Josh Cleveland is releasing a new album after 12 years, and it’s definitely worth the wait. There’s a coolness and honesty to the music whether he’s feeling in between or singing you life’s like a melody. You can hear the new album on June 4 at the Granada Theatre.
Please tell us about yourself and how you originally got into music.
I grew up in Oshkosh, WI and am the literal son of a preacher man. I grew up singing in an acapella church and always found the voice to be a wonderful instrument of emotion and depth. I fell in love with harmonies at a young age and would always sing along to my faves on the radio… alone… with no one around. I was always self-conscious about my voice and though I loved to sing, was petrified to sing in front of people. So, I did the next best thing. I became a drummer. Eventually, I began songwriting and playing guitar. I eventually faced the trepidation and found my way to the microphone and haven’t looked back since.
Your newest album, Prove the Sound, comes 12 years after your debut, what spurred you to release is now?
After our last record was released 12 years ago, I continued to play solo shows, but it never felt the same after playing with a full band in the studio. Also, I was beginning to think that maybe I had nothing left to write or create. After a couple of years and a stroke of fortune for me, I started playing with my friend Dustin Smith and Phillip Rampi. We began to write and record some demos together and I could feel the inspiration building. We released a couple singles and started to create a new sound. Eventually, we added long time friend Eric Smith on the drums and Joe Meyer on the bass and things started clicking. Our final addition was Nikki Lemire on keys and vocals. We realized that we really had something together and it was high time we polished our sound and put it down on a record.
I love the line from Keep Singing – your life’s a melody. There’s something about that line and the song that makes me wonder if music reflects our lives or gives us respite from our lives. Do you have an opinion? Or does it change song to song?
I think it can change a bit from song to song. But, I think some of the best songs do both. They give space for reflection and respite. Not to escape our lives, but to connect more deeply with them. To feel what needs to be felt and then find a pathway to learn and move to the next moment with a soundtrack to guide or inspire our next steps.
What is the inspiration for Magenta Queen? I think so many of us have felt that we’ve been in the in between.
Magenta Queen was inspired by a song prompt of Magenta. It is an in between color. Which got me thinking about those times I have either settled for something in between or been someone’s in between. You aren’t quite what they are looking for, but you seem good enough for the right now. There’s no real connection there, no commitment. And eventually, a choice comes to either settle for good enough right now or feel empowered to leave and never settle for being someone’s in between.
Please tell us about the upcoming album release party.
On June 4th at the Granada Theatre in uptown in Minneapolis, MN. We are celebrating our new album, Prove the Sound. Haley E. Rydell is opening up the evening with her amazing songs and vibe and might even join us on a song or two. Doors open at 6:30 and music starts at 7. We are going to fill the beautiful space with our new music and gratitude for all those that helped us get here. As an artist, especially one that creates a consumable art, it is hard not to quantify success by butts in seats, units sold, number of streams, likes, or follows. With this show, we are trying to find a new metric that is based not on the NUMBER of people in the seats, but the PEOPLE that are in the seats. We can’t wait to share this evening and this album with everyone who shows up.
Mostly Minnesota 