Rest Easy Series: Joey Howard

Joey Howard is an incredibly talented songwriter and musician. His home base is LA, but he spends much of his time touring worldwide, most recently with the band Paramore. Here, we discuss his path to becoming a professional musician, staying balanced while on tour, and his nightly rituals.

Hi! I’m a musician and I spend a lot of time on tour. I just got home from South America where I was playing bass with Paramore. We’re home for a couple of weeks before we head to the UK for another run of shows and then we will tour the US for most of the summer. I love being on tour, especially with Paramore. I’ve been playing with them since 2016 and the whole band and crew are like family. Beyond Paramore, I write songs, play live with other artists, and I play as a session bassist in Los Angeles. 

Songwriting and performing certainly play different roles in my life. I feel most alive and connected with my body when I am performing. That time on stage requires 100% of my focus and I love every moment of it. That energy is unbeatable! I tend to write songs during more introspective times of my life. I use it as a tool to process my emotions and to express feelings I have that I can’t put into words. I set aside time to play and write music without any intention and sometimes I find a song through that catharsis.

Playing music, bass specifically, has been my dream since I was 11. That was when my brother got a guitar and started a band. He and his band mates needed a bass player so I stepped in and there was an instant connection. I've always played music for fun and I have been in a few bands throughout my life, but I did not start playing professionally until I was 26. What a surreal experience it’s been! I’m so thankful I get to do this.

I travel with a few little goodies that give me some sense of control and comfort in an ever changing environment. I bring a collapsible travel kettle for hot water and an assortment of instant coffee from Sight Glass. I love having coffee right when I wake up so this helps me keep that ritual going. I bring small candles with screw top lids (helpful for travel) and epsom salts for those hotels with bathtubs. I also prioritize working out 4 or 5 days a week to maintain and balance my mental health and overall it gives me more confidence. For me, working out ensures that I’ll be exhausted by the end of the day which leads to a better night's sleep. Don’t forget about all of the skin care products I bring!

If I have access to a bath, I’ll almost always take one. If I’m home in California I’ll smoke a little something and go on a walk or listen to a podcast. When I’m on tour, the wind down process tends to be rushed and inconsistent, But I always make sure to wash my face and apply my serums and creams :)

The first component for me is to stop eating around 7. I always sleep better if I give my body time to digest before I lay down.  I try to keep this consistent both on and off tour. 

Before going to bed I like to make sure my room and living quarters are clean and organized so I can wake up to a clean space. Clutter stresses me out. I’ll do the obvious teeth brushing and flossing before I move into my skin care routine. I use a lot of True Botanical products and I have for many years now. I love the ingredients, the smells, and the results. I start with their nourishing cleanser, followed by a Biossance toner. Then I apply the true botanicals Chebula serum and I use a Solawave red light therapy wand on top of that to help fight fine lines and dark spots- I love the way it feels! I then apply TB eye cream followed by the Chebula Extreme Cream to lock in all the moisture. One or twice a week I’ll use a Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta peel which always leaves me fresh and glowing.

For me, self care means being patient and kind to myself. It’s taking the time to connect with my body and get out of my head. Self care is stretching, breathing deep, washing and moisturizing my skin, soaking in a tub or going on a hike to connect with nature.

I always watch something on my iPad…in bed. I know I’m not supposed to do that but I don’t care lol. It’s the perfect wind down for me. Nobody’s perfect!

A glass of Water and my phone that I use for white noise (White Noise App).

I never remember my dreams 😩