Joshua James (folk singer)

{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{BLP sources|date=August 2013}}

{{Infobox musical artist

|name = Joshua James

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|background = solo_singer

|birth_name =

|origin = Lincoln, Nebraska, US

|instrument = Vocals, guitar, piano

|genre = Alternative rock, folk rock

|occupation = Singer-songwriter

|years_active = 2003–present

|label = Intelligent Noise/Northplatte Records

|associated_acts = Isaac Russell, Desert Noises, Parlor Hawk, Northplatte Records

|website = [http://www.joshuajames.tv/ www.joshuajames.tv]}}

Joshua James is an American singer-songwriter based out of American Fork, Utah, and Lincoln, Nebraska.

His original digital release of The Sun is Always Brighter on iTunes reached No. 1 on the service's Folk Album list in 2007 and sold in excess of 25,000 copies by the end of 2008.{{cite web |last=Basin |first=Lyuba |url=http://www.slugmag.com/articles/1482/Northplatte-Records.html |title=Northplatte Records: Provo Proves People Wrong – SLUG Magazine |publisher=Slugmag.com |date=November 4, 2008 |access-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-date=July 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708032716/http://www.slugmag.com/articles/1482/Northplatte-Records.html |url-status=dead }}{{Dubious|date=June 2013}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/store/product/46/BI/paste_back_issues/paste_magazine_issue_46_september_2008_single_copy |title=Paste Magazine :: Issue #46 September 2008 (single copy) |access-date=September 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602213950/http://www.pastemagazine.com/store/product/46/BI/paste_back_issues/paste_magazine_issue_46_september_2008_single_copy |archive-date=June 2, 2009 }}

NPR cited James in one of their "Song of the Day" publishings. They featured his "The New Love Song".[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94505662 NPR Song of the Day – Joshua James: Downtrodden, But No Downer]

Variety called 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".[https://web.archive.org/web/20090916193644/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117935615.html?categoryid=34&cs=1 Variety Magazine: David Gray]

On December 1, 2019, James released "Discover Responsibility Through Fatherhood" with fellow musician Nate Pyfer.{{Cite web|title=Discover Responsibility Through Fatherhood, by Joshua James & Nate Pyfer|url=https://discoveringresponsibility.bandcamp.com/album/discover-responsibility-through-fatherhood|website=Joshua James & Nate Pyfer|access-date=May 17, 2020}} Later that month on December 24, 2019, James released "Magical Leaves Red White Black Heat", which he described as a compilation of "Songs about country. Songs about Christmas. Songs about acceptance. And solitude, commitment, and New Years".{{Cite web|title=Joshua James|url=https://www.joshuajames.tv/|website=Joshua James|language=en-US|access-date=May 17, 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Magical Leaves Red White Black Heat, by Joshua James|url=https://joshuajamesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/magical-leaves-red-white-black-heat|website=Joshua James|access-date=May 17, 2020}} On September 22, 2020, Joshua James released an album titled Dreams of Karen with his mother Reesa James.[https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Karen-Joshua-James-Reesa/dp/B08GZY7QRT Dreams of Karen by Joshua James and Reesa James on Amazon Music - Amazon.com] The album consists of 8 cover songs including four originally by The Carpenters.[https://secondhandsongs.com/artist/50927+173786/covers#nav-entity Cover versions by Joshua James & Reesa James | SecondHandSongs] On June 18, 2021, James released an album titled Forever In Life, For Now dedicated to his friend Seth Howell who died on April 20, 2020.[https://joshuajamesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/forever-in-life-for-now Forever In Life, For Now | Joshua James]

His song Coal Wars was featured as the opening song of Son's of Anarchy"s season 4, as the Son"s are released from prison and return to Charming.{{Cite web |title='Sons of Anarchy': Behind the music |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/12/18/sons-of-anarchy-music-season-4/ |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=EW.com |language=en}}