My Debut EP is out now 🌿

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we try to control every little detail in our lives—the plans, the goals, the lists. I used to feel that if I could just get everything in order, maybe I’d make the most of my time here on Earth.

But the older I get, the more I realise that trying to control every second is exhausting. The pressure to get it all right just leaves me feeling guilty, frustrated, and anxious. This constant need for control was weighing me down.

That’s why I’m so excited to finally say that my debut EP, What Comes Next, is out today! 🎉

Listen Here

This project is deeply personal and explores how we deal with the past we once loved, the present we struggle to live in, and the future that is unknown.

Every track reflects on these moments, and I’ve poured my heart into each one.

You’ve already heard the first four songs, which guide you through:

🌞 the turbulence of nostalgia (Girl In The Sun)

💃 the sometimes disappointing nature of mundane life (Twenties)

🛌 how this can be suffocatingly overwhelming (Battered Bruised & Sore)

🏜️ and nurturing your passion when all feels lost (Lose My Hope)

But today, the final piece is here—My New Meaning. This song completes the journey, and it’s become my personal mantra for letting go of control and trusting her (the universe 💫). It’s about learning to live in the present and trusting that what’s meant for us will come to us.

Here’s a little of what I’ve been thinking about while making this EP:

✨ How do we deal with the past when it feels so precious?

✨ Why is everyday life sometimes so underwhelming, and what do we do when it feels suffocating?

✨ How do we nurture our passions when everything feels lost?

My New Meaning is the answer I’ve been searching for. It’s about finding peace in life’s simple moments—feeling the grass beneath your feet, listening to the wind, or floating in the ocean, knowing that “she delivers all her promises.” 🌍

I hope this song becomes your reminder, too. We all deserve everything good that life has to offer—sometimes, we just need to let go and trust the process.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I can’t wait to hear what My New Meaning and the rest of What Comes Next means to you.

With love and trust,

(With) Joe

Listen now

Filming the Acoustic Version of 'My New Meaning' and Promoting Video Content

Today, I filmed and edited the live performance video of the acoustic version of My New Meaning. Since there's already a music video for the original version of the song, I wanted to create something special to promote the acoustic rendition. Filming it in my bedroom kept things simple and intimate. I arranged the room and lighting to create a visually appealing setup with colour-changing lights, adding a dynamic element to the background. To keep the raw, personal vibe, I used my iPhone as the camera—no need for high-end equipment when the focus is on capturing a genuine acoustic performance.

Screenshot of the acoustic performance

For the audio, I sang directly into my microphone and recorded it separately in Logic Pro. I aimed to use just one take, so I recorded three full takes and chose the best one. After recording, I edited the audio, applying pitch correction and vocal processing to enhance the vocals. Using Final Cut Pro’s synchronisation tool, I synced the audio with the video effortlessly, adding minor colour adjustments to complete the final cut.

I ended up with five high-quality snippets from this performance that I can spread out to promote the acoustic video. I also got three clips from the official music video, giving me extra content to share on Instagram.

As I’m finishing up, I realise I have loads of videos to schedule. I’ve been unintentionally creating more and more content, which is a bit overwhelming considering my focus has always been on quality rather than quantity. Despite this, I’m still pleased with the standard of my videos. It’s just that there are so many, and they haven’t been getting much engagement yet, which makes me question whether it's all worth it. But since I’m still enjoying the process, I’ll stick with it. If I was doubting and hating it, I’d give up, but I’m nearly done with scheduling everything—I expect to finish by the end of next week.

The Gantt chart in my Notion has been a lifesaver for this project. There’s a lot of content going up, and it’s crucial to see it all on a timeline to make sure everything is evenly spread. It’s also been great for keeping track of where each piece of content is in the process. Within each page for each piece of content I can place the ideas for that content, as well as the captions for Instagram.

Creating a Guided Meditation Track for "My New Meaning"

Today, I took a different approach to promoting the final song from my upcoming EP by creating a guided meditation track. The track is designed to complement "My New Meaning," which is all about connecting with the universe, embracing the unknown, and finding trust in the process of life. It’s a way to expand the themes of the song and offer listeners a grounding tool for moments when life feels overwhelming.

I've been a big fan of guided meditation for a while, and I often use the mantra from "My New Meaning" as a manifestation tool in my own life. It felt natural to translate this into a meditation track that could bring those same themes to life. I did some research on creating guided meditations and learned that it’s essential to begin by helping listeners connect with their breath and body. The central section can then vary in focus, and it should end with a gradual return to the present.

For the visualisation, I wanted to take listeners on a journey that helps them gain perspective on the vastness of the universe while still recognizing the significance of their own existence. Picture yourself standing barefoot on soft grass, feeling the earth beneath you and the sun warming your skin. As you breathe in, imagine expanding outward, slowly zooming out from your surroundings until you’re floating above the earth and eventually beyond, seeing galaxies spread out in every direction. It’s a reminder that while the universe is infinite, each of us is still a vital part of its story.

In terms of the music itself, I kept things simple to ensure the meditation remained effective. I used the synth bass from the original song, slowed down the chord progression considerably with an ambient pad, and added some gentle piano outlining the melody of the mantra. My voice guides the listener through the visualisation.

My new meaning (guided meditation snippet)

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Finalising the Acoustic Version and Music Video

Another highlight from today was ticking off some big tasks—finalising both the music video and acoustic version of "My New Meaning." These have been through a few iterations, but it’s exciting to see them complete, and it means I’m one step closer to wrapping up all the promo work for this EP. Although I've enjoyed this promotional phase, I’m looking forward to focusing on creating music again.

Admin Work and the Value of Organisation

As an independent artist, a lot of the work behind the scenes is admin. In the UK, registering songs with PRS and recordings with PPL is crucial for collecting royalties correctly. There are multiple codes and IDs for different aspects of a song, and each contributor needs to be registered. My Notion setup makes it easier to manage this, connecting songs, recordings, releases, collaborators, live performances, and venues. It took time to set up, but it’s been a game-changer. I’m considering making this public for other independent artists to use at some point.

Live performances database

Recordings database

Songs database