Rising alt-rock star Joe P has officially released his debut album Garden State Vampire, featuring beloved singles ‘Birthday Baby (The Girl with No Smile)’, ‘Off My Mind’, and ‘Fighting in the Car’. Along with the release, the video for ‘Violet’ is also out now!
@joep Reply to @edgycoinflip I’m just going to keep trying to get u @markronson ♬ original sound - joe p
If you haven’t heard of Joe P, you must be living under a rock. Or, you simply weren’t engrossed in Tiktok during 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. ‘Fighting in the Car’ was everywhere, thanks to his determination to make videos playing the songs, standing alone outside no matter the weather – and also thanks to Zane Lowe’s video duet jamming out to the song.
Since then, social media has taken a deep love for his music, especially for singles ‘Off My Mind’ and ‘Birthday Baby’. With the success, he signed with Neon Gold/Atlantic records and released his debut EP Emily Can’t Sing in 2021.
After the release of the EP, the release of his seven track project French Blonde in 2022, and his headlining tour run in 2023, he got to the studio to craft the perfect debut album.
Garden State Vampire is not only a love letter to his home state of New Jersey, but an incredible blend of fevered alt-rock and tender acoustic rock that follows the up’s-and-down’s of the human experience of love and growth.
Something he has mastered and showcases heavily in this debut is the precise blend of alternative and rock, which nods to the classics of the genre but he reinvents with his own tone and his own spin.
The whole album feels like it could be the soundtrack to an early 2000’s coming-of-age romantic comedy. He takes classic elements of reverb guitar, frenzied lyrics with electronic overlays, particular instrument relationships, and curates an album that feels so specific and detailed that you don’t actually notice it. There is a flow that is seamless and perfect and creates a refined and distinct alternative rock sound. Dare I say, as far as modern alt rock, he is bringing it back in a big way with this release.
“One of the reasons I named the album Garden State Vampire is that I really thrive in being in a place that no one pays much attention to instead of living in Nashville or L.A. or New York like a lot of people in the music business. It’s kind of nice to feel like I’m alone on a different planet, where the only thing that matters is staying true to whatever these songs want to be.”
‘Lily’, one of the softer songs, is one of the most raw, intense songs on the album, paired with a beautiful, simple arrangement of instruments which arguably makes the song stronger. The songs builds in intensity, coming to a head in the last chorus. As the electronic guitar riffs come to back up the intricate acoustic guitar plucking, it fizzles out quickly, softly dissipating into the end of the song.
While he has an incredible vocal tone for rock ‘n’ roll, it shines on softer ballads. There is a hint of rasp, and his voice simply floats beautifully into the higher notes and down to the deeper ones.
This tonality is also found in ‘Birthday Baby (The Girl with No Smile)’, a slower ballad with a heavy punch backing it up. In contrast to ‘Shadow in the Sun’ and ‘She Got Me’, which features his vocals in their tough rock ‘n’ roll elements perfectly. He encompasses the rougher, sexier parts of the genre, giving songs that practically beg you to headbang along.
One thing Joe P has given us with this album is a taste of a bit more variety in his work. ‘Violet’, an upbeat love song, leans more modern in the instrumental backing, and more laid back in the vocal melody. It’s warmer, and a bit lighter, feeling a bit more West Coast than we’re used to hearing with him. It does a great job and feels perfectly in place as an addition to the album. It gives the ear something new to vibe and almost take a break to.
‘She’s So Good’ leans in a more alternative indie sound but he lends the raspy, coolness of his rocker vocal tone to a more mellow, casual melody and it works perfectly. It feels like a classic rock song at times, and then its weaves into alt-indie elements. Ending with ‘Nothin At All’ is a beautiful way to lay out the album, not only towards the story of up’s-and-downs of life, but its calm and a little indie and still engaging. It’s a wonderful last track, like a bow on a gift.
All-in-all, Joe P has unleashed a debut album that is not only for his long time fans to enjoy what they love him for and find something new, and also for new fans to get a taste of what he can do. There is a perfect, quintessential alt-rock sound with passion embedded deeply throughout every track, and detailed care seamlessly woven in. If you haven’t heard of Joe P before this release, you’ll definitely remember his name after listening.
His headlining North American tour kick-offs September 19th in Ferndale, Michigan at The Magic Bag. Along the way, he will be making festival appearances in New Jersey at Sea.Hear.Now. on Saturday, September 14 and Austin City Limits Music Festival on Saturday, October 12. Grab tickets to a date closest to you here!
Save and listen to Garden State Vampire wherever you stream your music!
