Morehead City, North Carolina, isn’t exactly known for its music scene—but 19-year-old Joel-le Hester, better known as OfficialJoel_le, is determined to change that. With a relentless work ethic and a passion for music that started back in middle school, he’s quickly making waves as an emerging artist.

Joel-le’s journey began in 8th grade when he and his friend Zack stumbled upon GarageBand. What started as late-night experiments turned into viral, comedic tracks that racked up thousands of views. But after that early success, he went quiet, making music behind the scenes throughout high school—never releasing it, convinced it wasn’t good enough.

Everything changed in November 2024 when he decided to take music seriously. “I realized I actually had a talent for real,” he says. Since then, he’s been fully committed to his craft, dropping music consistently and embracing the grind. He knows success in the industry doesn’t come overnight, but his mindset is clear: whatever it takes, he’s willing to put in the work.

With raw talent, determination, and a vision for his hometown’s music scene, OfficialJoel_le is just getting started. Keep an eye on him—Morehead City might just become the next hotspot for rising stars.