Vermont alternative artist nothing,nowhere. (aka Joe Mulherin) is one of our generation’s most interesting and prolific creative minds. With a musical style that might be distilled to guitar-driven emo trap, he refuses to adhere to any one genre and has amassed a loyal following through his honest lyrics.
Since his sensational 2021 album TRAUMA FACTORY, nothing,nowhere. has released a string of solid singles before teasing a new album last week. This comes after the announcement of his debut headline tour of Australia this February, performing at Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
We had a chat with Joe to discuss the new album, tour and more. He joins us on the Zoom call from his beautiful home in Vermont at 4pm and it’s snowing outside. With so many different labels, we start by asking how he would define his musical style.
“That’s the million dollar question right there. I often define my style of music as… curious,” he laughs. “I think a lot of my supporters and people who listen to me know that I do like to flip genres and do a bunch of different stuff. The bottom line is I started making music because it’s fun. I guess the blanket term could be ‘experimental’.”
Recent singles “M1SERY_SYNDROME” featuring Buddy Nielsen (Senses Fail) and “CYAN1DE” featuring Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy) signal a heavier direction for the forthcoming album. No stranger to high-calibre guests, nothing,nowhere. has collaborated with the likes of Dashboard Confessional, Travis Barker, Sum 41 and our very own Stand Atlantic. So, will there be any more big surprises to come?
“Yeah, absolutely. I just announced another single that will be dropping with Freddie Dredd and Silverstein. In addition to that, there’s like four or five more features on the album too, and they’re all people that I look up to, so I’m really excited.”
The national tour will stop at most capital cities (sorry Darwin and Hobart!) and kick off in Perth at Amplifier on 6 Feb before wrapping things up in Melbourne at 170 Russell on 12 Feb. Interestingly, Joe has a personal connection to Australia but has never actually made the trip until now.
“I love just checking out different cultures and my sister actually lives in Manly. She’s lived there for the past three or four years and I’ve never gotten a chance to visit her. I got a place to stay for a week and I really want to take in the culture. Maybe go to the beach and take a break from the snow.
“I’ve had friends who have toured over there and they all say Australia goes crazy, so I can’t wait.”
Another side of nothing,nowhere. is exhibited in the One Take videos he posts online, performing stripped versions of original songs from his home that show his technical process. With so many fans loving these renditions, we had to ask if there is a chance we might witness some in his live set.
“I do mix some in there, so I think people can expect that. I try to get the highs and the lows of the set and make it like a rollercoaster. There’s a few surprises in there, I think people will be stoked.”
It’s important to note that Joe writes and performs everything himself in the studio and takes a full band on stage to bring his songs to life. Instead of just performing over backing tracks, the artist has made a point of hosting an engaging live show since the very beginning.
“I always have a full band, that was sort of my philosophy from when I first started playing live music as nothing,nowhere. In the early SoundCloud days, a lot of people would just rap over MP3 or something. But growing up in an alternative space, I really appreciate bands, so having them with me will be fun.”
For those who are familiar with his music and recognise the aesthetic, many will agree that the honesty in Joe’s lyrics and the passion in his performances are very emotional and self-aware. The deep connection that nothing,nowhere. has formed with his fans must be somewhat overwhelming when his art comes from such a personal and private place.
“When I first started meeting fans and they’d talk about their connection to my lyrics, I almost felt really vulnerable. I’ve always been honest within my lyrics and it’s almost scary to put yourself out there like that. But the more that I hear how my music helped people, I feel like I’ve done something important with my life, which is really special.
It’s important to let people know you’re a human being and you experience life the same as anyone else.”
On that note, Joe also offered some advice to any musicians out there who might be uncertain about who they are or what they do. It links straight back to why people resonate so strongly with his own music – honesty.
“Music is about having fun and pure expression. People get wrapped up in genres and labels, like ‘What Spotify playlist am I gonna be in?’, but unfiltered art is the greatest art in my opinion. As soon as you start considering what the audience will think or what an editorial playlist person will think, that’s when you start to lose some of the magic. Just let it go, you know.”
nothing,nowhere. will embark on his debut headline tour of Australia this February. You can get your tickets HERE. Stay connected on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates.
