What does it take to grow up loving music in a non-musical household—and still carve your way onto one of heavy music's most respected labels? On this episode of Bringin' It Backwards , Adam and Tera Lisicky sit down with Joe from Lightworker for a no-holds-barred conversation about humble roots in Redwood City, navigating sketchy Bay Area venues as a teenager, and learning to channel creative urges through violin and guitar—even if it meant skipping lunch to buy new CDs. Joe opens up about his evolution from writing songs alone to forming Lightworker, grinding through DIY releases, and the pivotal moment when Solid State Records offered them a deal just as they were wrapping up their debut album. We talk about the pressure and privilege of working with heavy-hitting producers like Daniel Gailey (Fit For A King, Phinehas) and Beau Burchell (Saosin) for two albums in a row, and how the creative process—marked by pandemic writer's block and late-night artistic breakthroughs—helped shape Lightworker's heavier, most personal record to date, How the Beautiful Decay . Whether you're an aspiring artist or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, this episode offers real talk about perseverance, DIY hustle, and what it means to "do the work" in an ever-changing music industry. Hit play to hear Joe's journey from classical music as a kid to fronting one of the Bay Area's fiercest heavy bands—and don't forget to subscribe, follow, and join the Bringin' It Backwards community for more conversations you won't hear anywhere else.
