Joe George: February Release

In Joe George’s second installment of the year, Leave It At The Door, he provides a quiet reflection of the times we live in. Joe’s smooth, buttery voice leaves an imprint of compassion and heartbreak. A slow-moving harmony underpins a wonderful bed for his lyrics to inspire a respite from the everyday. With the sustain of the last chord lingering into a nearly empty studio it brings an open mind and heart to whatever tomorrow will bring with the hope that you will leave your demons and monsters at the door. Thank you, Joe, for the reminder to breathe.

With school shootings, fascist leaders, mass incarceration, war, nuclear threats, and distracting headlines that don’t stop it’s hard to take a moment to be with yourself let alone other people. This song is a reminder that on a deep spiritual level we are only human. It reminds us to listen to others that feel differently. Reminds us that the combination of two contrasting opinions can meet in the middle with compromise and transparency. Reminds us that disagreement is natural. Reminds us that we need to have dialogue with each other to understand each other—or better yet—love each other.

Joe George and the Commitment to Collaborate

Joe Shadid, also known as Joe George, is embarking on a journey where he will release one song every month of this year. It will involve Chicago musicians, videographers, visual artists, producers, and sound engineers, fusing many voices, visions, and ideals. In a world where divisiveness is omnipresent, bringing people together is a wonderful resolution moving into 2018.

His first release of the year dropped on January 12 with a video performance of Don’t Be Afraid of Yourself. This nostalgic folk tune was inspired by a dream where Joe stumbled upon a younger version of himself where he offered humble advice, “time has gone by in a hurry, I worry of some things to come, life has a way of weighin’ down, enough to make you think it’s all on you—don’t be afraid of yourself.” The liberation to be yourself is what Joe is chasing in his project as he continues to define himself as a pillar of the Chicago songwriting scene.

Joe George’s sound evokes a young Sufjan Stevens combined with a Jeff Tweedy twang and an Arcade Fire twinge. The song is beautifully arranged and the string parts showcase his film composition degree from Berklee. This is accompanied by unique harmonic movement placed in just the right moments. He sneaks in a beautiful minor-major chord in the middle of the chorus, which adds a flavor of contemplation that makes the words don’t be afraid of yourself really hit home.

Check out the video here!

Joe George on vocals and guitar | Jake Hawrylak on bass | Paul Grill on drums | Josh Lava on Wurlitzer | Ian Maskin on cello | Andreanna Moravec on viola | Inger Carle on violin |Tom Yang on violin | Rick Fritz and Brok Mende of Audiotree fame on sound engineering, mixing, and mastering | Jim O’Connel on film and direction |

Join the collaborative efforts and help Joe with three actions to support his future endeavors:

-Follow him on all social media platforms (@joegeorgemusic)

-Purchase a record from his website

-Share the video!

Help me build a community with Joe where we can all collaborate to build a more connected world. The future is bright and full of Joe George releases. Be on the lookout for the next one in February! You can find that release on any social platform of Joe’s and here on my blog.