Joel Harris has been making music and recording songs since he picked up a guitar at age 14. Early on he was influenced by the voices of artists like Thom Yorke, Jeff Buckley and Sigur Ros. He spent much of his 20s writing and recording songs in his bedroom, occasionally playing songwriter stages, but left music for long stretches of time. Then in 2018, he wrote and recorded a song called “Rabbit Hollow” with the help of Ben Vanderhart from Yellow Racket Records. On top of organic home-made sounds, acoustic instruments and digital beats, intricate and emotional songwriting laid the foundation for future projects as Joel continued to form his sound.

Through the pandemic, Joel focused his time on writing and recording in a home studio. He organized a collection of local musicians during the summer of 2020 to write original songs or records covers at home (contributing to the project himself as well) called Redeem the Time to benefit the Chattanooga Food Bank. While living in Chattanooga, Joel made multiple appearances on the local NPR syndicate WUTC 88.1 with host Richard Winham.  

In 2021 Joel wrote and collaborated with longtime Chattanooga artist and producer Summer Dregs on a track called "Earthbound." The track was given visuals by videographer Caro Reed Ferrara, who gathered footage from videographers across the globe by asking them to provide a short clip of b-roll film. The song and the visuals reach toward a longing for interconnectedness across international boundaries. Chattanooga Soundbites called it “an atmospheric lamentation that explores the space between us.”

During this time he also self-produced his first full length album called Extinction Letters, which that would later release in 2024 on Yellow Racket Records. This album was a culmination of his attempts to connect traditional acoustic songwriting with a new interest in analog synthesizers and soundscapes. Chattanooga Soundbites said of opening track “Origins (Dawn)” that its “atmospheric, ethereal soundscapes…have the ability to transport the listener to another world.” The album is a deep exploration into existential dread, religious upbringing and finding identity in reorienting one’s relationship to the natural world. 

Joel moved to Portland, OR in 2025. In January he collaborated again with Summer Dregs to release a single titled “Unmarked Cars (Empire)”, an emotionally charged anthem against authoritarianism.  He is currently preparing to release the first part of a two part EP - The Bright River EP will release on January 9, 2027.  Produced and mixed by Taylor Armstrong, mastered by Paul Arend (and for vinyl by Adam Gonsalves) it is a set of introspective, yet optimistic explorations into our human experience of time and attempts to make the most of our short lives. Joel is currently working on a follow up EP called The Bright Ocean, while integrating into the Portland music scene.

Joel’s music is released on Yellow Racket Records in Chattanooga, TN.