Bio

The Story of the wizard

Joel Van Dijk is a boy from northern Cali, raised on the blues and forged in the fire of the Los Angeles music scene, and became a Wizard. Taking on guitar as his first instrument at the age of 13, Joel learned his first scales and chords from his parents. His father a lead guitar player and Dutch Immigrant inspired by psychedelic jazz/rock, his mother a flower child/soul woman and radio host that showed him his first folk guitar. His family was musical and music was consumed all over the house, Joel absorbed it all.

At 16 years old he was shredding and playing blues with the locals. After a jam session local Blues Legend “Fingers” Warren hailed Joel for his young virtuosity and claimed he would put him on his upcoming album (he didn’t, a foreshadowing of the fires that Hollywood/Los Angeles would provide). Joel continued to make music, eventually learning the other band instruments, bass, drums, and began to record himself on a tape 4-track. This began Joel’s songwriting journey. Joel ventured through genres of music, from rock to metal, jazz and classical… until he heard the funk! Hearing/seeing George Clinton on the movie PCU, Joel’s life was forever changed…

After attempting to play music in the limited Sacramento scene, Joel decided to move to Los Angeles to attend the Musicians Institute. Years of seeing the ads in Guitar World Magazine and seeing many of his favorite musicians/bands attending inspired the leap. He attended for the year and a half, meeting many of his now bandmates and dearest friends. After school, Joel took every gig that came his way in the path to becoming a professional musician, from playing at Church to Local Artists, Guitar Lessons Websites and more…. On this path he met Aloe Blacc, an upcoming Los Angeles rapper/singer. After a couple years of playing with him, Aloe scored a hit song with “I Need a Dollar”. Propelling Joel and his bandmates The Grand Scheme into a multiple year world tour with all the Festivals, TV and endorsements a young musician desires. Joel still plays with Aloe to this day.

During all of this time, Joel has always had the heart and soul of an artist. Since beginning to learn the guitar, each lesson provided more tools to create, never trying to emulate, Joel has been writing music since he began to learn it. He released his first solo album “Truthseeker” in 2010. Joel had been working hard at his producer skills at his home studio Manifest Music in Santa Monica and at home. This was his first test for himself, to record write and produce a full album. He wrote some beautiful songs, and was a bit of an admitted amateur vocalist at the time. He grew more on his second release “A Kind of Blues” in 2012, focusing on the bluesy aspects of his sound. Focusing years later on a more “Universal” sound, he wrote and recorded two projects under the band name “Special Force”, Superhuman and 99one. After becoming married in 2015, Joel started a new project with his wife Leah Van King called Mystical Joyride, a blend of world music, psychedelia, hip hop, and spirituality. They continue to make music and perform live.

Always making art for the art’s sake, Joel’s latest album “Here Now” is as he says “for the people”. After enduring the 2020 pandemic year of Covid, Joel focused on the music that would uplift himself and others. Feel good vibes, not too introspective, but deep enough for some funk! Fully produced, written (mostly) and mixed by Joel, this his best work yet! Stay tuned for much more to come in 2021!