Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Campbell.
Joseph, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began my music journey in 2018 before my 14th birthday. The thing that sparked my interest in creating my own sound was hearing Tyler The Creator’s 2017 album “Flower Boy” for the first time fall of the following year. I had always been musically inclined though, having first picked up a guitar around age 7 or 8. Later on in the 6th grade I began playing the trumpet in the school concert band and did that through my freshman year until I Switched to the baritone (Sophomore) and then tuba the following year (Junior/Senior) as well as joining the jazz band playing both the regular and Bass trombone. As I mentioned before, Tyler The Creator has been a huge influence on me both musically and in my personal life as I grew up consuming content from him and his former Loiter Squad/Odd Future compatriots. (like most of us, lol) Another big inspiration for me especially in recent years has been Earl Sweatshirt whom I found around the same time I was introduced to Tyler in 2018. I found the nostalgic melancholy style of his raps since an early age to resonate with me very much and just the ways I would feel growing up at times, it was very much like a safe haven for me and still is. Today a lot of my inspiration lies in the same places when I go to work on new music but the biggest change that I have noticed in myself is my ability to go with the flow of the music and not necessarily feeling stuck to one lane or sound or flow. As 2025 marches on I look forward to creating and curating new ideas and visions.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been an easy thing to throw myself at the music or the craft so to speak. Although most of my time creating no one has ever come to me with many harsh critiques or put downs about my work, quite the opposite really. I still remember when I released my first “Album” via an old Soundcloud in the 8th grade. I made it all in 2 days on an old laptop with a snowball microphone and audacity. When it came out I posted it on all my social media and was so excited to share it with people and the more I think about it the older I get, part of me feels that because I was confident in it that it made the kids around me not even want to hate on it. Of course I’m not naive enough to think no one has ever sent my music to the group chat to say it’s garbage (because it was!) but still I couldn’t point out a time where at least my peers weren’t encouraging or supporting my music, especially in high school. My parents on the other hand mostly treated it as just an extra activity I would do. They never really knew what I was doing when I was out or what I was rapping about growing up because I never showed them, they just knew I made music after some point. It wasn’t until I got out of high school and started dropping more consistently that my dad noticed and started to ask me what do I wanted to do. He had always thought I would just get a good job with good benefits and save for a house but eventually after months of hard work and more shows and showcases he finally told me that I should just follow what I’m passionate about, since then he has given me his full support in all of my musical endeavors.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Since I began making music in the fall of 2018 I have always recorded and done everything myself when it comes to putting the music out. I’ve had help on the production side of course from both personal friends and everyone’s friend YouTube when I needed a couple good beats. That aside as I’ve learned over the years and gone through different DAWs and systems I’ve become more adequate in the engineering field not just for myself but for others as well. The past couple of years having worked with a ton of Columbus’s local talent in the hiphop community on multiple projects. My latest accomplishment came with my friend tobiutah’s album “The Saga Continues” which dropped in January of this year. We worked together very closely on it as I recorded the entire album for him, as well as having some creative input and my own verse on the album. Currently I operate a home studio based in Columbus, OH that is taking clients as we speak. The title of the business venture is ‘$TARHOUSE Studio’ (@starhousestudioo) another extension of the $TARWRLD (@st.arw.rld) brand while also providing a service to the artist community. When working with artists I strive to create a comfortable environment that can also provide the energy needed for said artist to get their work off. I am very flexible time wise and always do my best to accommodate whomever I work with.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Word of mouth has been everything for me moving my career forward. It’s 2025 and every artist under the sun is and has to play the social media game these days. I’ve found that it can work if you apply the right methods but nothing will ever beat face to face interaction. So my advice if you’re a young creative like me is to go to the networking event, go to the bar with those other artists on a Monday night for the open mic, go support your fellow artists at their shows because you never what you’re missing or who is talking about you or asking about you when your not around. Being connected online is great and that is a great tool but remember touring is everything so to find those fans that come to EVER SINGLE SHOW matters. That’s my thoughts anyway.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Sindicate03
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/st.arw.rld/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@joestar1650
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/star-starrr
