In a sonic cocktail of Sting, Stevie Wonder, Seal, Jamiroquai, and the Beatles, Joshua Stedman's sound resonates as a slow, reflective pour of these classic and modern influential artists.
Joshua's NYC, SF and Miami lifestyles enrich musical sculptures carved from the introspective realities of life, relationship, and society's turbulent influences.
Soulful, story-telling songs poeticize the impact of the relationships personal to him, but familiar to all of us. He shares life's observations and experiences that tend to illicit that, "Yep, I've been there, too..." reaction in each of us.
His sound is woven from funk/soul/rock roots, winding chord arrangements, interlaced subtleties on Rhodes, Wurlitzer and B3 ivories, and elusive guitar riffs atop deep organic bass lines.
Joshua's addictive melodies are fueled by a distinct bright-breathy vocal that pours out an honesty that has been said to seduce the ear from fade-in to fade-out.
Joshua Stedman (Interview Bio)
After a deep breath of realization looking south-west from the 18th floor above San Francisco's Jazz district a block from the famous Fillmore Theater, Joshua says, "I'm going to miss this place... this view and the people I've grown close to here. I found that final push of inspiration to do an album here." An emotional thought turns his eyes out over the edge towards the sunset beyond Twin Peaks in a moment of reminiscence. "...it was the believers, the supporters and an inner voice that needed out - the same inspirational vibe that drew me out here in the first place. I'll miss the view from here, but it was a great chapter."
From a brief conversation with Joshua regarding his two and half year stint in San Francisco emerges the influential voices of friends, family and relationships that have shaped the stories and sounds that he immortalizes in song. "I've become more present to how relationships exist in my life in the more recent years. Feelings I was once numb or blind to I've learned to let in and be more observant to. Sometimes taking one extra second to absorb a moment can be infinitely more rewarding than scurrying to the next."
Rejoicing in that extra moment is the theme behind Joshua's REAL THING which poeticizes how those in an unknown future can still revel in the "now." It's a story of love lived one-day-at-a-time, appreciating everyday you wake up still in it. From catchy, funky choruses of past loves with head-turning smiles (Smile) to heartfelt realizations of disillusioned, vanity-based love (Fool I've Been) to getting caught-up in a taboo duo and not giving a damn what the world thinks (Tangled) - Joshua's theme clearly revolves around the realities of life, relationship, and society's turbulent social influences.
When asked what this album touches personally, Joshua replies, "It's like a greatest hits album, but as your debut. Although the theme of "relationship" may be consistent, the song writing was spread over a number of years, a second stage of social formative years in a way. What ties the songs together, since they span different writing styles, is the connectedness to blatant self-honesty in the writing. In a way, each song is itself an individual. There is a natural elusiveness in the genre of the music because of that. And it might be considered by critics to be crossover worthy or maybe it's just too hard to pin down. I don't know. Does it really matter? It's all very real to me. It's who I am. Maybe I should release the album three songs at a time." He laughs... but somewhat seriously.
Joshua Stedman is a rising star whose light has already touched thousands of fans worldwide. He connects with a universal audience by performing a refreshing combination of familiar, yet original and meaningful songs. His soulful performances and story-telling honesty seduce fans from fade-in to fade-out.
Responding to the question of how and when one knows they want to pursue music, he adds, "It was the first time I played one of my own songs in front of a live audience. I had been in countless bands, but not typically playing my own material and never solo acoustic. I re-wrote the lyrics of the song I played that night to memorialize the emotions I had on stage under that hot, yellow spotlight. I didn't know what to expect. My heart was on my sleeve. But I'll never forget the energy in the room and that little, huge place I went to with a random Tuesday night CB's Basement audience for 3 and half minutes. Guess I've been chasing that feeling ever since."
With an acoustic funk underscoring catchy melodic overlays, Joshua's music unleashes winding chord arrangements, interlaced subtleties on the ivories, and elusive guitar riffs. His climbing melodies and rich harmonies fuel more and more fans to sing along to this brilliant new artist's music.
Joshua Stedman (Mid-length Bio)
Joshua Stedman is a renowned Rock/Soul-Singer/Songwriter craftsman who weaves soulful, story-telling, seductive songs that poeticize the impact of relationships personal to him, but familiar to all of us. Combine that with Seal meets Stevie Wonder on acoustic guitar, with a voice like Sting. With one of the most capturing vocal textures of our time, Joshua engages listeners as he shares life's observations and experiences that illicit, 'Yep, I've been there, too...' reactions in each of us.
He spins a clever web of funk/soul/rock roots, winding chord arrangements, elusive guitar riffs and deep organic bass lines around subtle rhythmic shifts.
No matter what genre his music embraces, Joshua always creates moving connections with his audience--even if it's with just one person. In fact, it was the connection he found with a single audience member the night he debuted his original music in the famous basement of CBGB's that led him to realize he had to follow the music path.
"I connected with one person in the audience that night and we shared something. Like a spark... strong enough that it kept me loving to write and play music ever since," Joshua says. "I never did meet that girl, but I'll never forget the feeling we shared. She'll forever be my nameless muse in the spotlight shadows that started it all."
Joshua's addictive melodies are fueled by a distinct bright-breathy vocal that pours out an honesty that has been said to seduce the ear from fade-in to fade-out.