Bio
Photo by Jake WhiteJoseph Shipp is a multifaceted artist who weaves threads of music, design, and photography into a rich, colorful career that defies conventional boundaries. Born between the storied musical cities of Nashville and Memphis, Shipp’s creative journey is one of constant evolution, driven by an insatiable curiosity and a deep reverence for the power of art.
The son of a second-generational photographer, Shipp’s musical influences were shaped early on by the eclectic tastes of his dad. Neil Young, Leo Kottke, traditional Irish folk, and Classical were common sounds around the photo studio or car. Like many young kids of his generation inspired by Kurt Cobain, he started learning guitar at age 12. And at 18, he began writing songs.
While living in San Francisco, he and his wife, also a musician and designer, became immersed in Old Time and Bluegrass music endemic to where he grew up. Shipp picked up the fiddle and his wife the banjo and, for a few years, performed traditional folk music as the duo The Family Shipp.
After spending six formative years in northern California working in brand design and design strategy, he and his wife decided to move back to the slower-paced Nashville, where he currently lives, to start a family. Eight years later, they are now raising their two robust sons.
Music careers usually don’t begin at age 40, but that’s what Shipp did when his debut album, “Free, for a While,” came out in October of 2022. With the release of his sophomore full-length “Dig Deep” (Oct. 4th), he aims to erase any doubts about his commitment to his musical venture.