THE SCRAPE - ISSUE 1
Wavy Josef - By Silver Cypress
Wavy Josef began his music exploration early. His parents sought to immerse him in the fundamentals straight from the womb. Introducing him to Bob Marley, A Tribe Called Quest and even classical music, it didn't take long for him to jump into instruments after that.
As soon as his motor functions were in control he went straight to the piano at the age of two, plunking out "no woman no cry" by Bob Marley! His parents, seeing his potential, kept him in piano classes from the age of four. By the time Wavy was seven years old he learned to program beats on the zoom street box. Once he turned sixteen he had to up the ante, adding Logic to his impressive roster of musical skills. When your beats are that intricate you need something to really keep up with you. Skrillex was a favorite producer of Wavy’s that inspired him to keep pushing his sound.
He mentions African drumming, yet another skill acquired by Josef at the young age of twelve, when he moved to Oregon from California to attend DaVinci Middle School. His drumming teacher Hakeem saw his love for music and recruited him to be a part of an all boy drumming group called Baramakono, meaning "youth of the village". Wavy grew his drumming skills and now shares them with the Portland community, teaching at multiple summer camps and Portland Public Schools. He just recently performed for the Jefferson annual spring dance recital. Wavy Josef marked a big musical milestone for himself when he was asked to produce Tyus's album, someone Wavy believes is one of the greatest RnB artists to come out of Portland.
"The Last Artful Dodgr" (pronounced dodger) is included in Josef's list of favorite artists he's ever worked with. Her music inspires him soulfully, raising the hairs on his body the moment her sound graces his ears. On his twenty-first birthday he spent the night in the studio with Kaleel Kaleel, Kdren, Kwicks, and Beezo. With the help of a little rosé, he created a funky NBA 2K20 bop. A popular basketball video game where gamers can hoop digitally. Wavy wants to remind artists that the journey is about flowing and having fun.
His confidence and belief in himself is exponential. Wavy says there isn't a stadium big enough that he can dream up to perform at. But if he could start somewhere that exists, he'd love to headline at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. He took a moment in his interview to manifest a performance at Soul Bloom". He was introduced to this soul festival by Parker Howl, another musician, giving Wavy his first ever festival experience there. Visualizing his own name on the Up Next performer's list.
When asked about influences and inspirations, he names off T-pain, but closer to home his little sister and uncle inspire him to keep creating. He also includes"Rainezra" as an inspiration, someone who shares his vision. Taking experience and soaking up their passion for music just like him.
We asked Wavy if he was stranded on an island what three pieces of equipment would he want with him? His laptop, SM7 microphone and the piano. Music is his therapy and he just can't go without it.
Wavy Josef leaves us with an important quote:
“Your life begins when your great passion meets the world's great hunger." - Kate Bernstein