JOEY AICH

December 6th 2024

Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners.​​​

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 My music is a modern twist on the 90s (Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, De La Soul, etc) and 2010s blog era (Lupe, J Cole, Kid Cudi, Mac Miller, Asher Roth, and many more). A big emphasis on storytelling and using my personal experiences to paint on the canvas that is recorded music and stage performances. I'm a professional dreamer and hopefully my music inspires others to dream as well. 

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How and when did you get into music?

​I got into entertainment at an early age. I was always involved with church and school plays and choir. Once I got older I gravitated towards poetry and the meanings of lyrics and storytelling. I would print and read lyrics of my favorite songs to try to figure out metaphors, entendres, connections to life events, and that shaped what I wanted to be as a writer. Growing up in Woodmere Village, a suburb outside of Cleveland, OH, I was very anti to the idea of being a "Rapper" in high school. I would hear people around the area who called themselves rappers and everything felt fake (lyrics and image) and I didn't want to be considered similar so I kept my songs to myself and used it more as a diary. I gained more confidence right before going to college and that's when I started to release my own original music and the first time I performed my own music I was hooked and realized this is what I wanted to do. I got that same feeling as a kid when I started entertaining to begin with! 

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Creative Process?

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My process goes in a cycle. Since my lyrics are very personal experience based, I use my life to fuel the lyrics. So I have to live, I have to go through new experiences so I can share and relate to those who listen. After that, I reach out to my team of producers who I've worked with over the years and then the stories and production form where I'm headed and I go from there. 

Outside of that, I am the owner of Joey Aich Entertainment, LLC, so I run the show and operate my Patreon, study analytics, research opportunities to perform, craft release strategies, and find ways to be useful in multiple capacities within the community.

ink of a feeling or memory, lots of the time having to do with nostalgia, and I try to capture how that would sound and feel to me.

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Where do you find inspiration?

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I find my inspiration from my lived experiences. As a fan of music first, I knew when I was younger the songs that really resonated with me were the ones that hit my spirit during times where music was the only thing that could heal or amplify the time. To write songs like that are my own stories and others relate and tell me how it impacted them is special to me. I'm also inspired by my family and friends. I've been very blessed with incredible people around me and I never have to look far outside of my circle to be inspired. First and foremost, my parents are true examples of what I want to be, so talking to them and watching them inspires me to ALWAYS want to make them proud. Everyone around me does something special and it's almost like - How can I be the one that DOESN'T do something great too. ​​

What song/project should unfamiliar listeners begin with?

Ooooh this is a hard one. So I'm big into sports and have built my brand with music and sports combined so I'll give a starting five of songs. I feel like Brown Liquor, Rope Break, Rossi on the Deck, Zoom, and Jenga III, are a good reflection of who I am as an artist. If you give those a try and enjoy what you hear, I know you'll like everything else because it's something in the catalog for you. Project wise, I'm into universe building and I feel like I'm creating a catalog that people can find easter eggs in so right now the center of the universe is Open Treehouse (Deluxe), it's a long album, but it tells you exactly who I am and how you can revisit albums like If Money Grew on Trees and AichFiles. But also, if you just like starting from the beginning, knock yourself out and start at AichFiles and enjoy the ride! 

Any new projects soon? Anything you'd like to promote

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 Yes, currently I'm in a groove and working on a bunch of music and ready to unload the vault. I have a collaborative album on the way with my brother and frequent collaborator, Dave Zup, titled DUO. After that, in 2025 I am releasing a solo album. Also, I have a side project as well under a pseudonym where I will be releasing music very often. A lot to look forward to. 

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What music have you been listening to recently?

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I've been running a melting pot of music so I'm just gonna list a few - that new Kendrick (obviously), Brijean (probably my most listened to group of the year, I gotta see them live), Dan Kye, Leon Thomas, Grandace, Liteweight Champion, and Tommy Richman and Tommy Richman adjacent music, Channel Tres, and the Ohio homies! 

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