NEDERLAND -- Joey Palermino finds a special connectivity through the art of music. From sharing music with his parents to finding a community of musicians to perform with, building connections and friendships through music inspires him the most.
Palermino’s instrument of choice has always been the guitar. A self-taught player, he especially embraced the instrument after college, living in Memphis and playing live and amongst friends.
“Once I moved to Colorado, I found the music scene here, and especially the bluegrass picking scene,” says eight-year resident Palermino. “I really made some awesome friends and connections that really pushed me to go to the next level, if you will.”
Throughout his schooling, from elementary to college, the East Coaster sang in choral groups, encouraged to join by his dad, a keyboard player. His parents played artists like James Taylor and Billy Joel on drives, and modern artists such as Billy Strings and Dawes continue to inspire his stylings.
Songwriting is relatively new for Palermino, but he’s embraced it on his journey to build more of a brand for himself. He’s built a catalog of material to perform, both originals and covers, and continues to build his experience in songwriting.
“I get writer’s block sometimes with songwriting because I feel like I have to write the perfect song,” says the guitarist, “but really, you can write a song about anything. If you write a very simple song, you can always build on it and make it more complex as you go.”
Building a brand as a solo artist is also a new experience for Palermino. With his performing career mainly centered around performing with friends, he’s currently aiming to build a unique sound, which he’s found challenging, especially in a digital age.
“It’s a blessing and a curse because you see so many people out there that are great,” he says about musicians promoting themselves on social media, “but it’s hard trying to create your own sound because you get influenced by so many people and you hear so many other sounds.”
Palermino recognizes his strengths in his vocal range and guitar performance, though, and he still values connection with other musicians above all else. The community of musicians he’s performed with over the years has become not just a group of collaborators, but a group of close friends.
“I really like sharing my experiences, whether it be songwriting, whether it’s a conversation with friends, or hanging out with family members,” says Palermino. “It’s really just sharing my life experiences in an artistic way that’s been, definitely, the most rewarding part.”
Joey Palermino will be performing at Busey Brews, located at 70 East First Street in Nederland, on Sunday, January 25, 2025, starting at 2 p.m.
