What have I been up to since since taking a day off a week from Physio to make music?

It's January 2024. Time for a stock take - what have I been up to since May 2022 and the first baby steps of this venture? Let's break it down a little. Setting up the home studio was the first step, one that was exciting and felt bursting full of potential. I remember I couldn't wait to get started. The last three months of my notice period at my old job were like counted off eagerly and once I changed jobs and had this wonderful Wednesday off to get started, the studio setup took place.

From there I dived into a course by ProducerTech on Logic that my wife had bought me a few years back for my 30th and I'd never had the time to really get far with. Launching with that was a great start and I began getting my teeth into producing tracks initially based heavily around sample arrangement before the draw of composition and playing with sound took over. The buzz of writing the bulk of a track in a day was incredible.

I have been so fortunate to spend some time along the way with some old friends who are in the music industry, picking their brains and seeking feedback along the way so I want to give them a shout out - Willie Weeks, Adam Rust, Joe Lawton and Nick Ivy - thank you guys so much for the time you've spent with me so far and your support! I benefited greatly from time with Damian Montagu of Moonshot Music for kindly inviting me over to his amazing studio, taking a critical interest in my work and being ruthless in a good way with it! Beautiful surroundings and an incredible space, Damian was really welcoming and I felt so privileged to be there - thanks Damian! I also loved the opportunity to meet up up with Dave Gale (composer/arranger/producer and synth genius), who was kind enough to spend a few hours with me and listen to some of my efforts.

I credit Dave with much of the inspiration for me pursuing this dream - He taught Music Technology for a while at Guildford County School with both of my brothers amongst his students. 'The Media Show' that he directed and produced at the school featuring student tracks and mashups of TV theme tunes with staff voiceovers in I think '95 or '96 caught my imagination and got me interested in following suit with music tech for composition. Dave - thank you for taking time to sit with me and giving me a few tips and critique on my tracks - I hope you'll see some progress!

Most importantly I want to thank my wife Fran for her belief in me to support me setting off on this journey, putting up with housing a home studio, listening to the same ideas, loops, tracks and being endlessly asked for feedback! My boys Reuben and Jesse are constantly wanting to get involved and listen/dance to what I have created which is great fun.

Overall, 2023 saw some major steps forwards in this venture. I've swapped rooms at home with my boys and made a bigger studio/family room which has been a bit of an upgrade, built and launched this website and finally released a first track under my artist name Joe Will with one more due out on the 23rd January. I'm nearing completion of my first production music album so will be looking to get that sent off to publishers within the first half of this year which is really exciting.