With a simple strum of his inseparable acoustic guitar, he already captures your attention. And when the magnetic hook (from the left, as he is left-handed) of his melodic songs arrives..., you are trapped. The young Joe Dolman has an innate ability to compose pieces with captivating harmonies. At 22, he exudes as much innocence as maturity. Let Ed Sheeran tremble! His debut in Spain is brought about by the Músiques Sensibles festival in Barcelona, at the Petit Palau (Palau de la Música), on Saturday, November 10. It is the natural cycle if one stops at songs like Close to home and its impactful music video about the harshness of mental illnesses. Another key piece of his songbook is Something beautiful, in which he describes how difficult it is to build a solid career in the music industry, and how many times you need someone to help you.
Joe Dolman's first steps go back to when he was a primary school kid who wanted to make his Irish grandmother happy and learned to play traditional songs on the mandolin and the typical country flute (tin whistle). He finally got a guitar and within minutes was playing Here comes the sun by the Beatles, thanks to a YouTube tutorial. And at 14, he decided to gain experience in pubs and on the street doing covers.
Apart from your grandmother's musical hobby, are there any artistic precedents in your family?
JD: My mother can sing, but no one at home studied music or chose it as a career.
What was your first composition? Do you remember who you showed it to and how they reacted?
JD: Well... I can't remember the title of the first song I wrote. What I don't forget is that I showed it to a school friend and what he told me: that it was rubbish. And he was right! Since then I always try to improve my art [laughs].
Your precocity is evident. In 2014 you already faced a crowd, on the big stage of Hyde Park. How do you remember the experience?
JD: It was incredible to play in front of so many people at such a young age. Yes, I enjoyed it very much. And it was inspiring: it encouraged me to keep fighting for my dreams, to try to achieve success.
Do comparisons bother you? Because many mention your name and quickly resort to artists like James Bay, Passenger, Lewis Watson, Damien Rice...
JD: I am delighted to be compared to any of them. They are fantastic! Everyone finds similarities in the world of music, so not only do I not complain, but I take it as a compliment.
What will we see in Barcelona? What repertoire and with what formation are you coming?
JD: I will sing my own songs with my acoustic guitar. You can expect pieces that speak of love, of dreams… and that I hope you will sing along with me.
What do you know about the audience here?
JD: It will be the first time I perform in Spain, so not much. Of course, I am sure it will be a real pleasure.
The festival that invited you, Músiques Sensibles, allocates 10% of its proceeds to non-profit organizations, some of which look after the integration and well-being of mentally ill people. I say this because one of your best pieces, Close to home, addresses a topic that very few artists dare to tackle, to the rhythm of pop. And you do it in the music video in a transgenerational and open way. How was this composition born?
JD: First of all, I thought about the title of the song, and then about what it means to be close to home. My mother worked in a nursing home and cared for many patients with dementia, affected by Alzheimer's… And I tried to write the lyrics from her perspective.
It is common for Joe Dolman to introduce the song by recounting that after leaving school and university, he would pick up his mother from work and talk to the elderly people with senile dementia. And that one of them would tell him that he couldn't understand why he was in that house; that the care he received was deserved by someone else, not him.
You have released two EPs independently and yet you have managed to be in the top 10 of charts in the UK and the US. How do you rate such an achievement?
JD: Well, I'm still amazed. And, above all, very grateful that my music has this support.
With the support of the public and stations like BBC Radio 1...
JD: Yes, the BBC has a great project to help emerging artists. And I was lucky that my song was chosen to be played on BBC radio on Huw Stephens' show.
One of your EPs, Live at All Saints Church, you recorded live inside a church (the title gives more than clues). How did the idea come about? Are you Catholic?
JD: Yes, I am Catholic and I went to Catholic primary and secondary schools. I have always thought that churches are beautiful buildings and that they lend themselves to recordings with fantastic acoustic sound. In addition, a very special atmosphere is created and the way of enjoying the concert is different for everyone.
From the church to the pulpit of social media, which you use frequently and accurately. It is common for people to bless you with all kinds of questions during, for example, your Insta Live. What is the most magical thing about these 21st-century tools?
JD: I love being able to connect and talk to people from all over the world by just pressing a button. I like to engage in conversations with fans and hear their opinions. In fact, I could spend all day talking to them. And not only that: I have met many incredible people thanks to sharing my music online.
Joe Dolman's best asset is his live performances, so beyond seeing him behind the screen, I recommend that you don't miss his shows. And remember his name. You'll be able to say 'I saw Joe before he was a star'.