Jeffrey Joslin

His sound seems to run and hide in the shag carpet and rich wood paneling of his Murfreesboro, TN., home, but Jeffrey Joslin’s words have no time for games. His unique blend of upbeat jazz and acoustic rock ebbs and flows from soft to loud as he travels through the heart of pain and the elation of love towards the hope that love brings. Fresh on the heels of newest release, For Real This Time EP offers a glimpse into the complicated and oh-so well-known world of relationships and the pain attached when those relationships come to an end. His style has been called “white boy R&B”, but for this athlete-turned-artist, it’s not about trying to fit into a mold, but letting his experiences and emotions flow out of him uninhibited.

Jeffrey grew up in Johnson City, TN., and his path towards music was hindered by his love for athletics. “I began to focus all my attention on this talent that I thought would define me, all the while starving myself of the things that I really loved,” said Jeffrey. After playing quarterback in high school and early in college, Jeffrey decided it was time to make the move towards what he had always desired to do, and that was play music. During high school, a friend heard his music and encouraged him to continue writing and to pursue his artistic passions. Little did he know that this would be a catalyst that would change everything.

Jeffrey’s musical training began at an early age when at age 8 he began playing piano and singing in several choirs and ensembles. His parents raised him on Contemporary Christian Music like Carmen, Michael W. Smith and Steve Curtis Chapman, but his real influences have been discovered much more recently. From the pluck-and-slap rhythms reminiscent of Jack Johnson to the acoustic stylings of Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes, Jeffrey’s influences reach far and wide. He draws inspiration from the voices of Stevie Wonder and Jack Johnson while taking musical cues from Chris Martin’s (of Coldplay fame) skillful piano musings and the classics such as Stevie Ray Vaughn and Ray Charles.

Unlike many others in his genre, Joslin’s message is not one of “eat, drink, and be merry”, but one of hope and love amidst the noise of life. Jeffrey is now studying Recording Music Production at Middle Tennessee State University. “Sure getting here I've acquired a few good bumps and bruises, and I've got a couple of scars from a few of life's punches,” said Jeffrey, “but that's what happens when you take risks, and taking risks is what life's all about.”

-written by BJ Hunt