Rising Star Joe H. Henry Set to Release His Debut EP

WRITTEN BY: KATIE GORDON  // THE BOOM AT NOON

Joe H. Henry (contributed)

Since moving to Nova Scotia from Northern Manitoba with his family during the pandemic, Joe H. Henry has quickly established himself as an up-and-coming talent in the East Coast music scene. At the end of June, Joe will release his debut EP, “Keep the Fire Burning,” just one year since making his return to music. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind journey filled with exciting appearances, including showcases at the ECMAs, an album release at The Carleton and some high-profile festival performances coming up this summer. 

With an unmistakable, powerful voice that commands attention, Joe says he has pulled pieces from many genres, including country, roots, soul and R&B. “I think the way that people are consuming their music nowadays is just strictly through sonic pleasure, what they enjoy hearing. It has nothing to do with genre. It's just what people wanna listen to, what grabs them,” said Joe. “That's what I did with this EP. I just kind of grabbed a little bit from everything that I've learned as a musician travelling and put it out there,” added Joe. Noting that he’s already working on his next album and that it’s going to be completely different.

Joe’s debut EP, "Keep the Fire Burning," is set to be released on June 16. When creating the album, Joe said it holds great significance for him and shares his personal experiences and emotions since moving to Nova Scotia. “It feels good to get it out in the world,” he said. “I like to touch on people coming together as much as possible, even though it's a little bit mystified in the lyrics,” he added. 

The title track, “Keep the Fire Burning,” was released as his first single in March 2023 and was co-written with his friend Jamie Junger. “When I wrote the verses, what I had in mind was the fire inside each of us. Not just in a relationship, but with ourselves as well, artistically, or whatever it is that we do,” said Joe. “Everybody has something absolutely amazing inside of them, and they need to feed it,” he added. 

Joe's family's rich musical heritage, particularly his father, Harvey Henry, an award-winning Canadian country artist, has played a significant role in shaping his own musical journey. “My father was a very talented man and a very gifted singer. He was also just a presence on stage and off stage as well,” said Joe. Although they’re big boots to fill, he is up to the challenge. “I saw that he could change people’s lives for the better, and that's what really got me into it,” he said. On June 9, Joe was one of several artists who took part in a wildfire recovery concert, which raised money for those affected by the devastating Nova Scotia wildfires. Joe performed an original song that he wrote days before he took the stage. 

Joe H. Henry performing at the Wildfire Recovery Concert on June 9

(Photo: Mitchell Jodrey // The Boom at Noon)

Joe's life experiences, including his youthful adventures riding freight trains, have greatly influenced his perspective as a musician. These experiences offered him a unique perspective on life and allowed him to connect with many people over the years. “I would find the person who looked like they had the most stories, and I would prod 'em and just try to get them to tell them,” he said. “It really influenced what I want to portray with my music. I really want to make a platform for those people because I'm always gonna be seeking 'em out, especially if I get to start touring around again,” he added.

With notable appearances lined up at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival and the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Joe H. Henry is poised to make his mark on the East Coast music scene. "I feel like a puppy that got out of the yard. I really do. I can't believe what's going on. It's going to feel absolutely amazing, and I can't wait to share it with my band members Dan Baird and Tom Bona, my agent and mentor Brookes Diamond, and my wife Shelby, who has been a huge support managing everything behind the scenes,” he said. “These festivals are a great way to get out there in front of people that are hopefully gonna be new fans,” he added. As he continues to pursue his passion and share his heartfelt music, there's no doubt that Joe's talent and dedication will keep the fire burning for years to come.

Tickets for his EP release show at The Carleton on June 17 are now sold out (join the waitlist), but you can still catch him at one of his many shows in the Maritimes this summer. To stay up-to-date on Joe H. Henry's music, concert dates, and exclusive content, readers can subscribe to his monthly newsletter, available on his official website, joehhenry.com.

Joe’s EP “Keep the Fire Burning” will be out this June.

Pre-save and purchase HERE.