Meet Joseph Neville | Singer Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Neville and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, how do you think about risk?
When I think “risk,” I think “failure.” A friend of mine recently said to me, “I look forward to failing… it means I’m at least doing something.” That has stuck with me and it’s the attitude I try to have concerning any scenario where risk is involved. The ability to take a chance or a risk is the “buy in” to doing anything unconventional. When I was considering leaving my job and my home I was making a consistent and comfortable income, had great relationships with my students and their families, and was excelling at the charter school I worked for. I knew that to explore some of the deeper desires and dreams I had in my heart and head I was going to have to risk all of that or, rather, risk the possibility that I was making a big mistake and losing something truly incredible for something completely uncertain. I sat down with my sister and really talked about how things could play out. We explored different scenarios and thought about what could go wrong and what that would like, It was really sobering, but ultimately led to me deciding that the risk was worth it. Things worked out. It’s been super hard at times. I remember laying on my friends couch the night I left my apartment feeling pretty nauseous thinking, “this may have been the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.” A LAS! I would go on to do many more “dumb” things and love it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I write, record, and perform songs. I have always been fascinated with musics ability to make you feel things and to connect. I have a hard time, sometimes, communicating how I feel and writing songs almost always help me fill in the blanks. I love being on both ends of that connection. I wouldn’t say it was easy to start that journey and I am very much still working towards those goals today. I have, by no means, “arrived” or achieved what I set out to. I am, though, very thankful for the progress and connections that have been made in my tiny world and for my tiny group of people that listen to and support me. I’ve learned to celebrate success on every level and remember the people who are in your corner more than the people who are not. Quality over quantity I guess. I want people to know that you don’t have to be a super star to make or do something important. It was a hard habit to break, attributing the value of my art to the streams and followers I have online but man… it feels really good when you stop doing that. There are so many incredible artists in DFW. I’ve been deeply moved, inspired, and challenged by them. What a lie to say that if we don’t wrap awards, money, and fame around it, that it is somehow less able to move people.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh, I LOVE going to Craftwork Coffee. I come in and out of town a lot and it is so nice seeing the baristas their and having them check in on me. That means the world. It’s also a space where you’re bound to come across another creative. I go there to work as much as possible because I always leave feeling inspired and motivated. For the rest of the week? Well… steaks at Cattlemans, drinks at Thompsons Bookstore, and definitely a few days at the museums. Not many people know that Fort Worth has some of the best museums in the world. They are all within shouting distance of each other. My favorite is The Modern!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh my word, most certainly my Patrons. I use a website called patreon.com/joepatnev to organize support from the people I connected with while living on the road. There are too many to name. I’ve had families sponsor purchases for new gear, live in their homes, and play my songs for them and their friends in their living rooms and businesses. It’s so hard to narrow down just a few names. So many people have played a role. One all star from that list of people is my music teacher Kirsten Trachsel. I met her when I was in 6th grade and starting band. I lived in a town of around 1000 people and, as you can imagine, there wasn’t an abundance of art and culture to surround myself with. Mrs. Trachsel was an anomaly in my tiny rural town and served as one of few connections to a world much bigger than what I saw day to day. She went above and beyond to bring in world class musicians, conductors, and composers, all of them teaching and showing me what musical possibilities existed beyond high school. I always say, “I don’t remember much of what they said but I do remember feeling overwhelmingly supported and valued.” It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she started me on the trajectory that led me to pursue a career in music performance and education.

Website: joepatnev.com
Instagram: @joepatnev
Twitter: @joepatnev
Facebook: facebook.com/joepatnev
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JosephPatrickNeville
Other: Patreon: patreon.com/joepatnev

Image Credits
Profile Image: Sara Wells