Josh Harris
5(ish) Questions for is a chance to discover and learn about St. Louis Creatives, Community Champions, and, well, just interesting people in and around our city. It's a deep dive into what they love and where their passion lies. It's an opportunity for all of us to see our region from a different perspective. This written interview is a peek into their lives and their outlook on St. Louis.
Josh Harris, a seasoned pianist, producer, and composer, brings his passion for music to life through his projects and collaborations with both indie and major label artists. His innovative approach to his craft, driven by a constant desire to learn and evolve, has seen him mentor upcoming talent while juggling his own artist projects. Stay tuned as he continues to shape the music industry.
Hi Josh! Tell us a little about yourself…
I am a pianist, producer and composer, who has worked with major and indie label artists, as well as composed for TV driven music libraries. Whether it's a pop song, remix or music for TV, I always push myself to deliver the highest quality product to my clients.*
Why do you do the work you do?
I do the work that I do because music is my biggest passion, and has been since I was 7 years old.
How did you get started?
While I was living in Chicago after college, I began putting together a project recording studio. Until that point, I had only played keyboards in bands and written songs, but never spent any time learning the production of music. I realized that if I wanted to demo my songs on a regular basis, it would be more cost-effective to buy some gear and learn how to use it.
What impact are you making, hope to make?
I’ve mentored a handful of artists and producers over the years, and I want to continue sharing my knowledge with musical creators and entrepreneurs, who are serious about their craft. I have been very fortunate to have learned how the music industry really works, and what is involved with monetizing intellectual property, as well as being a freelancer in one of the most difficult businesses to earn money.
What are some unique or innovative approaches you take?
Years ago, I began experimenting with working in 90-120 minute blocks on a given task. It allows me to keep a fresh perspective on what I’m doing, as well as seamlessly juggle multiple projects in a day.
What drives you? What gets you out of bed every morning?
I get out of bed every morning knowing that there is more to learn, especially with the more recent revenue streams that have become available to creators. And, I love refining my creative workflow to maximize my time in the studio.
What are some of your goals for the next year, or the next 5 years?
I am currently working on two of my own artist projects, Room 111 and Alley Kids. Room 111 is an homage to 80’s synth music, but with a modern twist, and Alley Kids pays tribute to what I feel was the golden age of hip hop: the early 90’s. Over the next 5 years, I hope to have both of these projects running full tilt with releases, live shows and placements in film and TV.
How is your industry evolving?
The music industry has been going through a bit of a “Wild West” phase over the last few years, as social media platforms continue to dominate the discovery process. Spotify certainly shook things up a bit, but the advent of Tik-Tok was a game changer. An artist no longer needs a label or a management team to launch their career. Understanding how the money moves is more important than ever.
What do you do in your spare time?
Fitness plays a huge part in my daily life, and I like to read. I workout every morning, and I do my best to get 15-20 minutes of quality reading before bed
What is unique (or great about) about STL (or your industry scene in STL)?
St. Louis is such a livable city. I’ve lived in two of the three music industry cities: Nashville and NYC, and it’s really nice to be able to go wherever you need to go in 30 minutes or less. Regarding the St. Louis music scene, I think that we have some fantastic live venues, both large and small. We also have some really talented jazz and classical musicians living here.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Foreign TV shows, especially Nordic Noir.
Would you like to add anything else?
Throwing your hat in the ring to pursue a career in the creative arts is a huge undertaking, and it’s not for everyone. I don’t believe in telling someone to pursue it or not pursue it, but I do believe in giving them a peek behind the curtain, so that they know what they are signing up for. And, it’s so important to develop and nurture your professional relationships along the way. Nobody attains any kind of success without relationships. Many creatives spend too much time creating and not enough time building their professional networks.
*Credit Notes:
Josh's credits include top artists like Seal, Madonna, The Killers and LCD Soundsystem. His corporate clients include ABC, NBC, MTV and dozens of other cable networks.
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