Exposed Vocals just caught an exclusive with ‘Joe Yungin’

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey but raised in Fort Pierce, Florida, Frantz (Joe Yungin) Joseph Jr. experienced the rough area of Fort Pierce Projects where he always found his way into rap ciphers, talent shows and even battle rapping where if you embarrassed a local rapper, depending on what side of town they lived on, they almost always ended up fist fighting for their respect. Fortunately, the street life was not the only thing on Joe’s mind.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Joe Yungin: Originally I’m from Jersey City, New Jersey but where I consider my hometown, where I grew up is Fort Pierce, Florida.  I always loved hip hop music ever since I could remember.  My first hip hop album I ever heard and fell in love with was The Adventures of Slick Rick.  I still remember the days living in Jersey when my uncles used to have my younger brother and I reciting the rhymes of Children Bedtime Story & Mona Lisa like it was yesterday.  Growing up watching my mother, my aunts & uncles rapping and singing made me decide that I wanted to be an artist.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

 Joe Yungin: Well my birth name is Frantz Joseph Jr, in school some of my teachers, football coaches, and school buddies called me Joseph because they thought that was my first name, so it kind of stuck with me.  Later, I inherited the name Yungin for being one of the first of my generation to take my talent as far as I’m taking it, and pushing to be successful in what I love.

 

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Joe Yungin: Online music sharing is a great way and good opportunity for artist from all genre’s to get their exposure to the music media.  My Trackset team has blessed me with an upcoming mixtape K.O.N.G. King Of the New Generation that we just released on Datpiff, and other sites such as Soundcloud and Reverbnation.  I dare anybody right now to go download the mixtape, it’s the hottest mixtape banging right now in the south.  When becoming an artist some songs you have to give away for free, for one, if you know you got good music and you want to be heard, it’s a good business strategy to give some music away.  And two, you want to catch someone’s attention, free promos are a good way to get exposure only if your songs are catchy to the ear.

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?

Joe Yungin:  First, I would advise any artist to get some of their best work, organize and create a listening party.  From there, find what songs your smaller crowd likes then make those songs your singles.  From that point get in touch with club owners & DJ’s, to find out what nights they do open mic and local talent nights.  Same rules apply for radio stations as well, some radio stations may charge for regular air play.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Joe Yungin:  Sometimes, it depends on the energy and the atmosphere at the time of the performance, the key is to keep going and to have your vocals singing along with your performance just in case you do happen to mess up. Sometimes either my hype man at the time will back me up to get me back on track.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

Joe Yungin: I haven’t toured yet, but I’m sure ready to really soon.  So far I’ve just done a few shows in the surrounding areas of Orlando, Florida.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Joe Yungin: It depends on the beat majority of the time if I’m not making a beat myself.  I listen to other producers beats on the web see if it fits my style and flow and honestly I just let the beat tell me what to write.  It’s crazy how my mind zones out at times

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

 Joe Yungin:  Yes.  You can follow me on

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jyungin82

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jyungin82

Twitter: https://twitter.com/J_yungin

Snapchat: https://snapchat.com/J_yungin82

Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/jyungin82

Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/Jyungin82

DatPiff: http://piff.me/9defbf1

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

 Joe Yungin: Don’t mean to sound conceited or bragging but all I have is G.M.E. playing on my MP3 we aim for perfection in our music.

 

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Joe Yungin:  Well off the gate 10 percent is going to my heavenly father then 50 percent of that is going in the bank for emergencies then 25 percent of that is going in a public recording studio, and the other 25 percent, you already know… Baaaallliiiinnggg.

 

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Joe Yungin:  It’s always room for upgrades in the studio.  I want to grab that new Korg Kronos and some new plugins for Pro Tools.  Right now for the most part I used FL Studio 9, ProTools 10, 11, &12.  I also use an M-Audio Midi Controller.

 

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

 Joe Yungin:  Ever since I purchased All you need to know about the music business by Donald S. Passman I’ve found great avenues to promote my music such as using social media sites, reach out to blogs, collaborate with other artist, and also I promote by using emails.

 

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Joe Yungin: If I could perform anywhere with any artist it would have to be Jill Scott in the Santorini Islands, and why, because I kind of got a slick crush on her, plus I think it would be pretty tough to put the moves on her while performing.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

 Joe Yungin:  Right now I’m focused on my EP Project which is set to be released 2017.  I don’t have an exact date yet.  It has a couple of features of the G.M.E. team, and I’m giving the consumers a little more of Joe Yungin this time around.  I want them to get to know me, then fall in love with me.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Joe Yungin:  If I weren’t making music I’ll probably be playing the keyboard for GOD in someone’s church.

 

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Joe Yungin: Yes.  My first album I purchased was Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die, at that time I was thinking about how music was evolving from the Rakim & Big Daddy Kane Era, to the new gangster music era.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Joe Yungin: I simply just pray and ask GOD to accept the things that I cannot change, and to give me the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference by living and taking it one day at a time

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2017?

Joe Yungin:  They should look forward to my second project which is called Da Crossover, I want to show the my fans that I’m more versatile with my music and that I can make crossover from commercial songs just as well as I can with underground mixtape music.