Lisa: Welcome back to Whisper n Thunder Joseph! We wanted to check with you on your music career since our last visit. You were one of our first artists that we featured on The Creative Drum page; tell us what you have been up to the last year and a half.

Joseph: Hi Lisa and thanks so much for re-inviting me here. I trust that all is well with the Whisper n Thunder family.

Well, since we’ve spoken last quite a bit has happened, but I will try to keep it brief. Of course being nominated for Debut Artist of the year 2010 with NAMA was a great honor. I have been playing gigs where I can get them. Lots of new music flowing, it seems that every time I pick up my guitar a new tune wants to come out. So, I have quite the assortment waiting to get back into the studio to be properly recorded.

Through Spirit Wind Records and Mr. Donald Blackfox, we have re-submitted to NAMA for 3 categories this year in hopes of at least 1 nomination (LOL!)  A win… Who knows? There are some really, really great artists who will also be submitting. I will also be submitting to ISMA this year. Also, I have released a new album. A 17-track endeavor entitled “String Theory” This is a full Acoustic Guitar Instrumental cd with a reprise, accompaniment of Violin with Liz Mallin of the Kilmaine Saints. Personally, I feel that this album is the best that I’ve released to date. I just can’t stop listening to it

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3429084766907&set=p.3429084766907&type=1&theater

Not to mention my other job as talk show host of “Coffee House Journeys, Inspirations from the Red Road.”Under the awesome direction of Kim Bear Medicinewalker, of the Wolf and The Bear.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wolf-and-the-bear/359780781266

And on the other side of my life, work as a (Chaplain) Native American Spiritual Leader at a nearby prison has kept me quite busy. I am meeting quite the number of spiritually starving convicts. It is both a wonderful and stressful position all at once. I could go on and on about this, even having written for an earlier  issue of Whisper n Thunder an article entitled “Life of a Chaplain.”

Also if I may add… I am currently requesting monetary donations to assist the inmates for procurement of either FDA approved Venison or Buffalo meat for the upcoming Green Corn Feast this year. If any one might be feeling generous, please leave a message for me on my FaceBook page and I will get back to them with all of the info as to where to send a check and to the exact information as to what to write on the check. The money will be collected at the specific State Correctional Institution. We are attempting to ask the specific vendor to please place a freeze on the price as soon as possible. Of course that depends upon the donations sent. Thank you so very much.

Lisa: I know you are working on a radio show; has the show helped your music career in anyway?

Joseph: Honestly… I just don’t know. It’s difficult to tell really. I wonder, does this place me more in the light as a talk show host as opposed to a musician? I suppose that possibly time will tell? I certainly do hope so! Ask me again next year, LOL!

Lisa: Tell our readers a little bit about your radio show.

Joseph: The show currently is live on Tuesday evenings at 8 pm EST, as far away as your computer. One can always check on my Face Book page as to any changes and who will be the guest for the next upcoming show.

For the time being, I am really enjoying it. I have been greatly honored and privileged to be able to get an inside scoop of what is going on in the minds and hearts of some really great Native Artists. Not to mention being able to hear some great music. Have you any suggestions as to who might be interested in being interviewed on the show, and or who you might like to hear about? Please send them my way. This show is about the artists who create. I do this with every intention and effort to assist him or her in any way that I can. Bear and I, and the rest of the Wolf and Bear family do this of our own free will. We are not compensated for our time and efforts. A “Calling” if you will. And as long as I’m enjoying myself with it, I will continue.

http://thewolfandthebear.blogspot.com/2012/03/tonight-on-coffee-house-journeys.html

Lisa: How has your growth in the last year changed within your music?

Joseph: You know, fact is that growth is inevitable. With that comes age. With that, lessons. If I am not busy growing, I would be busy dying. I like to look at people and how they go about life and love and use these teachings as a mirror as to how I conduct my life. Does this affect what moves my musical thoughts? Undoubtedly! As I age, my thoughts become more and more like musical notes and sounds. What flows as composition directly affects my next step, whether musically or in life. And I have to admit, it seems to make me feel a bit socially inept! It’s difficult to explain myself to others. A good trade, I don’t know? I often feel like the idiot without the savant!

Lisa: What are your plans for the future of your music career?

Joseph: A very wise friend once told me something…’If you want to make Creator laugh, tell Creator your plans.’ But I will say this… I will continue to make music; I am at a place in my mind where I would not have it any other way. Music is and has always been a part of my very essence. I will no longer play music when I can no longer physically do so. I only envision hopes and dreams of being able to be at the end of my life, in a position to have spent it as a successful musician. I put this out to Spirit quite often, as I do my best to walk my talk. Foremost… Morals and ethics will always play the major roles in how this might come about. I wish to, along the way of this path, be able to help others who feel a similar calling, to be able to live their very own dreams of being a successful musician as well.

Lisa: Where can our readers listen to the new CD and buy it?

Joseph: So glad that you asked this!  Here are 2 places.

String Theory

http://Kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00L464SD 

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/josephstrider2

And also my site  http://www.josephstrider.com

Lisa: Do you have any big shows coming up you would like the readers to know about?

Joseph: Actually yes, between the dates of April 18th and April 30th I will be performing at a number of locations in N. Michigan up and around the Traverse City area. Not to mention being able to sit with Mr. Paul Leon for a live broadcast the 21st at WNMC 90.7 for his program Tribal Voices that airs every Sunday evening between the hours of 8pm and Midnight. The venue listing can be viewed at my web site

                                                       www.josephstrider.com

as well as, we will be posting daily on several FaceBook pages, which go out to Twitter, Reverbnation etc… I will also have CD’s on hand at these shows. And if anyone happens to be in the area to catch one… Please come up and say hello. It is always an honor to meet everyone who is moved by my music. More to come!

Lisa: We wish you great success in wherever your paths take you and will check in with you from time to time on your success. Thank you for being a part of Whisper N Thunder.

Joseph: Thank you Lisa and everyone at Whisper and Thunder for allowing me this wonderful opportunity of speaking my mind. Much appreciated. And best wishes in the continued success for everyone involved in this most prestigious endeavor. I am honored to be apart of this.

Aho Mitakuye Oyasin
Joseph Strider

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