Joseph Arthur is a singer, songwriter, poet and artist from Akron, Ohio, known for his solo material and as a member of RNDM and Fistful of Mercy. Combining poetic lyrics with a layered sonic palette, Arthur has built his reputation over the years through critically acclaimed releases, collaborations and constant touring; his unique solo live performances often incorporate the use of a number of distortion and loop pedals, even live painting and a sprinkling of beat poetry.
Originally discovered by Peter Gabriel, Arthur quickly established a reputation as a formidable and creative talent with his experimental folk rock style, diverse instrumentation and eclectic electronic production elements.
Live, he pioneered the use of loop pedals and layered vocals years before Ed Sheeran et al picked up on it. An accomplished painter, he s displayed his works in galleries around the world, and his online only Museum of Modern Arthur (museumofmodernarthur.com) serves as a repository for his creations.
He is also a prolific writer, principally of poetry but has also written a children s book! His 20 plus albums range from solo records to collaborations with a who s who of rock n roll, including Lou Reed, Dhani Harrison and Ben Harper of Fistful of Mercy, Peter Gabriel, T Bone Burnett, and RNDM with Pearl Jam s Jeff Ament.