PEORIA MAGAZINE August 2023

In 2019, Joe Shadid (black t-shirt) taught music to children in Turkey. He went there as a volunteer with the Karam Foundation, which aids Syrian refugees

invited Shadid to join his new band on a European tour. “It was a great learning experience. And a great time,” Shadid said before pausing, then adding with a laugh. “And, sometimes, a wild time.” KEEP IT SIMPLE, LISTEN TO YOUR HEART Meantime in Chicago, he has been expanding his skill set to include piano and bass, as well as the scope of his work. In addition to releasing two albums, he scored the music for Seeing Brave , a 2017 docuseries on three women transforming lives during crises, earning him an Emmy nomination. Two years later, he volunteered for the Karam Foundation, which assists Syrian refugees. He spent two weeks in Turkey, teaching music to children. “It was just an amazing experience,” he said. “It was just absolutely wonderful to contribute and to just be part of this journey with these kids.” His next big adventure was strictly personal: In 2020, Shadid wed Lauren Powell, a Chicago doula who also dab

guitar – for a living. They supported his dream but worried about his ability to pay bills. With a chuckle, his mother recalls her immediate reaction: “Omigosh! How is this going to work? It’s not a 9-to-5 job!” To help learn the financial aspects, he attended the Berklee College of Music, in Boston. He stayed three years before leaving early to tour professionally. “He absolutely loves what he is doing.,” his mother said. “How do you put a price on that?” ‘GRANDPA GEORGE DID NOT USE ANY FANCY INGREDIENTS. HIS SECRET WAS SIMPLICITY’ — Joe Shadid About 13 years ago, Shadid decided to relocate to Chicago, where he got no ticed in part for his tutorials on Reverb. com. In fact, at a Reverb trade show, he was recognized by Rex Brown, bassist for the metal band Pantera, who intro duced himself to Shadid. They struck up a friendship over music, and Brown

bles in acting and playwriting – and occasional singing. “Sometimes at shows, we’ll sing together,” he said. Shadid continues to explore the oft choppy waters of the musical business, which he navigates with a relaxed hand on the wheel. “From a business standpoint, it’s a terrible business,” he said. “There’s a lot of happenstances. There’s a lot of risk.” When he composes, he pushes all those realities aside. That is where his grandpa’s hummus comes in. Grandpa George did not use any fancy ingredi ents. His secret was simplicity, just ap proaching the task with a steady hand. Joe Shadid does likewise with his own hummus – “Sometimes it’s as good as my grandfather’s,” he said with a laugh – along with his music. Keep it simple. “It’s about listening to my heart and doing what’s right,” he said

Phil Luciano is a senior writer/columnist for Peoria Magazine and content contributor to public television station WTVP. He can be reached at phil.luciano@wtvp.org

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