Sgt. Joel Culpepper
To define his music is like trying to fly a kite in the eye of a tornado, and just as exhilarating to listen to, but one thing is for sure - Joel Culpepper has been a captivating presence in the funk and soul scene for over ten years.
Culpepper is an artist with a finger in many musical pies, wrapping genres around each other to compose songs with emotion and groove in equal measure. He experiments with fusions of R&B, hip hop, soul, jazz, funk and blues, and lays the melodies under poignant lyrics. His expressive tones and impressive vocal range can be heard on his eclectic ‘Tortoise’ EP, his passionate single ‘Poetic Justice’, produced by Tom Misch, and of course his masterful COLORS performance where he gifted 13 million listeners with a fanatical rendition of his hit, ‘Woman’. It’s no wonder everyone’s chomping at the bit for his much anticipated album, ‘Sgt Culpepper’, which will be delightfully flooding our playlists soon.
Despite his modesty, he’s no stranger to fame, having collaborated with other popular artists from the likes of Tom Misch to Yussef Dayes, Redinho to Roy Davis Junior. His name has been propelled around Radio 1, Jazz FM, Clash Magazine, and now his charisma is gracing our site.
Firstly how are you doing? How's your 2021 been so far?
2021 feels a lot more positive; releasing singles from my debut album and also writing new music.
You must have come across some mega influences growing up in South East London. How did that time of your life shape your sound?
I think my main influences growing up in South East are my family and friends. I can always tell someone’s from S.E from the first time meeting them… we've got our ways. I was a kid in the early 90's and living in Peckham. My dad ran a pub on Queens Road and music was always coming out of there. It left an impression on me for sure.
Do you listen to your first works with cringe or pride? Do you feel your style has moved in any specific direction?
I think I'm still working on listening to really early works proudly! I think it's a good process though. You can hear who was really influential to you at that time. Neo soul was a massive influence. It still is but I hear Joel more now in my music, I hear me.
How different is it playing in a band to solo? Do you find artistic differences when collaborating inspiring or is it more freeing to develop on your own?
I haven't performed solo in a long time, I knew from early doors that a band setup was the only way for me to participate in music. I've watched the best musicians come back to collaboration as their main source of inspiration. It's humbling to watch and inspiring to be at your best
PHOTO BY Lauren Luxenberg
I know artists aren’t meant to admit to this but what’s the best place you’ve gigged and why? If you’re feeling a bit too democratic, how about ‘one of the best places’.
One of the best places for sure is Switzerland. I opened for Jacob Banks who's a real gent. The crowd was electric, I remember every bit of that show.
How important is it for you to be recognised for your music? I guess this is an ego question, but I’m interested in what making and releasing music means to you.
When the art is put first, everything else hangs off it and takes the right shape, like a sturdy coat hanger. It's definitely a cathartic process when you allow yourself to stay out of your own way and not allow those ego driven things to dictate.
Apart from music, what would be another art form you couldn’t live without?
I like to draw and at one stage it was going to be a path for me, maybe one day I'll get back into it. I also tinker a bit with photography.
Your fantastically eclectic 2017 EP is entitled ‘Tortoise’, based on an Aesop’s fable. How important for you is drawing on literature as a method of inspiration?
Literature is a great source for understanding how a story is weaved. It’s an impressionable art form. I’m not sure when I first heard the story of The Tortoise and the Hare but what I find interesting is that those great tales still remain powerful as they hold a lot of truth and wisdom.
How do you overcome criticism and negativity?
Constructive criticism will come from the team you choose to surround you. There needs to be that space to allow people you trust and love to provide a different perspective from your own. Not to say that those on the outside can’t provide that, but I feel unfortunately it can also be sitting in a sea of negativity which is dangerous to indulge in. I imagine different artists do different things to overcome those challenges, but rooting yourself in what's real and genuine is one of those anchors for me.
Something positive you’ll take from lockdown?
I spent a lot more time cooking. I was also working on a podcast and even getting into callisthenics. There have been some positives…
If you owned a shop, what would it sell?
Records and rum.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
A real mixed bag of old and new; Daylight Savings, Ghetts, Buddy Miles ...old school RnB.
What do you listen to on the Last Bus home?
Lord help me - Donny Hathaway.