WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - I've Got Aux: "Don't Wanna Love U" by joe p

Episode Date: February 5, 2024

Ally is on Aux this week and chose "Don't Wanna Love U" by joe p. We chat about the golden age of indie, how you can tell an artist is going to be good live from their recorded work, and how Gavin just really likes that joe p is from New Jersey. 

Right, well now this is a first. Never done this before, but how exciting is this on the internet? Okay, there you go. There are many things I've abandoned since graduating high school. My pixie cut, my obsession with obscenely caffeinated beverages, using my graphing calculator to cheat through calculus. Men who write sappy, dramatic love songs are not one of those things. Joe P. is not one of these men.

And like most things these days, his success began on TikTok. The pandemic slaughtered the band that Joe has. had been a part of since middle school and from his basement in New Jersey, he launched himself into the indie limelight. Signed now to Atlantic Records, Joe P's debut 2021 EP, Emily Can't Sing, features hit after hit. It's a no-skip record that saw a re-release through Kay Flee, who's another indie legend. Every song Joe makes seems to go viral, and yet each one is a quality piece of art. The track we're focusing on today is Don't Want to Love You, a breakup ballad for situationships whose claws you can't quite escape from. Rich with self-deprecation,

and pleased to let go of things that are not meant for us. Don't Want to Love You is another example of Joe's talent. That is not even a promise to achieve later, but one that is unfolding with every play. You're listening to Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. This is Allie Hall and I've Got OX and you'll be hearing Don't Want to Love You by Joe P. No, I'm not what I've seen, but you keep coming when I call. Guess you know you don't feel the pain. There's nothing left to hurt, and it's hard to walk away.

Welcome back. You just heard Don't Want to Love You by Joe P on Radio Free Hillsden, 101.7 FM. I'm Allie Hall. This is I've Got Ox. And this was the first time that Gavin has heard the song. Yay. So first impressions, Gavin? Oh, man. It was, it brought me back. It's like, it felt like high school. It sounds like coin. Yeah, I was thinking that. He kind of looks like coin, too. He's got the scrawny white boy with the curly hair look. Yeah, that was really good. It's such a, like, like, like a catchy good melody for a song for the chorus. Yeah. I like the way it just kind of pauses for a second. And it's like kind of big. And then the beat comes back in on the chorus. It's, I would say seven out of ten.

Okay. Yeah. I'll take a seven out of ten. Yes. The best thing was I had found Joe P through TikTok like everyone else before he had anything out. And it literally was. It's just videos of him with a guitar in his basement.

And then there's two songs that went viral. He's one off my mind. the other one is leaves and they're both from that first EP. And then I kind of forgot about him. And when I was in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago, we were playing music on the TV and it was one of those, you know, like generic streaming channels that just like plays music. And this song came on the TV and I like put, I was putting on my makeup. I like set down the mascara and I like, I was like, who is this?

This? Because like Gavin said, it's like that golden age indie that fell victim to bedroom pop and like died for a little bit. Yeah. But, I mean, it takes you back to like quality indie music when it wasn't just about like one hook or something catchy. And while the song is catchy, I think there's a lot of substance to it. And this, this song is very similar to a lot of his other songs. And they just haven't missed yet for me.

It's just like one after the other. I think he's really talented. Yeah. I would definitely agree with that. And I don't know how much you guys know Briston Moroni. But he's on the same label. Atlantic, they're on the same label. And so he reminds me a lot of Briston Moroni.

Yeah. Different. Yeah, no, I feel that. Yeah, I was going to say. Oh, yeah, it's like a more polished pop less set, Bristin Maroney. Yes. No, and like, because Bristin, love him to death. He's like one of my favorite artists.

He has the whimpery voice, which I love. But I think Joe P has stronger, like, passionate vocals. Like there's, and it's still indicative of a lot of emotion, you know? You know, this reminds me. me of the Wallows era. Yeah. Where it was like, it was indie, but it was almost like there are all, it felt adult-ish. Yeah.

Yeah. And like, like, like, like, uh, like what's the word I'm looking for? Less, um, not sadder. That's not the word I'm looking for, but you know what I mean? More melancholy. Yes, yes, yes, exactly. There's more like gravitas and less just like, you know, good time by Alicity and Carly Roebson, like less like that and more.

Yeah, I think Wallows is a good. That is a good comparison. I didn't make that connection. Because also that Wallow's era was almost like this bridge between being a teenager and being an adult. Yes. Like it got those emotions right. And you know, it's talking about being scrawny or liking a girl who doesn't like guys. Like those kind of like pivotal experiences that not everybody has, but you kind of feel like you've had that experience when you listen to the song.

And the way the chorus is sung too reminds me of Are You Bored Yet by them? Yeah. Kind of where it's like, this is a style too of male singers singing with a deeper register. And being okay with it kind of getting lost in the music. Because you think about like earlier indie stuff and it was a lot more whiny guys. Like you think about really early indie stuff like, I wouldn't say really early, but like stuff like neon trees. Yeah. Like where it's like this really whiny, high pitched voice.

And it's nice because it kind of sits on top of the. the instruments well. But this is kind of blends in with everything. And I like it. Yeah, it sounds mature. Yeah. I like something that maybe is just

what I hear or it's influenced by how I was introduced to him, which was by a video of just himself. But like it very much feels like a one-man show. So I would be interested in seeing him live and seeing if that dynamic changes. Like does he have a steady group that there's chemistry with and the live performance is something different? Or is he just kind of like, this singular, you know, writer and artist.

Yeah. How big is he right now? I think you're going to be, I was six three. He looks pretty strong. He's relatively big, but it might just be my algorithm. You want the Spotify numbers? Yeah, what are the Spotify numbers? So he has 487,000 monthly listeners nearing 500,000.

That's, yeah. That's not bad at all. And this song is called Don't want to love you. Yeah, so this only. has 800,000, but his most popular song has 35 million. Is that leaves or off your mind? Off my mind. That's an awesome song, and you would recognize it because the clip from that song went super

viral on TikTok. This one? Yeah, I've heard this. It's so good. Huh, who knows? Joe P. all along. Joe P. Jope.

I don't have TikTok, but I still, I didn't hear this on any of my Instagram Reels. This song is awesome. And leaves is awesome. YouTube shorts. No, YouTube shorts is just gibbitty toilets. Oh, I said goodbye. But now you're off my mind. Yeah.

That's nice. And it feels less like 80s indie, which was, I feel like kind of, in my mind I kind of categorize like 20, 2013 to 2018 is like trying to emulate 80s pop in indie music. And then from there till now, It's like very much early 2000s 90s sound and you could if you listen to like coin like they had a very hard switch Yeah where they like they kind of switched from that

But I like that like the it sounds much more Really 2000s late 90s. Yeah, and I like it I think so this is the the the side to a single that came out Called Glass House which is also very good, but this one I really liked the lyrics to and I think that that's what I mean I'm a big lyric girl like that's what draws me that's I mean you know like like sonically you can be drawn to something, but lyrics kind of make you stay. And so I like this song because it takes a very common breakup, the idea of like you're addicted to someone who you know is not good for you. But I think it discusses that in a way that's not as cliche. And he uses cliches, but it doesn't feel super overused, like the idea of your burned bridge.

And he talks about like, it's hard to go back to something when the bridge between you two has been burnt, but you still kind of find a way to get to that point. So, yeah, I think he also, there's almost a literary tone to it when he talks about kind of near the middle end of the song, he talks about talking to a madman. And that idea of like, you know that joke where insanity is doing the same thing over and over again. It's that. It's you keep going back to someone.

You know they're not good for you. You know that it hurts. But it's like a physiological addiction. Yeah. Yeah, all these, these lyrics aren't like super deep, I guess. Right. Yeah, but they're like, they're well thought out. Yeah.

And they're well placed. Mm-hmm. And I like, yeah. Because I didn't even like realize like how cliche it was until you were saying that. It's like, oh. But I mean, isn't anything cliche if you say it. Right. Clchely.

Yeah. It's a clichely. It's also just like the title and the whole point of the song is I don't want to love you. Like he says it point blank. He's not trying to hoodwink you. Yeah, exactly. and like be like deeper than it is. We've grown apart and honestly I think you we've moved on. You're too good for me. It's you not me. It's other way around. There's that I think also I mean it's very catchy. It's very repetitive. But I think that sort of mimics what the lyrics are trying to say. Is that like it's an over and over again cycle. And he hates that he's in it. But it's just like it feels inevitable. It's like and I've been trying to put my finger on what coins.

song it reminds me of. It kind of reminds me of um, you are the traffic. Yes. Oh. You know. Did we do that song? That was the vibes which I was talking about. Yes, we did. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Go back on the switch. It's like, I don't know. There's something kind of like, like that kind of like, that kind of burmmer, murmur, murm, you know. And that's the switch I was talking about too from like 80s sounding stuff to more like, like the drum sound to this song. But yeah, you are the. The chorus too is what, like, just kind of reminded me of it. Like right here.

Yeah, the same. Yeah. And it's really nostalgic, you know? Yeah. I actually love this song. I like this song, too. And that's what I think was, like, I liked this song because it was nostalgic, but not in, like, a gross way.

Like, do you know what I mean? Because, like, even now, like, I think we talked about this when we did the band Camino episode. I just, like, can't listen to that anymore. Yeah, there's certain artists. But, like, I loved it. at some point. But like, it was nice to listen to this because it reminded me of coin and like kind of that vibe like you were saying

but I wasn't like, I don't want to hear this. Yeah. It's just like a reminder that good music is still being made in the genres that we feel like we've grown out of at some point. And these are like nice ways to for me, they're really nice ways to revisit

that style without getting sucked into like the worst years of my life. It's like I physically cannot listen to a lot of my old playlist for that reason. It's like a fresh take on something that you used to like. Yeah, 100%. It's a set. There's so much music and I think, especially after we did that Ban Kamita episode, I was thinking about it. And there was just this terrible time basically, like when Gavin moved and that was all I was listening to. And if I listen to it now, like, I literally rather die than hear this music again. And it's because you just

like, but it sucks because you're kind of like, I remember listening to this and like really enjoying it. But now like, yeah, even going to that Bad Kameda concert, I was like, this is really painful. I don't want to, I don't want to think back to when I was listening to this, but yeah, I really liked, and usually,

like, I don't, I mean, like I said, like, that type of song, that type of sound is just, like,

hasn't really, like, captured me lately at all. You're much more on your, your 70s retro arc. Love. Yeah, true. Save that for next week.

Oh. But, but, but, yeah, it was like, kind of nice listening to. I mean, like, oh, like, it feels like that, but like in a new, fun, not traumatic way. Yeah. And that way it was kind of encouraging, too. It's like, oh, we can still

make this kind of music and not have it be tied to like, because there's this other band, sorry, not to keep bringing up other bands, but there's this other band Knightley. And I don't know what it is, but they can't seem to get out of 2015. Yeah. Every song they make, it's like, geez, guys, like you've, you're beating a dead horse at the this point. Yeah. Right. Like not every song used to be about like midnight drives and and like, so it's. Yeah, literally. Yeah. Literally. Like in like there's Spotify bio literally says like songs to drive to. No. Yeah. Immediate no. But like this is encouraging that they're making. This is coming out recently. Yes. And it's fresh. But it still has a sound that I, I think I'm still craving a little bit. Yeah. And a little bit. So I think and like they're. And like they're. What I like about him too is it's too early on in his career to have like a full-fledged discussion about how this compares to his older stuff and and where he's going because it's I'm almost like trepidacious watching it because I just like don't want him to be sucked into

a machine and then like dead in three years. Yeah. Because that's what happens with a lot of artists like him. So I'm hoping that he stays pure to some degree. and I think that that Bristin has managed to keep a lot of his old sound with him. And so I can only hope that that, that Joe follows like a similar trajectory and he, he sees success. But yeah, I'm very interested to see where he's going to head. He's going on, I think on his first headlining tour this year.

So I'm definitely going to see. He's toured with like Spacey Jane. Nice. Two other ones. And Kay Fly is like a really big name. So she helped produce a re-release of his first. That was like a little more polished than what he had put out before and so he's definitely has the attention of a lot of people within music and I think it's just a matter of like I really hope he can hold your breath. Yes. See which way he tilts.

Well, I hope the TikTok audience actually shows up to shows. And he can be successful. Because that is the huge problem that I think the music industry is stuck in now. It's translating that fandom and that virality into sustainable careers for artists. And a lot of people just slip between the cracks. I like that he's from New Jersey, too. I don't know anyone from New Jersey. Bleachers is from New Jersey.

So maybe that redeems the state a little bit for you. It doesn't. I can't stand bleachers. I love Jack. bleachers either. Oh, oh, dude. And I went to... No offense to do it. I've seen bleachers twice and I don't like bleachers. It doesn't stick in my brain. Like, it's just kind of like... It makes me mad. Oh, like something's a weird here. Yeah. I get that Jack is a genius. 100% I understand it. But I cannot listen to a if you're a genius. Why do you songs? I don't like to listen. Sound like that. What do they sound like that? And every other time I've been like,

I've been like, I've listened to a song and be like, this is good. Jack gets it off there. I'm like, yep. He's obviously smart. Why am I listening to you? You sing like this. I'm like, no offense, check answer off if you're listed. Yeah. I don't know. It's never. From his throne in the music industry. Like, please.

He's like six album of a year of nominations. He's like, going to sue me for just say something bad. He's in Morocco recording with Taylor Swift again. He's like, I just made $4 million last month, so I don't really, I don't really like it. No, but I totally get, sorry. That was like, that sent me off a little because that's like a scary thing to say. Me too. Yeah.

But I don't know. He's never stuck. I've never stuck with me. But he's a fellow New Jerseyan with Joe P. Joe P. If you're just tuning in now, we're talking about Joe P. On I've got OX, Radio Free Hillsdale,

101.7 FM. Maybe that's why it's so refreshing, too, that I like him, because he's not from just some, like, other indie boy from Nashville. That he's, like, a New Jersey guy. Yeah. He's from another world.

It's different, you know? It's a different state. In the same way that, like, I think Noah Kahan was so, like, interesting. He's from, he's from,

he's from, he's from, he's from, he's from, yeah, I think Vermont. And I think that's just like a different perspective

on, right. Sorry, sorry. Well, that's an interesting case study of, like, how location impacts your work.

Yeah, because I think, like, a lot of the, the folk music that has been put out in the last couple years is not like, is,

it feels like it's from a certain place. And I don't, I think his was, like, different, you know, it's like, it's his own perspective on that kind of music.

And so I think maybe, into his location, but I think New Jersey might be playing a part in his, uh, kind of the adult sound that he has. Yeah. There is, I think you're right. And like the, you're pegging it with maturity. I think there is, he's a young artist, you know, in career terms. I don't know how old he is, but, uh, he seems to know kind of what he's doing, which is a relief. So I'm really excited to, to see him move forward. And I'm going to try to see him live this year. Um, but yeah, that was Joe P. And Joe P. Don't want to love you. One of the the new tracks you put out, so I'm guessing there's an album coming this year at some point.

Which I would be excited about. Yeah. Thanks, Joe. Thanks so much for joining us today. Next week we'll be back, I think, with Bella. True. Bella will be on Ox, and we will serve you yet another good song. An awesome episode.

We have never missed. Yes, never. Ever. See you and you've been listening to I've Got Ox and Radio Free Hillsdale 101. 101.7 FM. Bye, guys.