Critics and music purists hate to admit it, but TikTok was right about yet another artist. After blowing up on the platform during the pandemic when the members of his initial project, Deal Casino, parted ways, Joe P has become another algorithm angel.
His videos are simple and unassuming — yet another fluffy-haired indie kid in a basement. Sure, he can slaughter 15-second videos with highly specific lyricism and a four-chord safety net. But can Joe P survive the transfer of TikTok audience to live audience?
Apparently so, seeing as he’s heading out on his first headlining U.S. tour this spring. On Wednesday, Feb. 21, Joe P will perform at Ann Arbor’s The Blind Pig.
Shortly after signing a deal with Neon Gold/Atlantic Records, Joe P released his debut EP “Emily Can’t Sing” in 2021. This EP features two of Joe P’s gems: “Leaves” and “Off My Mind,” the latter of which has amassed over 35 million streams on Spotify. In 2022, he followed this up with another EP, “French Blonde,” which featured originals alongside a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.”
In October of 2023, Joe P released “Glass House” and the track’s b-side “Don’t Wanna Love U.” While the former brings you back to the fossilized affections of high school romance through crushing details, the latter is a much more general song about desire. It’s the better track of the two.
Situationships are like knowingly walking around with your shoes untied and hoping you don’t trip. With no finite commitment agreements to tie up the laces of the pseudo-romantic relationship, you’re bound only by your delusion that your partner (who is not technically considered your partner) knows you’re both on the same page. This phenomenon is what singer-songwriter Joe P expertly conveys in “Don’t Wanna Love U.”
The pre-chorus says it all, “You know, you won’t feel thе pain / When there’s nothing left to hurt/ And it’s hard to drive away / When the bridge already burned.”
Returning to a dynamic you know does not serve you is an experience most folks are unlucky enough to experience, and Joe P’s most recent tracks are an offering to both his past self and his audience.
He’s a young voice in the indie scene, but he’s far from naive. Taking his time between releases, keeping his social media consistent and mundane, and working on long-term projects to fight against the speedy demands of the music industry, Joe P will be as big a name as Briston Maroney, The Backseat Lovers, and Peach Pit soon enough.