Published: May 13, 2009 10:57 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight May 2009 Edition
Josh Weinstein
Josh Weinstein
For the moment you hear Josh Weinstein's soulful rugged bluesy voice and enriching lyrics, his music is going to move you. He makes music that speaks to everyone and tells colorful stories that will have you craving for more from this super talented artist. In this spotlight with our Webzine, Josh Weinstein speaks to our publication about his music and his dreams. Enjoy!
Isaac: How do you sum up 2008 for Josh Weinstein?
Josh: 2008 was an interesting year, Isaac. I took a hiatus from performing to help raise our little boy, Solomon. But I also recorded the album that became "Love & Alcohol," which we released this spring. We laid down the basic tracks in February of '08, and I spent the year staying up late and working with those tracks to turn them into an album. So instead of being "out there" playing, I was "in there"--working on the record in the late-night/early morning hours. And then, about the time I got the record back from mastering, we had a little daughter (Anabel).
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Josh: I'd say moving the music forward while still tending full-time to family life and financial obligations. Actually, no--it's exactly the other way round: Keeping the family moving forward while still tending to music. Plus…Anabel!
Isaac: Describe the music scene in Brooklyn, New York.
Josh: Brooklyn has lots and lots of indie clubs and a couple of really good jazz venues, and if I had to guess, I'd say that something like 60 percent of New York's musicians live there. But more than that, Brooklyn is music. I don't mean in the 'everybody lives there' sense. I mean it has a pulse and truth and a wholeness-of-being and a visual poetry that is, itself, music. Sometimes it's not the kind you like, to be sure. But it's always music. And that, more than any one club or venue, is what I think of as the 'music scene' in Brooklyn.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Josh: My biggest influences are not necessarily musical. They're artists or thinkers carving out space for themselves and advancing the field regardless of return: Bukowski, Carver, both Kaufmans (Charlie and Andy), Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Ray Charles. Billie Holiday…I could go on.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Josh: I think I bring a strong sense of Voice-of carving out a little corner of the musical pie, maybe not the one in the center of it all, and pushing it as far as it can go. The idea, to me, is to be the last man standing: to stick to what you do well and do it as well as it can be done. That's what I'm trying for, anyway.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Josh: This is a tough question. I'm going to go with Joe Henry, the songwriter and producer. I feel like he's been able to maintain a voice, a vision, a very idiosyncratic approach to music and composition, and still find success on a relatively large scale. If you had to ask me to describe the perfect career arc for myself, that would be it.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Josh: "Junkyard Electric" with Bukowski-esque lyrics.
Isaac: What is your definition for Rock Music?
Josh: Rock is music that once you can define it, it changes.
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Isaac: What can fans expect from Josh Weinstein in 2009?
Josh: "Love & Alcohol," on RandomLogo Records. We have a radio campaign underway right now, some festivals coming up, some good stuff in the works. Come check out the live show sometime.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Josh: I'm better at private whispers than public shout-outs, but how about a thanks for letting me know when I've gotten it wrong-for the times people haven't listened, as much as the times they have.
Isaac: Final words from Josh Weinstein…
Josh: May you find peace, may you bring peace, and most important, may you get a piece.
