Life lessons: Joe Newman on what life so far has taught him

Life lessons: Joe Newman on what life so far has taught him

The British singer-songwriter behind alt-J and his solo project JJerome87 shares insights about his creative process, thoughts on the far-right’s influence, and views on drug use. Starting with his daily routine, he describes a simple morning involving basic necessities like using the toilet, drinking water, having breakfast, and coffee. His daughter often wakes him up, and recently she excitedly suggested they make a “pregnancy movie,” inspired by his partner’s pregnancy.

His optimism lies primarily in watching his daughter grow. He appreciates her developing sense of humor, kindness, and attentiveness to others. However, he expresses frustration with the far-right’s rhetoric, which he finds cruel and hypocritical. He worries about their rising platform and misleading portrayal of asylum seekers and immigrants as threats to British identity, emphasizing that the UK’s history is deeply rooted in diverse immigration. On a lighter note, he admits to being annoyed when his partner asks him to grab small items from her bag.

If he had not pursued music, he imagines himself as a craftsman like a master builder or carpenter, working with tools and constructing bespoke items in a garden shed. A key habit that has benefited him is diligently capturing song ideas as they arise, knowing that creative moments are fleeting and may be lost if not promptly recorded. He has also overcome several habits, including thumb-sucking as a child and giving up pasta recently. Additionally, he stopped drinking alcohol over three years ago.

His sources of joy include applying sun lotion and enjoying the sunshine while protected and making people, especially his daughter, laugh. When life becomes challenging, movies offer an escape, a habit he used during his school and university years. He highly recommends the book *How I Live Now* by Meg Rosoff, a story set amid civil war and a nuclear event in the UK. Over time, his perspective on drugs has shifted from fear to a more nuanced understanding of their potential therapeutic use, especially substances like cannabis and hallucinogens. Often, late at night, he finds himself awake with song ideas, focusing on album sonics or lyrics. His ongoing motivation is to surpass his previous musical work.

His parents influenced him by encouraging the pursuit of his passions, even when it meant dealing with government bureaucracy and unemployment benefits early on. Reflecting on the future, he speculates that tech billionaires might become powerful figures akin to comic book villains due to their immense influence over government, technology, AI, and robotics. When thinking about his younger self, he feels they are fundamentally different people and chooses not to offer advice. JJerome87’s album *The Canyon* is currently available, with more information and tour dates on his official website

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