What is your name and role within the band?
I am Joe, I am the sole member of Second Hand King.
How did you start?
Started as Second Hand King in 2010 in the depths of my bedroom one day as I was trying to find a name to spend the rest of my life with. Of course, I didn’t think of it like that – but that’s just what ended up happening.
Where are you based?
I am based out of the flyover Kansas City, Missouri.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
I can set the mood for you. Lights off. 2 AM. You’ve had a day that you just can’t quiet define. Something still stirs inside of you, so what do you do? A couple of old coffee cups near your computer with dried up coffee. Your not quiet sure how you spill so much nor do you remember doing so but there’s clear evidence. On the opposite side a book you’ve never read, perhaps a story, or a self help, or Infinite Jest. I am a firm believer in everything meaning something, I feel like this all staring daggers at me plays into my writing process. Perhaps I like to write at 2 AM because not many is awake and my upstairs neighbor isn’t vacuuming.
What are you working on right now?
Two projects actually. One is a break up album about my recent failed engagement with a single mother with musical help from my friend Jesse of Sinple and we are calling it BAD DREAMER. The other is my Opus in FRANKIE, the story of a kid trying to find his way with Doo Wop and whatever else he can get his hands on.
What is your gear setup?
I am mainly a vocalist so I have my Neumann microphone & an out dated firewire studio set up through a project none of the industry uses in Adobe Audition.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
I am a romantic, and that surely does affect my music. Of course everything does. Distraction is the only thing that takes me away from it – but I’m human Partae. I am a human being.
How would you describe your music genre?
I am the originator of Doo Wop Rap. It’s like if Buddy Holly listened to too much Eminem as a child, which is true to me or if Ben Folds rapped.
Do you know any music theory?
I have a theory that music is all a theory.
What are your plans for the future?
I’d like to stop working and start working 100 percent on one thing. In my heart, I’d love to tour, and never really have a home but who knows. I want to release these albums, connect with people – make music. It’s all free now anyways.
How did you get into music?
My two pop/country/classic rock loving parents made a rap for me when I came out of the womb for no reason at all and I think I fell in love then.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Father John Misty – Pure Comedy, Sun Kil Moon – Benji, the song Living the Classics by Aldous Harding, DAMN by Kendrick Lamar, currently a Tom Waits compilation of his earlier years, and fill it in with a ton of Chet Baker & Miles Davis and sometimes even a little Buddy Holly.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
Tupac. He’s GOAT to me. His passion puts him there.
Eminem because it was the first explict rap album I ever bought.
LIMP BIZKIT, Yes LIMP BIZKIT because that was my suburban introduction to rap music.
Sam Cooke is my hero.
Derek Jeter, my childhood hero.
When are you playing next?
Nothing formally announced but be on the look out in September.
Please feel free to include any extra info.
I hate this place but instagram.com/secondhandking
I also hate this place but facebook.com/secondhandking
