Joshua James (folk singer)
Encyclopedia
Joshua James is an American
rock and folk musician currently based out of Provo, Utah
. Joshua James is often compared to Bob Dylan
, Neil Young
, Joe Purdy
, Bright Eyes or Ray LaMontagne
. James is known for his intimate vocal style and bittersweet lyrics, often dealing with tragedy, religion, and substance abuse.
His original digital release of The Sun is Always Brighter on iTunes
reached #1 on the service's Folk Album list in 2007 and sold in excess of 25,000 copies by the end of 2008. The album caught the attention of the indie folk
scene, with Paste Magazine naming him one of their "Next 25 Artists You Need To Know" in their September 2008 issue, prompting artists such as John Mayer
, David Gray
, Ani DiFranco
, and Brett Dennen
to have him support their North American tours.
NPR
has also recently cited Joshua James in one of their "Song of the Day" publishings. They featured his "The New Love Song" as one of the best new songs from a previously unknown artist in a long time.
Joshua headed back to the studio in late 2007 to record his second album, entitled Build Me This, which was released digitally on September 8, 2009, and physically on September 22, 2009, on Intelligent Noise/Northplatte Records
. Paste Magazine dubbed the new work "phenomenal." iTunes also dubbed Build Me This one of the "Best of 2009" Indie Spotlight Singer/Songwriter albums.
He performed at SXSW Music Festival, Bonaroo, and XPoNential Music Festival, Fork Fest, etc. in 2010 in addition to a US tour and shows in Japan and UK. James has also performed at Lollapalooza
in 2009.
Variety Magazine calls James "a young Midwestern singer-songwriter who writes hard-bitten songs of family tragedies and sings them in a voice that’s as sun-bleached and wind-battered as a Nebraska cornfield."
A cover of Herman's Hermits' "No Milk Today
" featured in the Season 3 premier of Sons of Anarchy
. James' own song "Coal War" was featured in the Season 4 premiere of Sons of Anarchy.
On July 22, 2011, Joshua James announced on his official website that in August 2011, he would start his 3rd record. Richard Swift will be the producer of the album & will also collaborate with James.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock and folk musician currently based out of Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. Joshua James is often compared to Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, Joe Purdy
Joe Purdy
Joe Purdy is an American folk singer-songwriter who has recorded and released ten albums in eight years.- The band :Joe Purdy's band members have included: Chris Seefried, Brian Wright, Willy C. Golden, , and .- Career :...
, Bright Eyes or Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne
Raymond "Ray" Charles Jack LaMontagne is a Grammy-award winning American singer-songwriter. LaMontagne has released four studio albums, Trouble, Till the Sun Turns Black, Gossip in the Grain and God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise. He was born in New Hampshire and was inspired to create music after...
. James is known for his intimate vocal style and bittersweet lyrics, often dealing with tragedy, religion, and substance abuse.
His original digital release of The Sun is Always Brighter on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
reached #1 on the service's Folk Album list in 2007 and sold in excess of 25,000 copies by the end of 2008. The album caught the attention of the indie folk
Indie folk
Indie folk is a music genre that arose in the 1990s from singer/songwriters in the indie rock community showing heavy influences from folk music scenes of the 50s, 60s and early 70s, country music, and indie rock. A few early artists included Lou Barlow, Beck, Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith...
scene, with Paste Magazine naming him one of their "Next 25 Artists You Need To Know" in their September 2008 issue, prompting artists such as John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
, David Gray
David Gray (musician)
David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later...
, Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
, and Brett Dennen
Brett Dennen
Brett Dennen is a folk/pop singer and songwriter from Northern California.-Biography:Brett Dennen attended UC Santa Cruz from 2000–2004, where he was a student at Kresge College....
to have him support their North American tours.
NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
has also recently cited Joshua James in one of their "Song of the Day" publishings. They featured his "The New Love Song" as one of the best new songs from a previously unknown artist in a long time.
Joshua headed back to the studio in late 2007 to record his second album, entitled Build Me This, which was released digitally on September 8, 2009, and physically on September 22, 2009, on Intelligent Noise/Northplatte Records
Northplatte Records
Northplatte Records is an American independent record label founded by singer/songwriter Joshua James and McKay Stevens. The label's quick ascent began when Paste Magazine darling Joshua James and successive artist Isaac Russell came to prominence in singer/songwriter markets.-Fork Fest:In Oct...
. Paste Magazine dubbed the new work "phenomenal." iTunes also dubbed Build Me This one of the "Best of 2009" Indie Spotlight Singer/Songwriter albums.
He performed at SXSW Music Festival, Bonaroo, and XPoNential Music Festival, Fork Fest, etc. in 2010 in addition to a US tour and shows in Japan and UK. James has also performed at Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
in 2009.
Variety Magazine calls James "a young Midwestern singer-songwriter who writes hard-bitten songs of family tragedies and sings them in a voice that’s as sun-bleached and wind-battered as a Nebraska cornfield."
A cover of Herman's Hermits' "No Milk Today
No Milk Today
"No Milk Today" is a song that was written by Graham Gouldman and originally recorded by British pop band Herman's Hermits. It was first released as a single by the Mancunian group in the UK in October 1966 and, with the B-side "My Reservation's Been Confirmed", enjoyed chart success, peaking at #7...
" featured in the Season 3 premier of Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
. James' own song "Coal War" was featured in the Season 4 premiere of Sons of Anarchy.
On July 22, 2011, Joshua James announced on his official website that in August 2011, he would start his 3rd record. Richard Swift will be the producer of the album & will also collaborate with James.
Albums
- B-Sides: It's Dark Outside (2006)
- Fields and Floods (2007)
- The Sun Is Always Brighter (2008), iTunes "Best of 2008" Folk Album
- Build Me This (2009), iTunes "Best of 2009" Indie Spotlight Singer/Songwriter Album
EPs
- Crash This Train / The Garden digital EP (2008)
- Sing Songs EP (2009)
- Joshua James: iTunes Sessions (2010)
Other
- "Come Back Down (feat. Joshua James)" (2010) - J.ViewzJ.ViewzJ.Viewz is the multi-genre electronica project of the Brooklyn-based Producer & Remixer Jonathan Dagan. Jonathan often collaborates with various musicians & vocalists under this alias.-Early Releases:...
, on the album Rivers and Homes - "No Milk Today (From Sons of Anarchy)" (2010) - Joshua James & The Forest Rangers, Available on US iTunes
- "Christmas in Prison" (2010), Available on US iTunes
- "To Be Alone With You" (2011) -- Seven Swans Reimagined, various artists
Producer Credits
- Elizabeth (2008) - Isaac Russell of Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
- Hoarse & RoaringParlor HawkParlor Hawk is a folk rock band. Their music has drawn comparisons to Brett Dennen and Ryan AdamsParlor Hawk released their debut album Hoarse & Roaring in the summer of 2010...
(2010) - Parlor HawkParlor HawkParlor Hawk is a folk rock band. Their music has drawn comparisons to Brett Dennen and Ryan AdamsParlor Hawk released their debut album Hoarse & Roaring in the summer of 2010...
, iTunes "Best of 2010" Indie Spotlight Singer/Songwriter Album - Sons & Daughters (2011) - Pablo Blaqk
- TBA (2011) - Desert Noises