Exposed Vocals Interviews Jo$h Heem$
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Jo$h Heem$: Umm, well I’m originally from San Diego, CA but I really grew up in Maryland around the PG county area. I’ve been living in the DMV for about 18 years so that’s where I call home. What really made me decide to become an artist was a couple of things: the number one being music is a passion of mine, I love all types of music from rap to R&B to some county I love it all. Umm, number two, music kinda runs in my family like, my mom sings, my grandmother sings, my father sings, my brothers sing and rap, I can sing a lil bit lol so it’s kind of like I can’t get away from music even if I tried it’s been a major part of my life. The person who really influenced me to rap is my older cousin Jordan. I use to write rhymes in church when I was younger but it was kinda like a secret because I ain’t want nobody to see the words I was writing lol but once I saw my older cousin doin it I was hooked because he was one of my role models at the time and still is years later, so once I saw that couldn’t nobody stop me from writing raps it just went on from there.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Jo$h Heem$: Lol, well the name came from things outside of rap music, music period. I use to be heavy into marijuana like no matter where I was at if you saw me I was either high or rolling up something. So oneday I was around my nayborhood and one of my homie was like “damn cuz you stay wit da heems” and I was like ” yeah cuz I’m Josh Heems lol” the name just kinda stuck wit me so I used that as my alias when I rap just added the dollars sign cuz I’m about my money and that’s me Jo$h Heem$.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Jo$h Heem$: Well I think online music sharing is great. I think its a great way for any artist whether their a big name or an up and coming artist to get whatever it is music wise their pushing out to the world with the right combination. Anyone can use online music sharing no matter where in the world no matter what level of popularity or fan base they have so it’s a great way to be heard. And yes I do give music away for free because who’s to say my music is even good enough to buy besides me unless you have something to go on. I think it’s a great promotional tool to give away some free music because to me it show your not just doing it for the money but your doing it because you love to do it and you want the people who love to hear it to have a connection with you. Everything is not about money even though the world makes it that way and music is about feeling and emotion. So I think giving away free music is great in some aspects but at the same time if your craft is worth it you should be paid for it.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Jo$h Heem$: The best advice I could give to any smaller band is be as original as possible. Be you. Because no two people are the same, even twins are different in some ways so separate yourself from the others and stand out. Your lyrics your performances, make sure everything you do is what you do and not what you see some else doing. Stay in your own lane, take advice and make it fit you.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Jo$h Heem$: I get my inspiration to write just from life itself. I don’t know if this is weird or not but as Im living life no matter what I’m doing some lyrics will come to my head and I find away to write them down or remember them and it becomes a hook for a song or some dope lyrics. I really don’t have a writing process I be so busy that whenever I get some time to write I do, whenever I have time to look up some beats I do. That’s pretty much it.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Jo$h Heem$: I don’t have a website yet but it’s in the works right now. I don’t even have a music video yet and I would definitely want some videos on there for the people to see so that’s coming. But the singles I have out which is about 5 are all onsoundcloud.com/joshheems. Soundcloud has been getting the job done for me right now since I don’t have a mixtape out yet but that’s also coming soon. I’m working hard right now to get my music on the bigger platforms like spinrilla I think once I get to that level things will look alot more promising for me.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Jo$h Heem$: Lol I don’t even know man umm…I would definitely take care of my family first get all of them out the way. Then get my kids everything they want you know lol. I would put some toward my music I would do everything much bigger then I do now and give the people something to look at. Ummm I don’t know other then that I’d save the rest so my kids be straight when I’m gone, it might be some other thing I’d buy too but nothing I can think of right now.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Jo$h Heem$: I promote my music through twitter, facebook all the popular social media joints they got out. What’s been working for me the best right now is twitter which is crazy because I was never really into it until recently. Seems like since I started putting my music out there my social media has been goin way up. So social media has been the best way to promote for me right now.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Jo$h Heem$: well I have a mixtape, my first mixtape dropping sometime in April. I don’t have an exact date right now but that’s in the works, the songs are all done I’m just in the process of putting a track list together and getting the right hosting and all that. The name of the mixtape is Tales From The Woods season one and it’s on the way.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Jo$h Heem$: I’m not even sure probably a regular job or a tattoo artist since I do tattoos as a little side hustle, I’d probably get more into that but other than that I’m not sure like I said before music has been a major part of my life for real.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Jo$h Heem$: Umm, I try to intertwine the both like I try to have my family part of my music and my music part of my family. Like I need the responsibilities I have in life to write my lyrics period thats where my words come from my own life experiences so I try to intertwine the both and make them both a priority.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Jo$h Heem$: Nothing but Heem$. Im making my presents known in 2016 and I’m aiming for the top. Nothing is gonna stop this YAK movement. Jo$h Heem$ is about to kill the game musically and bring that real rap back. No more playing around in 2016 I’m here! YAK!