Joje is a 24-year-old music producer born in Valencia to Iraqi parents. With a creative and spontaneous approach, she managed to stand out in the music scene working on projects like Paula Simón's album and producing some Lucila de la Fuente's tracks. Joje's music is a unique mix of experimentation and sensitivity which reflects her passion. She is emerging but determined to overcome any barriers and leave a meaningful mark in music production thanks to her being a volcano full of ideas.
Before anything else, recently Paula Simón's album was released and you produced without u and peachy pink. What was it like working on these tracks and how did you find the process?
Working on Paula's projects was a transformative experience for me as a producer because without u was the first song I contributed to that was officially released on platforms like Spotify and YouTube and it felt like the beginning of a truly exciting journey. Additionally, without u was very successful, even reaching the Top 5 charts in Spain which was a crazy start. As for peachy pink, our second collaboration, I think we both grew a lot as artists and creators compared to without u and that was very noticeable in how we understood each other and created the song together. It has a more "professional" vibe! After these experiences, I believe one of the best parts of making music is collaborating with other artists or simply sharing it with friends and getting their feedback!
How would you describe your creative process in general?
It's very chaotic because every day is different but generally I start by searching for sounds in the program’s libraries and, based on the feeling that sound gives me, I begin to produce the tracks. As for the lyrics or melodies, I come up with random melodies or fragments of lyrics with ideas I want to express and, based on that, I start to produce the track. I always need to have my phone’s recorder handy because I’m constantly humming ideas that I think could become songs and I need to record them right away or I forget! But the most important thing is that I don't follow a specific methodology for creating, I let everything flow naturally.
What inspired you to become a music producer?
The songs I listened to during my teenage years played a key role. When I heard a song I really liked I wondered how they created it and, from there, I started researching what it meant to be a producer, how to produce, which programs to use, googling "free music production software without viruses." Also, behind-the-scenes videos of artists creating their songs really sparked my curiosity.
How did you start? Did you study anything related to production?
Ever since I was little my grandmother Pilar wanted my sisters and me to study something related to art or music so she encouraged us to enroll in a music conservatory. At the age of 7 I studied classical music and learned to play the flute but when I was 15 I quit because I realized it wasn’t my path. I loved the part of music related to creation and experimentation but the conservatory only taught how to interpret classical works, in a very rigid way. I started learning music production on my own, watching YouTube videos until 2 a.m. and trying and trying again.
What are the biggest challenges you've faced or are facing in your career?
I think the biggest challenge for me is the final step of sharing music. With social media as a key tool, I feel a bit intimidated and embarrassed to publish my music online. Music and art are a vulnerable part of you and having to promote it online scares me... But little by little I'm trying to change this mindset and have started uploading my songs to SoundCloud. Sharing my creations with my sisters and friends, who support and believe in me, also helps me a lot!
One of the themes that has emerged in our interviews is the lack of women in music production. As a producer, have you also noticed this? And if so, what do you think about it?
Yes! This is an issue that still hasn’t been resolved. When I started looking for information on music production most tutorials and videos were made by men. Now, thanks to social media, it’s easier to find women producing and doing tutorials but we still need more female role models in music production. Many women are more visible in songwriting and toplining but less so in production.
What do you like most about working in music?
What I love most about creating music is that it’s an incredible tool to convey any message, with no limits or rules. I’m fascinated by how sounds, even without lyrics, already tell a story. And when you combine them with words, a world of possibilities opens up.
Although music hasn’t always been my priority due to other responsibilities (university, work, studies), it has always been there for me in both good and bad times. For me, it's a valuable outlet to express what I feel when words fall short. I also enjoy being part of an artistic community where music can be expressed in different formats: visuals, performances, photos, and more.
Which production software do you consider essential and why?
I use Fruity Loops and it’s an excellent choice for starting out because it’s easier than other software and allows you to get great results even without knowing much about production or music theory. I also recommend using a small MIDI because I think creativity grows when you combine physical instruments with the software.
Who are your favorite singers? Have they somehow pushed you to become a producer or influenced your style?
This is such a difficult question because I have so many favorite singers! In my early days Kpop had a huge influence on my style. Groups like BTS, TWICE and Red Velvet inspired me a lot and right now LOONA and NCT are the ones that I believe have shaped my musical mind the most. Pop girlies and girl groups have always been fundamental for me! Among my inspirations are PinkPantheress, Bad Gyal, Tinashe, Charli XCX, Jorja Smith, SZA and many more. A song I love is Código Lyoko, mostly its intro. Without it I wouldn't be who I am now.
Can you tell us about a project you’re particularly proud of?
The collaboration with Sélpide on Kiss The Moon is very special to me. It’s a song we created as an “ode” to the admiration we have for the group LOONA. Another special project for me is fuckmyhommiecapi, the first song I uploaded to SoundCloud. Even though I recorded it on my phone, I managed to release it and I’m really proud of it. I am proud of every song I work on which push me to keep doing this.
How would you describe the Spanish music industry?
Despite what the naysayers might say, I believe we have a booming music industry, with very interesting and diverse projects and sounds. There are so many people on the move, creating things with their communities, performing gigs, and sharing their vision. I think we’re at a very rich moment, and we need to ride this wave of creativity that’s happening.
In my city, Valencia, there’s a surge of creatives in both music and everything that comes with being an artist (graphic design, photography and video, stage setups, styling…) that greatly enriches the artistic community and allows you to get inspired and meet more people to collaborate with. I’m really excited to be part of this circle of amazing people, to be honest!
What are your short and long-term professional goals?
In the short term I want to overcome the fear of sharing my music and show the world what I have inside. In the long term I’d like to connect with more artists to collaborate on interesting projects and, if possible, dedicate myself more steadily to music.
Do you have any advice for those who want to become producers like you?
Don’t let you girls be intimidated! The industry is male-dominated but more and more girls are entering this world. Believe in what you do, and don’t let fears or anxieties about comparing yourself to other artists bring you down. Take care of your art: it’s very noticeable when people do things with love and dedication!
Can you recommend a song from your country?
Regarding Iraq I recommend a song called Nazel Akhud Ha'i by the singer Rahma Riad, which, in the form of an emotional ballad, denounces the situation of precariousness, sadness, and revolution for peace that has been experienced in Iraq after all the wars the country has faced. And my recommendation from Spain is Dreamgirl Lesbiana by Laiaya, a catchy dreamy bedroom pop song by a very special artist with whom I recently connected to work on some projects together that will be released soon.
You can follow Joje here and listen to the tracks she produced here: