A Chat with Joey Collins (29.03.23)
Weaving introspective lyricism with heartfelt melodies, singer-songwriter Joey Collins will take your breath away with his intoxicating, evocative music. We speak with the UK-based musician about his debut album Yin-Yang, musical inspiration, phobias and future plans.
OSR: Cliché, but a good opener, why did you decide to pursue a career in music?
Collins: I guess music has always been the constant in my life and I knew from an early age I wanted to do it. It’s all I’ve ever pursued and known really.
OSR: What inspires you to make music?
Collins: Usually I write out of necessity. Mostly of life’s struggles and trying to make sense of the world we live in.
OSR: What is the backstory to your debut album Yin-Yang?
Collins: It’s basically a journey of my mental health captured over the past ten years. Thrown in with losing loved ones and myself, then finding myself once again. Many moments of light and dark hence the title.
OSR: Did you have any challenges when writing and recording the album?
Collins: Yeah, some songs can be hard to finish or know when it’s best to say ‘yup, this is done now’.
OSR: If you could change anything about Yin-Yang, what would you change?
Collins: Nowt.
OSR: Do any of you have a musical background?
Collins: I’m self-taught from around the age of 8. I have a degree in Popular Music if that means anything. I don’t think it particularly does.
OSR: If you could perform with any artist, who would it be and why?
Collins: Right now, Tamino as he’s probably the most prolific songwriter and performer I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in recent times.
OSR: Do you have any phobias?
Collins: Snakes.
OSR: Describe your music in one sentence.
Collins: Ethereal grunge rock written from the heart but not for the faint-hearted.
OSR: Do you have future plans as a musician?
Collins: Keep on rocking and releasing music until I die, to be honest.
Many thanks to Joey Collins for speaking with us. For more from Joey Collins, check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
