A messenger of hope

Lead guitarist and motivational speaker Isaac Joe comes to town to spread some love, lend a helping hand and change lives for the better

May 31, 2018 05:13 pm | Updated June 05, 2018 12:06 pm IST

Going by what a wise man once said, “Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn”, a kind word, a smile, some love and a helping hand; a tiny gesture on our part can go a long way in making a difference in other people’s lives. In fact, a smile from us can change the course of someone’s entire day. That’s the belief Isaac Joe lives by. The singer-songwriter, lead guitarist and motivational speaker couples his passion for music with his message of hope to encourage people to build their lives.

The Chennai-based musician, best known for his spectacular electric guitar solos and his inspirational talks, comes to town this weekend as part of an initiative of String Theory Entertainment to play at a fundraiser concert for Purpose Driven Foundation, an NGO working with underprivileged, orphaned and neglected children.

On a mission

An easy-going, laid-back speaker who packs powerful guitar riffs that can hold a spell over anyone , Joe is easily one of the frontrunners of regional Gospel music in India. With a career spanning 25 years and a ton of albums under his belt, the multi-faceted artiste travels the world spreading his message of hope.

“Most people I meet deal with low self-esteem. By default, a majority of us shun attention or think too less of ourselves. But I like to tell people that there’s a giant in every one of us. You need to look within and discover your true potential. That’s what I do and I am very thankful that I am able to use my music to encourage people. Be it a church, a corporate office, a school, a rehabilitation centre or a prison, wherever I go, I make sure I give my best to lift people up.”

A frequent visitor to Bengaluru, “thanks to the proximity to Chennai,” Joe has many fond memories of the city. “I enjoy the music in Bangalore. The scene was already flourishing during my younger days. Even though there are plenty of good musicians in Chennai, we all used to head to Bangalore to perform because the scene was very vibrant there.”

What’s to look out for at his show? “My guitar solos, of course,” pat comes the reply. Joe laughs and continues: “The biggest takeaway actually is that there’s more to life than just disappointments, failures and problems. I would love people to be transformed through my music and learn to see the light in the darkness.”

To heal and comfort

Reiterating on how his music goes beyond mere entertainment, Joe elaborates: “I believe there is something divine about music. Beyond genres, religions and languages, it exudes a strong sense of creativity and an ability to change lives that makes it very special. In fact, music has even got a therapeutic ability. A lot of people come forward and share about the healing and soothing effect music has on them. It is a comforting medium and I am blessed to be able to do what I do.”

Joe points out that although he has had a rough life himself, it was music that helped him stand on his feet. “Despite the disappointments and problems, I found so much positivity in music. Be it a small show or a big gig now, when people come to me at the end of it and share that they were moved in some way, that is what gives me the greatest satisfaction. Moreover, when I play my music with my little band and especially when I play my leads, the feeling is something out of this world. I enjoy it the most,” he says gleefully,

Donning the role of an inspirational speaker, Joe says, is an opportunity he is always grateful for. “My only desire is to be a blessing to everyone. So I use my music to encourage people who are underdogs. A word of encouragement is probably all they need. I am thankful to God for this combination he’s given me of being a songwriter who plays the lead guitar and fronts a band as well as sings, and to top it all, I have the edge of being a motivational speaker.”

Joe hopes that the path he has taken will, in the future, lead him to setting up his own establishment of hope. “Whatever I have learnt in terms of music as a performer and as a speaker, I’d love to share with others. I’m looking forward to setting up a training centre where I can train and equip young people to develop themselves – a place where people from anywhere and everywhere can come and be blessed; a space where I can encourage the discouraged to live life. Whatever I have learnt, I have given to my son and daughter. But there are other sons and daughters out there whom I need to impart these lessons to. That’s my goal now.”

Give a listen to Isaac Joe and groove to his guitar at India Campus Crusade for Christ, Lingarajapuram, on June 2, 6 pm onwards. Tickets at ELS book store and BookMyShow. Call 9703082075 for details.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.