In his new video for “Love You Safely,” Joe Marson creates an intimate moment between him and the camera. This video and song are full of emotion; you can see it in Marson’s eyes as he speaks about a love that could never last. “Love You Safely” is just one of the soulful heartfelt songs on Marson’s newest album Electric Soul Magic. Currently, Marson is recording an acoustic retrospective of some songs from Electric Soul Magic as well as some from his last record, Someday Soon. To keep updated on his work, you can follow him on Instagram @joemarson.
What was the inspiration behind “Love You Safely?”
Joe Marson: The song is about that insatiable sexual connection you choose to pursue even though it will only lead to heartbreak on one side of the equation. Not being in a position to pursue things deeper but in the moment, blinded by desire. Move over Alicia Keys and Taylor Swift, I think this song is really the anthem of New York City haha.
What was the process you went through creating Electric Soul Magic?
JM: Once I knew what songs I wanted lay down, I went to my friend Ofer Tiberin to lay down the tracks. He is one of my favorite musical people and just made me feel really comfortable in the studio, which is something I’m always working on. My experiences live out number hours in the studio about a million to one so learning how to translate that energy is something I will be trying to perfect the rest of my career. But this record was a great move in that direction.
I am proud to be a DIY musician (when I’m not totally overwhelmed by it!). In that spirit, I did a lot of aspects of this record myself: produced it, played a lot of the instruments on it (most of the drums were done by the incomparable Steven Partyshev) did the album art, etc. I am looking forward to being in a position when I don’t have to be a jack of so many trades though to be honest. I would love to be able to focus more time the music but this is 2014 you know?
Why is music important to you?
JM: Being an artist is what I was born to do and music is my favorite medium of all time. I don’t want to be cliché and say that it saved my life but it did at a very low point in my life a few years back. So slap that cliché label proudly on my forehead, I’ll wear it proudly.
Who are your musical influences?
JM: Jimi Hendrix first and foremost, and most of the people who carried on his spirit. You wouldn’t know it immediately by listening to my music but I think the 1990’s era Red Hot Chili Peppers might be my favorite band. But Ben Harper, Jeff Buckley, Cat Stevens are in there. Recently Hozier has been rocking my ass off. But I love so much other music. Lots of hip hop. The blue grass soundtrack to “O Brother Where Art Thou” is constantly on rotation. Bobbie McFerrin, the vocal Buddha.
How did your six years of travel in different areas of the country influence your music?
JM: I played bass in a hip hop band in Oregon with this group called Eyes For Echoes. Tinkered with blues and soul in Boston. Refined my southern soul rock in Austin, Texas. Got really into bluegrass in Arizona. It took getting to the melting pot of New York to really find my own voice I guess. But I think it’s healthy for musicians to explore the universal soul of music by studying different expressions of it. So I have experimented with a lot of genres but the ones I just mentioned were the most influential.
When did you move to Brooklyn? How has that helped your career?
JM: I moved to Brooklyn 3 years ago. I’m not sure if it has helped my career as much as it just happened to be the place I was living in when I found my voice. I have moved too many times and travelled to too many places to give my allegiance to any place in particular. Some external factors definitely exist but I feel like the internal shift was more important than the external relocation. Also, because of social media, a lot of my fans are from all over the world so I feel like I could be doing a lot of the same things from a few other cultural cities.
Article by: Merrisa Blitz
