playlists and pretty much listen to everything on shuffle.

I always love song-oriented stuff as I consider myself first and foremost a songwriter. My favorite songwriters: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Donald Fagen, Tom Waits, Pete Townshend, Randy Newman. I also love Ollabelle and early Dixie Chicks.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

I once sang the National Anthem at Safeco Field in front of 30,000 people which was pretty cool. But seeing the evolution of Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra – the righteousness and originality of the music and what we’re doing and the way we’re doing it… nothing I’ve done in my 20+ years as a musician compares.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

Music changing the world is kinda my thing. I mean, we ARE the Love Revival Revolution – we ARE actively trying to start a revolution here. Sure, why can’t music change the world? Art is a form of expression and has been influential in shaping world views since the dawn of time, if you think about it.

I think living in the information age and the worldwide accessibility to media and, hence, art makes the ability to change the world through music more viable and powerful than ever before in the history of mankind.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

I’m still trying to figure out how to actually make money with this new technology thing. But I think it’s ultimately really evened the playing field. There’s good and bad and I think the whole thing is still sorting itself out. But to go along with my previous statement, I believe in my heart that making music and art much more accessible to everyone throughout the world is a good thing. Especially if you’re trying to change the world or just spread love and music to as many people as possible. In that respect, it’s really great.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?
Well, I really have two personae, David Mendelsohn who’s the reality anchor behind the project, and my alias/alter ego/stage personae, Brother Joscephus.

David would be comfy sandals. BroJo would be alligator skin boots with 3 inch heels.