L4LM is proud to present “Heart Is Wild,” the new single off of the Pimps of Joytime’s forthcoming album, Jukestone Paradise. Hailing from Brooklyn, POJ continues to deliver the funk nationwide, and this latest release is no exception. As Brian J describes it, Jukestone Paradise is a “futuristic juke joint,” blending familiar funk/soul overtones with futuristic production values. Check out the track below and judge for yourself:

L4LM writer Jack Sheehan had the opportunity to interview Brian J. from Pimps of Joytime about their upcoming release. The full length Q&A can be seen below.

L4LM: So, Jukestone Paradise… For those who haven’t heard it yet, what is Jukestone Paradise and where exactly is it?

Brian J: That’s a good question; I haven’t been asked that yet. Where is it? It’s kind of like a science fiction kind of place that I created in my mind.

L4LM: Smooth.

Brian J: Then again, you can say it’s a place you can go to when you put a record on. It’s kind of got this like that futuristic juke joint type feel to it in moments.

L4LM:  Yea speaking of the jukebox feel, you guys have what I call a metropolitan mix of genres. Its funky, it almost has a doo-wop rockabilly feel at times with your vocal harmonies. You have low filter oscillation (aka LFO) wobbles reminiscent of EDM. You have all these genres that people don’t really hear mixed in that way. I wanted to ask specifically, you recorded in Brooklyn right? How important is the city to that creativity and to that inspiration?

Brian J: It certainly has inspired and informed the creative decision making throughout. You know, that’s our landscape, that’s our soundscape. That’s what we hear, and what we live when we go out. But the reality is we tour a lot, so we take bits and pieces from the little microcosms of towns and cities that we play in and people that me meet along the way.

L4LM: So it’s really as far as Brooklyn is concerned, it’s the 5 senses and the stimuli around you. Plus the fact that you guys are on the road very often.

Brian J: Pretty much, yea.

L4LM: Do you have a specific songwriting process? Some people do some people don’t there’s no right or wrong answer. What comes first usually? Lyrics? instrumental parts? Has this changed at all since you’ve been rerecording with Pimps of Joytime or is it all over the map?

Brian J: Yea there’s really no particular way. Sometimes I get a little idea and the whole thing just spawns from there. Like I get a little tiny piece of melody and lyric and vibe, and I just roll with it.

L4LM:  Nice.

Brian J: That’s probably… if I had to choose more than other things probably that, but there’s no system to it.

L4LM:  So it just sort of sprouts?

Brian J:  Yea, and sometimes I’ll like hear stuff in a dream. I’ll wake up and have almost a whole chorus. I’m just singing it already; so then it’s just a matter of like “alright lemme put this down.”

L4LM:  Wow. So you really are working overtime if you’re writing songs in your subconscious.

Brian J: That’s a good…. It’s the best kind because it’s like, shit, I didn’t even write it! It just came to me.

L4LM:  (Laughs) I wanted to also say after listening to the album a few times through, the second I heard “Waiting for my Ride” come on I knew that that was my favorite. The way it rolls in, I just had the stank face on. I wanted to ask if there were there any favorites that stick out to you guys when you’re playing live or listening?

Brian J: Well live, “Dank Janky” has been really hittin and “Freedom Dancer” as well. Those two. We’ve also been doing “Dance Cardia.” I would say the songs that stick out like, the way they communicate live would be those two. “Dank Janky” and “Freedom Dancer.”

L4LM: That’s cool man. People go nuts over a good harmonica.

Brian J: (Laughs)

L4LM: Speaking for the dream process and idealism of your songwriting, are there any reoccurring concepts or themes in this album? Was there anything while you were doing it that kept coming up as a motif whether it was composed or not?

Brian J: Well there was definitely a pervasive blueness, which came out more than in previous records. The blues for me is definitely our core influence.

L4LM:  It definitely has that juke joint Saturday night before Sunday morning vibe to it you know?

Brian J: Yea.

L4LM: Ivan Neville is on the song “Sky” and Dance Cardia” was done with one of the members of Rubblebucket. How did everyone link up?

Brian J: Well I’ve known Ivan for a good couple of years. He played on a record that I produced for his uncle Cyril Neville and from there our paths crossed a bunch just on the road and whatnot. When I was working on the song I felt it needed better keyboard playing than I can do so he was my first choice and I contacted and he showed.

L4LM: Cool. I was wondering if you had any advice for young musicians looking to get to where y’all are at and make music their livelihood? Was there something you wish you heard while you were coming up?

Brian J: (Laughs) For me it required a serious work ethic. I think the thing I didn’t realize when I was younger is the importance of things other than music; in terms of how to treat other people in a certain way. I was more difficult when I was younger, and I think I’d have an easier time if I’d got that together. So like, treating people well and fairly is really important.

L4LM:  I hear what you mean, the networking and all that. How to win friends and influence people.

Brian J:  Yea. And then musically like the work ethic and just like… I would say to keep it moving. Like if you’re working on a track; Sometimes you spend a year working on one song and its like just finish it and start the next one and maybe that one you’re working on just let it go. Its not gonna be the end all be all thing, just keep making stuff, keep writing and keep getting better, be open minded and learn from everybody you know? And be humble. I would have been better served when I was younger just to be a little more humble and learn everything I can from everybody.

L4LM:  So it involves an open mindedness from working your ass off to listening to every word somebody’s gotta say.

Brian J: Yea certainly doing what we’re doing right now is not easy. It’s a cool level; its great. We get to travel the country and we get to play in front of a good amount of people, but we’re not like in private jets you know? It’s not rockstar. There’s a lot of time in the van, not enough sleep and then do it all over again. But it certainly has its rewards. So I usually feel like the people who love it… if you really love it enough, then you’ll have the ware with all the like, stick to it and make it happen. And if you don’t then you’ll find something easier to do.

L4LM: Yeah.

Brian J: Yea or just do it and not rely to make your living on it. I mean in some ways when you make that point like, “I’m gonna support myself with my music”, and the pressure is on. And that pressure can be good; it just forces you to keep getting better and learning more skills. These days you can do so much just on your own you can learn Apple programs, you can learn how to record, you can engineer, learn how to play instruments. But even if you don’t play an instrument you can still write lyrics.

L4LM:  So it’s a lot of personal choices of how you want to live your life and moving towards it in that way. The idea of doing music you love as a living and learning whatever you want to learn. Its very hands on huh?

Brian J: Yea, and it can always be done just for the joy of. Just like, you know, people play tennis. They play for their satisfaction and enjoyment and make a living doing other things. Nothing wrong with that.

L4LM:  Amen. Thanks for your time, stay safe on the road and I look forward to seeing y’all at the Brooklyn Bowl in April.

Brian J: Cool sounds good.