Josh Martinez
In the past five years Josh Martinez has managed to tour 200+ dates per year all over the world, start his own label, Camobear Records, ink deals with European labels Bella Union (UK) and V2 (Europe), license records to distributors in Japan, Europe and North America and headline festivals and showcases worldwide. And all of this, with absolutely no help from an established North American record label, manager, booking agent, publicist or industry support.
His recent naming to Urb Magazine’s Next 100 rising stars, profiles in Rockpile, Pitchfork, Magnet, Spin, CMJ magazine, and reviews from all over, signifies a larger media interest. Profiles in Europe have included excellent reviews in UK’s Jockey Slut, DJ Magazine, NME, Fader and HHC.
Josh has managed to find time amid all the deal cutting to develop not just his solo career, but that of two groups as well. Josh is a founding member of both The Chicharones and The Pissed Off Wild. The Chicharones is Josh’s underground pop project with rapper Sleep of Oldominion. Together they have released two full length albums since a chance meeting between the two at South By Southwest led to the formation of the group. The Pissed Off Wild, (or the P.O.W.), is a live rock band which Martinez fronts. Musically the band draws more from artists like the Black Keys and Beck, than the hip-hop sounds that Martinez would generally be known for.
2005 was a year of change for Martinez. He has recently enlisted the help of a management firm, agent and publicity company and he’s suddenly finding time to make music again. “I’m DIY guy, and since record labels weren’t knocking on my basement door, I figured why wait for them to find me?” says Josh. “I did everything myself til I came to the point where I hit a ceiling. I needed help to get over the industry hurdles and free up some time to make music. I’ve got a great team, who I’m putting to work with this next album of pure fire.”
Now in 2006, Josh is hard at work in the studio. Martinez most recent solo album, Midriff Music, won “Best Rap Recording” at the 2005 Western Canadian Music Awards. After the success of his solo and Chicharones material he’s hard at work in the lab constructing his next solo album, “Traditional Songwriting with Choruses”. Working with some of his regular production partners, he’s also enlisting the help of some notable guests who he’s met over the years. Josh is aiming to have the album complete prior to the end of February for a release in Spring 2006.
Martinez is next scheduled to tour Japan, Australia and Hawaii. His latest two releases in Japan have been greatly received and he is looking forward to touring a new territory and performing in front of a new crowds. Stay tuned for more information in early 2006 as the album is completed and Josh readies his arsenal for the Japanese tour.