Meet Joe Fox

 

We were lucky to catch up with Joe Fox recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Honestly, I like to think I was very blessed when it comes to purpose. It came at a young age but overall, I’m simply a “slut” for music. Whether it’s recording and producing or tour managing, or teching for other bands or playing live – I need to be engulfed in it. That creative outlet along with bringing people together is my purpose.

For me, the creative aspect of music is what I fell in love with: getting to be an actual “artist” or what I like to call being a “wizard” because we’re literally making magic. We’re creating something out of nothing or at the very least, building something off of a simple idea. The creative outlet goes hand in hand with spreading some sort of message. Even if at first, it’s just for yourself, being able to go back and hear yourself reflect on whatever subject matter is a special gift in itself and I’m so grateful to have it. Just being able to be creative whether it’s actual music production, building a live show or the art and content that comes with all of that is what is infectious to me. Spreading some sort of hopeful message that impacts the world in any capacity is what I like to get behind or create myself.

I also like to believe I’m a social butterfly or chameleon, I’m pretty easy to hang out with. In any project I’m apart of I like to bring my friends or colleagues in if the situation makes sense for it. I really do mean it when I say “if I win, we all win.” I believe in the people I surround myself with and I like to show that by working together. By bringing friends in on whatever I’m working on, my friends get to become friends! That in itself is beautiful to me and I’m happy to be the bridge for long lasting friendships or work partners even if I eventually move on. Learning that was a purpose of mine came a bit later in life but the realization was one that has stuck with me ever since.

Now to exactly how I found my purpose, my belief is the one that your purpose should set your soul on fire. I just want to create something beautiful that anyone could turn to for a sense of hope and love. The world is a beautiful place but is also a terrible one with a ton of darkness. If I can be an entity that authentically helps others brighten their day, SIGN ME UP!

I grew up in New York, on Long Island with 5 other siblings. There was just always something going on when I was younger whether it was something joyful or painful, it was constantly something. I just think it’s apart of who I am to help others. I thank my mother for that one.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Joe Fox and I’m a songwriter, music producer and touring professional from Long Island, New York but have relocated to Burbank, California over the last 4 years. I have been pursuing a music career for the past 18 years on a multitude of different levels. I’ve done everything from played bass, played guitar, sung, sold merchandise, been a recording engineer at a high level recording studio, a mixing engineer, I’ve toured in a van, toured in a bus, toured on a train, I’ve toured on a cruise ship. I’ve been a guitar tech, drum tech, playback engineer, stage manager, production manager, tour manager. I’ve built my own recording studio, recorded and produced other artists’ music and I’ve recorded and produced my own music. I’m not one to name drop but I’ve toured with or have worked the same festival or what have you with very high class acts and both no one you’ve probably heard of before. There’s very few things that I haven’t done when it comes to the recording and live side of the music world.

My focus on the last 5 years has been shifting more towards the recording side of music. I fell in love with the recording process when I was in bands at a younger age and as I grew older the touring world took the forefront for awhile. Entering the age of COVID and lockdowns, I had refocused and had missed the creative aspect of my being that I had neglected for a portion of time. I spent a lot of that time and the years that followed learning and mastering my craft. I felt (and still do feel) that the music world was missing a bit of authentic artistry. I’m not trying to fit a mold or have any other artist fit a mold; I want to bring out what makes each artist who they are or what makes them unique and really both magnify and electrify that within my and their music.

What I’m most excited about right now is the music I’m producing with my writing partner. I write, record and produce music both by myself and with my writing partner, Jon Brunner. We have a band called LYN BYAS and that is our baby. LYN BYAS is a modern indie-rock band with a 90’s edge to it. We started releasing music in 2022, after I moved to Burbank. We went quiet for a bit due to my touring schedule getting busy again. But we have plans to release an album this year with shows to follow. So stick around for that.

Jon Brunner and I also write, record and produce for a handful of other artists but the one were most excited for is Lemondrop. Lemondrop is an indie-rock artist from Los Angeles, California. She’s just a pleasure to be around and to work with her is a breeze. Most songs we’ve done with her come together quite quickly and there’s magic present when sessions go that way. She’ll be releasing a single within a few months with an album to follow.

On top of all of that I also produce for a band that I front called Bravermen – there’s an album that we started in 2014, before life halted us from being a band, that will come out later this year, based out of New York.

I write, record and produce with a great friend of mine, Ian Johnson aka KING BABY. We’ve been working on a project titled Astray Heart for the last 2 years and the roll out for that has already started. There’s an episode based mini film with the same title as the album being released while the singles come out.

I record and vocally produce for a hip-pop artist named Honey Ant that dropped an EP late last year. I record and produce a rock artist called Planted Soul that will release an EP within 2025, as well as many other artists including my younger brother that goes by the name Mike Lotito (my mother’s maiden name).

I’m just trying to write and produce good music with an undertone of positivity in between my touring escapades.
Hope you throw headphones in and enjoy the ride with me.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Somethings I’ve picked up along the way that have stuck with me would be knowing your worth, accepting your true self, and making sure to actually enjoy yourself.

Knowing your worth is not necessarily being a menace or cocky, it’s more just knowing your knowledge, experience and what you bring to the table. Don’t get taken advantage of. Take a pay cut for what you believe in obviously but also make sure you get the recognition and respect you deserve.

Accepting your true self is exactly what it sounds like. Don’t fit a mold. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. There’s no one else in the world that is more you than you. Be proud of that. Accept yourself with all the flaws included. Definitely handle those flaws like a mature adult but still accept them.

Actually enjoying yourself just means to not worry so much about what you cannot control. That along side disconnecting when you need to disconnect yet also being present where you are and enjoying the people that physically surround you. Your happiness is whatever it means to you. Be unapologetic about that when you need to be.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Honestly, I try to find alone time and just sit with my thoughts. I literally just breathe sometimes in silence. Compartmentalizing is key to a lot of what I do. Whether I’m home in the studio working on 5 different projects or I’m on tour and in a different city every day, finding inner peace is vital to my lifestyle. You can’t be freaking out as a tour manager or the executive producer in the room, people rely on you. First off, work gets done faster and more sufficiently in a calm, comfortable setting. You’ll feel a lot better if you just tackle it head on. Find the issue or whatever is making you uncomfortable or overwhelmed and figure out how to calm yourself in a mature, positive way. All of that & the fact that I live in California, you can figure out what helps after a long day. Taking a breath is all it takes sometimes.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Jesse DeFlorio
Brandon “Wolfy” Wolford
Chris Simms

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made