Getting to Know… Ivory Lake | Interview 🎤

On our 160^th interview in our Getting to Know… series, we chat it up singer, songwriter, and drummer, Ivory Lake.

Ponder this. How often is it that you find the lead artist/front man serving the role of vocalist, drummer, and songwriter? Well, that’s exactly how things play out for 🎙 Ivory Lake (Josh Watts).  Besides that, being a distinct thing in its own right, Watts adds his roles “can give a different view of songwriting and atmosphere.” Agreed.  Recently, Watts released his debut EP as Ivory Lake, 💿 Pillows.  But that’s enough spoilers – read the interview for yourself! Without further ado, here is 🎤 Getting to Know… Ivory Lake: Interview No. 160!

Starting things off right, for those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

🎤 I suppose it would be our deeply introspective lyrics yet energetic stage presence and with the drummer being lead vocalist and songwriter for the band it can give a different view of songwriting and atmosphere.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did you start in music and what were some of the goals or visions you had as an artist early on?

🎤 I started playing drums shortly after moving to the south of Spain when I was 11. My grandparents had some land with a shed that had my mom’s old drum kit inside, so I started to pick up the sticks and banged away to Metallica and Slayer until my hands bled then I’d play for another hour. I just wanted to tour with a heavy metal band and luckily, before COVID hit,

I joined up with Geoff Tate (previously of Queensryche) as his drummer and played hundreds of shows across 26 countries. It was an amazing experience and now I’m looking forward with Ivory Lake.

Let’s talk more about goals. Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

🎤 Yes!  You know at first you want to be a famous rock star, but I feel like that would be too much hassle now, I just want to make the people who enjoy the sounds I make feel something different.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

🎤 I’m very much influenced by Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys for his songwriting, also Matty Healy of the 1975 as a lyricist but also Father John Misty, Phoebe Bridgers, Biffy Clyro and more …

Ah, the fun stuff. What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  

🎤 I know this isn’t while performing but anyway … Once on tour with Operation Mindcrime,  we accidentally broke into an old Italian woman’s house to do laundry (we were told it was a part of the venue) we left it there, came back an hour later and there she was shouting and throwing our soaking wet clothes over the fence.

Wow! Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

🎤 I think my song 🎵 “Pillows” is a deeply personal song and you can really feel it in the room.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

🎤 I suppose I’m a bit of an animal freak- at one time I had 48 rabbits (yes, the sayings are true) along with snakes, tarantulas, lizards and a ton more.

Closing things out, what are you currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.

🎤 I have my debut EP 💿 Pillows coming out everywhere 22/1/2021 and I have another in the works for hopefully late spring which I’m super excited about sharing.

Follow Ivory Lake: FB • IG • YouTube • Spotify

Getting to Know… Ivory Lake: Interview No. 160 🎤 [📷: Ivory Lake, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype]