Here's an interview I just gave with Jason Verstegen for the September issue of SCENE Newspaper.  Cheers!

SCENE interview link

Sly Joe is an infectious groove-creating machine of a man. I’m sure at some point you’ve heard his soulful swagger coming singing through a pair of headphones. What’s that you say? You haven’t! Oh precious reader, how I feel for you. His laid back melodies, carefree love-approved lyrics, and potent rhythms blend together to form an excellent poppy funky earthy soul mix-up, a true delight to the ears. Songs such as “Melody” and “The Meadowgrass and the Morning Sun” are chock full of emotion-fueled hooks that seem instantly timeless. After a few listens, one can deduce that Sly Joe’s use of the studio is most excellent at the very least.

But I cannot forget the band. The Smooth Operators lay down loose rootsy grooves that make you wanna get up and dance, and sit back and chill, all at once. It’s an extremely fun balance of both worlds. In fact it’s impossible to not enjoy yourself at a Sly Joe show. Really, there’s medical evidence proving his music truly does lift the spirit and the soul.

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to share a rousing round of disc golf with the man himself. Joe was, as always, graciously enjoying the life that lies at his fingertips. Between flying discs and sunshine, I had a chance to ask Sly Joe a few questions. Of course, he put the utmost thought into every answer, then sunk one for par.

JV: I’d like to start out by asking you a simple question for those out there you need a better understanding of your musical endeavors; what three words best describe your music?

SJ: Hmm, earthy, soul, funk. No, I’m gonna change that. How about, earthy, soul, heart. I’m more concerned about the heart. Though I do love the funk, I gotta have the heart.

JV: I hear nods to other bands and genres in your work, whom are you major influences?

SJ: Some of my early influences are The Beatles, The Jackson Five, and the album Thriller. I remember my Mom would spin records at night and especially on the weekends. She would be doing her accounting homework and I would be spinning on the floor pretending I was on a giant record. (Joe then demonstrated the spinning on the Hole 3 tee. Laughter was shared.) Then, as I got into my teen years I really got into grunge, Pearl Jam, STP, Soundgarden, bands like that. Toward my later teens, a very influential band came into my life named Little Blue Crunchy Things, from Milwaukee. They brought the funk and the grooves. I thought they were very original and creative. I turned a new leaf. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, G. Love, they all played a huge role in my sound. I also, like to keep current with what’s on the radio nowadays. I like John Mayer, Vampire Weekend, Jack Johnson, etc.

JV: I know you are a devoted family man, as well as a musician, do you ever find it hard to keep up with both aspects of your life?

SJ: I try to just focus on the joy of each part of it. You know the family time, the time I get to spend with them is great, they’re beautiful I adore them. I feel like I have such a good balance that I enjoy every part of each thing I do, to the fullest. Even driving to a gig, whoa great, I get to listen to some music by myself. Loading and unloading gear, great exercise after answering and sending email all day. So yeah, I feel the most balanced ever, at this point in my life. It’s a beautiful place.

JV: In a very polished era of cookie cutter boy bands and vulgar hip hop ballads, you’ve taken a much more “ natural” and, as you said, “earthy” approach to the pop art form. What draws you to that specific genre?

SJ: Pop music, doesn’t necessarily mean “bad” or “sellout”. It just means that the songs found a way to communicate with a lot of people, really well, in a way people responded to. In a way, that’s why I do music the majority of my life. It’s a really artistic way of communicating with people and hopefully, starting a conversation.

JV: So I have to ask about your gear. Not only are you’re a guitar-wielding axe ace, you are also a master of the keys. Can you tell me a little about both of your setups?

SJ: Guitar-wise, I love Telecaster electric guitars. Normally I run it through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I love the sound of a good tube amp. I use a few pedals, a wah wah, phaser, and a digital delay. I use them sparingly. I try to concentrate more on presenting the song itself. As for keys, I use a Casio Privia electric piano. I’ve had many seasoned sound guys agree with me that it is the best-sounding digital piano. Just something about the tone of it. I use the piano, organ, clavichord, and Rhodes sounds a lot. I have my degree in recording also, so ProTools and other computer-based programs have really added more colors to my palette. It’s like wow, blue, green, and yellow are great, but now I have purple. Look what I can do with purple!

You know those days that something happens to help restore your faith in what you love, well that something for me, was disc golfing on a sunny summer day with Sly Joe.