Q: What kind of performance artist are you?

I’m a musician, producer, actor and writer.

Q: When did you first know that you wanted to be a full-time artist?

When I was really little! I spent hours playing alone in imaginary worlds I created, and I never wanted to give that up.

Q: How are you keeping yourself inspired to create during this unprecedented time?

I had started experimenting with music production right before the pandemic started, so I’ve spent most of this past year in my bedroom really studying pop and r&b music and learning how to produce and write my own music.

Q: What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome as an artist and how did you overcome it?

Resisting the pressures of conformity. Especially in the theater/acting world, for a long time I felt like I had to present a more “palatable” watered down version of myself in order to be accepted by institutions and have my work produced. When I came out as nonbinary it set into motion a whole creative rebirth for me, getting back to an unapologetic and much weirder place and beginning a journey of really cherishing my own impulses even/especially when they are super weird and unconventional.

Q: What are you most proud of in your career thus far?

Getting to know deeper parts of myself as a genderfluid person and making that visible to the world even when it meant risking losing acceptance from institutions. Every time I’ve given myself permission to be my deepest strangest self and create from my imagination especially when it felt easier to follow a trend and fit in. I have a solo play called MOM BABY GOD and I’m really proud of myself for believing in my vision of a weird, sexual, piece of theater and built an audience around it at a time when established theaters were afraid to touch it. Making pop music now, I’m really proud of myself for being willing to grow and dream super big and cheer myself on in the process!

Q: Is there anything you are working on now that can be shared and supported?

Yes! I’m about to release my first single as a pop artist in August, and you can follow me for updates on Instagram at @Jjoeeeyyyyyy. You can also support my work directly at my Patreon - www.patreon.com/joeyrose 💛🦋