Joe Mungovan is feeling excited ahead of the release of his brand new single, ‘My Jumper’. And judging by how many Facebook shares it has already generated, it’s sure to be a fan favourite.
It’s the first single from the Kiama native’s new EP, which is set to be released in early 2016. “I'm really looking forward to getting it out and getting some more material in people's hands because my debut EP only had four tracks on it. I feel like I'm kind of giving the extra ones on this one that I didn't release on the last one,” Joe explains.
Music was always going to be a major part of Joe’s life, but if it wasn’t for a serious accident when aged 13, Joe might have ended up being known more for his drumming skills rather than his vocal talents. “I started out drumming when I was quite a young kid; I would always just hit things. I asked my mum and dad to buy me a drum kit and I really got into that but then in my early high school years I had a really bad skateboarding accident.
“I fractured both of my femurs, and I ended up in a wheelchair for about four months. I couldn't drum any more but there was a guitar lying around the house that my dad used to play. I couldn't drum because I was in a wheelchair and my legs had to be up straight, I couldn't bend them at all, so I thought, I'll just give this a go. I taught myself to play guitar and I've been writing songs ever since.”
When asked whether there was a moment when he knew he was going to make a living as a musician, Joe reflects about listening to the Bon Iver album, ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’. “The first time I heard it, I sort of just sat there and I was really overcome by emotion and so surprised that something could make me feel the way that album did. I just thought, 'no, I've got to play music for the rest of my life now, I didn't really have an option'.”
Joe sounds modestly surprised by the recognition he has received for his music. “The last tour I did, I was with a mate of mine called Jed Appleton and a lot of the shows on that tour were a bit of a shock to me as to how many people were sort of just digging what we were doing.”
Joe Mungovan plays free, live gigs with City Sounds 2 October (from 5pm) at Queen Street Mall and 8 October (12-2pm) at Post Office Square.
