Joel DeSomber
is An Americana artist
who crafts honest lyrics and catchy rhythms
that evoke the rolling thunder
of the Western plains.
Joel DeSomber’s music is a soulful blend spanning Americana, country, bluegrass, folk, roots, blues, swing, and reggae. As comfortable on his dreadnought acoustic guitar as he is with his semi-hollow electric guitar, he is also a skilled mandolin player and bassist. Joel captivates audiences with his honest and relatable lyrics, down-to-earth stage presence, and infectious melodies. With years of experience, Joel first cut his teeth in bluegrass circles and parking lots, and has played tricked-out barns, clubs, biker bars and honky-tonks, ski lodges, and festival stages.
Joel DeSomber’s confessional songs pay homage to the working man, the natural world, his diverse personal experiences, lost loves and heartbreak, the artistic passions that breathe life into his days, and the dreamscapes that inspire his nights. He writes everything from hard-driving blues anthems and fast-paced bluegrass numbers to heartfelt love songs, ballads, and serene lullabies. Remarkably prolific, Joel has yet to record a cover song, constantly penning fresh material with each new experience that graces his life.
Eclectic and colorful, his songwriting has the lyrical depth of John Prine, Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers, while reflecting the thoughtful honesty of artists like Sturgill Simpson, Cody Jinks, Charley Crockett, and Orville Peck. His energetic performances echo those of modern greats Billy Strings, Marcus King, and Turnpike Troubadours. His unique voice has a range conjuring the high lonesome sounds of Ricky Skaggs and Del McCoury, while embodying the lowdown grit of Colter Wall and Paul Cauthen. His lyrical craftsmanship resonates with the deep respect and admiration he holds for those who paved the way before him. Seasoned, committed, and continually evolving, Joel understands the unique power of music as a catalyzing agent of transformation.
Tales from the heart:
Joel DeSomber’s bold debut
Joel DeSomber is a singer-songwriter known for his raw, evocative storytelling and down-home country influence. He crafts music that blends hard-driving rhythms with heartfelt ballads. His upcoming album, The Missing Peace, explores themes of love, loss, and self-acceptance, featuring a dynamic mix of high-energy tracks and introspective melodies.
Midwestern soul, wandering spirit…
Born and raised in the rolling hills of the Midwest, Joel has had a lifelong connection to the stage, developing his craft of musical theater at the age of eight. He absorbed a wealth of musical influences, from classic rock and grunge to 60’s psychedelia, the Grateful Dead, and modern jam bands. Saturday nights were spent watching Nashville Now with his grandmother, awed by country legends like Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash. Although he began his musical path with singing, piano, and trumpet, it was the gift of his first acoustic guitar on his fifteenth birthday that changed his life’s trajectory. Soon after, a maroon Stratocaster fueled his passion for musical creation.
Joel eventually moved west, planting roots in California, Oregon, and Colorado, before settling in the volcanic mountains of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, where he has lived for nine years. Here, he initiated a permaculture land renovation project that evolved into a healing retreat center focused on herbalism and personal transformation. Joel balances overseeing land projects with plans to open a guesthouse, restaurant, and music venue on the shores of Lake Atitlán.
With experience working in restaurants, bars, breweries, landscaping projects, farms, and numerous entrepeneurial ventures, Joel has enjoyed an adventurous life of risk and reward, skiing the Rocky Mountains in winter and touring the festival circuit in summer as a music fan, a craft vendor, and eventually as a performer. He has also spent countless hours in front of the camera as an actor, starring in commercials, training films, and feature-length movies. A quote from a front-page article featuring his acting achievements in the Des Moines Register at age twelve captures his early resolve:
“I don’t know where life will take me,
but I know one thing for sure;
I am never going to work in an office.”
A true renaissance man, Joel has seamlessly woven plant cultivation, hospitality, and art into his vibrant life. His music reflects his personal journey and experiences. Preferring dirt under his nails to fancy social engagements, he seeks knowledge through reading, writing, and listening to intriguing podcasts. His home is lined with books and eclectic artifacts adorning his many altars. A proud father, Joel balances time with his son and his creative pursuits. An avid traveler, he has trekked the Himalayan peaks of Nepal and the Peruvian Andes, traversed the dense jungles of East Asia and the Amazon rainforest, climbed ancient pyramids in Mesoamerica, scuba-dived in the Caribbean, and played traditional music in Irish pubs until sunrise. Every destination has enriched and influenced his introspective lyrics and catchy rhythms.
Joel is a confident and compelling frontman, uniting all the elements that define his timeless sound and live performance. He has shared the stage with a diverse array of musicians and recorded with unique players from around the world. As the supporting musician for other acts for so long and now bearing witness to a renaissance of creativity in recent years, he is proud and excited to release his own material in 2025!
