Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

At 21, Fil-Am Joseph Vincent has a resume many upcoming musicians would die for. 

The singer/ songwriter has been featured on NBC’s The Ellen DeGeneres Show twice, performed live at The House of Blues, the Knitting Factory, El Rey Theatre, the Roxy Theatre and the Troubadour, named “YouTube Artist of the Year” by Australia-based Star Magazine, and has nearly 108,000 subscribers and 19 million views on his YouTube channel.

Not bad for the University of California, Irvine student. 

A senior public health policy major, Vincent is well on his way to a successful music career.

“Things are looking up for me right now,” said Vincent, a Sylmar native. “I’m not where I want to be yet but I’m heading there.”

Vincent, who has always had an ear for music, began his music career at the age of 15. He began playing cover songs by Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz and soon began composing and writing his own music. He cites Jack Johnson, Colbie Caillat, and Jason Mraz as musical influences.

A year after picking up a guitar, he wrote his first two songs, On My Mind and Here for You.

Once the music bug hit him, Vincent couldn’t stop. Like many musicians, he began to play anywhere and everywhere. 

“I started to play in any shows,” he said. “In high school, I would perform in benefit concert with all the proceeds going to rebuilding houses in Tijuana and other concerts.”

It’s those little shows where musicians hone their skill and it was only a matter of time before Vincent tried his mettle in a larger venue. He began to play at the Roxy and El Rey in Los Angeles where it was pay to play. 

But those shows, where talent agents and producers used to attend by the dozen to look for new talent, aren’t what they used to be.