Meet Josephine Network

Josephine Network is a new Hypnagogic-pop project that we need to be talking about. Their 2020 album “Music Is Easy” blasted through the noise of the recently released section of Bandcamp. It Blasted right down to my core where there was an unknown hunger for quaint energetic rock tunes. While I jump around to their latest single “Shipwrecked “ read our interview while we talk about Segways, concerts, and creative inspiration.

A Self-Portrait by Josephine Network

Would You Rather

be carried everywhere you go by a giant person, or be confined to a segway? Why?

I would rather be confined to a segway because I don't want to depend on someone else for my transportation and I like scooters ever since I had a razr back in the day.

Some Questions with Josephine Network

What was the last concert you attended that inspired you?

I really can't remember the last concert I've been to that inspired me because I haven't been to a show in so long, but I'm taking a keyboard class via zoom right now and my teacher Suzanne inspires me. She's a great pianist and patient teacher.

How did the musical character of Josephine come to be?

After my old band broke up, I was in a sad place, looking for something to fill my head, so I started going to my friend Sally's play rehearsals. They were very serious and intense sessions, so I started talking like an old yenta, which kind of cut the tension. Sally had a musical character named S the Supplicant and that was interesting. As for Josephine, the archetype comes naturally. I come from a Russian and Eastern European Jewish New York background.

In the late 1800s, my ancestors came to New York to escape the persecution of Czar Alexander III and they were part of the generation that brought Yiddish (a mix of Hebrew, Russian, English, and German languages) to America. The Josephine character is most inspired by my late grandmother Estelle, who was a fabulous painter, magnificent yenta, and loving bubbe, with no shortage of colorful Yiddish expressions. I love how her paintings were so deep and emotional but her personality was so bubbly. She inspires me to this day.

Are you better at thumb wrestles or staring contests? What's your secret?

I'd rather thumb wrestle because I don't like prolonged direct eye contact. I prefer flirty passing glances...

How has performing with an 8-piece ensemble changed or influenced your music?

I love my big musical mispocha! That means family. The bigga the betta! If you want in, and you dress well, you're in!

What was the creative drive behind your July release "Shipwrecked"?

Dr. Joshua Hahn and I were stuck in quarantine facetiming and I showed him that main jangly guitar part. That led to a little songwriting session. We both added to the music and structure and then I wrote the lyrics. The lyrics are about being in isolation and missing a friend or lover. I wanted the lyrics to feel like a real love letter from a lost sailor at sea, almost like a message in a bottle. I sent Dr. Hahn the guitars and vocals, and he recorded drums and bass at his studio and mixed it. There are 15 background vocal tracks on that. Dr. Hahn is my favorite producer, he recorded my "Music Is Easy" album and we'll be working together again on my upcoming album "Suite Nights".

What is the meaning behind your self-described genre, “Soul gum”?

It’s bubblegum for the soul.

How have you been staying creatively inspired lately?

Long walks and long talks. My friend Hershguy has been sending me drum beats and I've been writing little fierce yiddish punk songs over them. We're gonna release an album of this stuff called "Stocky Tunes", which is a play on 'stock' music, and a nod to a great gay porn site for chubby men called Stocky Dudes.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

Zei gezunt!

Josephine Network