We were lucky to catch up with Joey Villalobos recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Joey, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
People joke about art coming from pain, but it’s true. After things started falling into place for me, after I got married and had kids, my writing did start to slow down. I always try to remind myself why I’m here though and that lends inspiration and gives me a push every time. I have one specific, core memory that I constantly revisit. It was 2019, on my first trip with the Heroine to the Gibson Showroom. I was walking down Sunset Strip in the early afternoon. It felt like literal paradise and I committed to myself that I would do whatever it took to make that feeling last.
I moved into our family’s dream come true home and finally had space to really put together all of the recording equipment and tools that I have collected over the years and I found the digital recording studio eight track that I used in my early teens. Revisiting old scrap tracks that showcased what inspired me to be who I am now, but with tools I have now, was a really cool experience. It was like I got a pensieve potion and got to see my roots without any distortion. Fourteen year old Joey would have never dreamed that the artist that I am now would take inspiration from what he was doing in his childhood bedroom. That, for sure, fueled my current projects.
I’ve been in an instagram group chat with some other guitar players that I vibe with for years and we got in a groove of sending each other challenges as we discovered new techniques and we talked about our weaknesses. Building a community like that and having other artists that inspire you and help you improve really helps make you the best version of yourself and motivates you to keep growing.
It also has really helped me, personally, to revisit the music that I grew up on even though it isn’t necessarily what I am trying to play. Growing up in Texas and listening to Tejano and Ranchera in my grandparents’ house has definitely influenced my style. I have made a point to incorporate a lot of latin elements into my playing which is an almost endless source of inspiration. Since moving to California, the latin music I hear most is Corridos and it has been really cool to explore that and take inspiration from another latin style.
Beyond that, having kids limits my opportunities to play alone and late at night so I started playing along with my kids’ tv shows, pop on the radio, and even their toys. It’s cool to let them influence me by exposure to their world and hear their feedback as far as what they like me playing.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an independent guitar player for hire in Los Angeles. I am eager to release information about the band I have just accepted a full time position with soon.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Don’t box yourself in as a niche guitar player. Limiting yourself only punishes you and limits your fan base. Don’t get stagnant. Once you recognize that the local band you are playing with is going to stay local, move forward. Don’t participate in mediocrity if you strive to be excellent.
Keep your social media clean. Art should not be divisive and the internet is forever.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My wife. I would be a loose canon if she wasn’t reeling me back in and keeping me on track and reminding me what my standards are. I’m not just trying to simp or incorporate her into this. I’m just the guitar player and she is the butt and brains of this operation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joeyvillalobos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitties_cars_guitars
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@joeyvillalobos5986
