Joseph Shipp’s sophomore album Dig Deep is a strong addition to contemporary Americana.
Thanks to Pat Butler at Benno.NYC
The release of Dig Deep marks a pivotal moment in Joseph Shipp’s musical journey. This new
album not only builds upon the foundation laid by his debut but also ventures into new, exciting
musical landscapes. Dig Deep represents a significant chapter of artistic growth for Shipp,
promising to deepen his connection with listeners through his evolving sound.
Joseph 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 he and his wife moved to Nashville 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.
“I’m more apple picker than inventor,” he says, squinting in the sun from the front porch of his
East Nashville home. “This album was a chance for me to tune into the songs as they
came through and stop worrying as much about formal structure — I wanted to get rid of
all the stuff I’ve been prone to putting between me and the magic of my little everyday
world.” The album walks us home through light and dark.
Shipp weaves five open tunings on a 1940s acoustic Gibson to connect these highs and lows
with an unexpected, playful warmth that makes you feel like an old friend invited over for a beer
to hang out and talk about the bigger questions while listening to what he’s grabbed on the
Tascam 4-track tape recorder in his living room.
You won’t be disappointed. Shipp’s vocals stretch into the earth, surrounded by pattering, rainy
rhythms that swell and expand with the promise of what’s to come. Though themes emerge, this
is not a concept album. For Shipp, it’s all part of the mystery and puzzle.
