Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with IMAAI.
Tell us about your music.
I write songs about life. I have lived a number of experiences that I feel are similar to what others have been through, so I try to tell the stories in a way that’s relevant to lots of people. Most of the music is guitar based with a band accompanying, but most of the live shows are solo, so I tend to do a great deal of work with the acoustic guitar.
I try to keep a good balance between ballads and uptempo songs so as to never bore the listener. Keeping the listener interested is so important, I often think of them while I’m writing.
My most recent single, “Look (Syacey’s Song)” is a mid tempo love song, like an acoustic power ballad about knowing how much someone loves you and how good that feels. This recent single is an acoustic recording to be followed later with a full production version.
When did you start performing?
I first started singing as a child in church. Music and church were a big part of my family. In junior high I joined the school choir and band. I was in both groups until I graduated high school and went to college for a music education degree. During that time, I would go out with friends and see people performing in the local scene. I decided to take my talents and passion to the local stages and haven’t looked back. From solo shows, to playing with a band of friends, and sitting in with other artists, I learned to craft my art and approach to the business. Now, I do it full-time as my only income and have never been happier, though I’m always looking to grow the fan base.
What do you consider to be your hometown and how does that affect your music?
My home town in Hurst, TX, a suburb of Fort Worth, TX. Being from an area where the biggest city is called “Cowtown” means the country music influence is pretty strong. I went to college in Denton, TX which has a huge jazz influence, and in the suburbs, where I actually grew up, rock was the king. You can hear all of these influences in my music as I try to stay away from sounding like any one style, but add parts of all of them.
Most of the time, the songs have more than three chords, instruments other than just rock guitars, and have some rhythmic figures that accentuate the message and set them apart from other songs. It’s a complicated process to bring it all together, but I would not enjoy anything that wasn’t interesting, which means I wouldn’t be able to perform it well.
There’s a little of my home in every song because each one of them starts from a place inside of me, and home is definitely there.
What performers have been your inspiration?
Paul Simon is one of the best song writers in the world. I have been listening to him since I was a child. I am heavily influenced by his lyrical construction and chord progressions. They are smart, insightful, an original. I aspire to write as well as him.
The Counting Crows is my favorite touring band and the way they write and approach music, almost like it’s an energy force outside of them, inspires me to perform for people, not just play songs like in a recital.
Monte Montgomery has written some of my favorite songs, and while that would be enough to be influenced by, but he also plays an acoustic guitar in a way I am working toward. WIth what appears to a great deal of ease, he flies up and down the fretboard with power and grace. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing something great.
What do you base your success on?
My success mostly comes from playing to my strengths, trying to bring where I’m weak up to an average level, and trying to outwork the competition. I have a list of weekly tasks that I keep in order to keep me on track, I have schedules for production so I don’t fall behind, and my wife and I manage the income and expenditures to make sure we keep generating revenue to live on. When I’m not good at something, I try to set limits on what I’ll expect myself to do before I reach out for someone to help me.
This industry is big on reputation, and reputation os based on your actions. When I schedule something with someone, I keep it. I don’t run late and I show up prepared. Some people act like they have a really hard time living that way, but it really just takes intentionality to be able to manage your time and respect others’ time.
What was your latest musical release?
My latest release is “Look (Stacey’s Song) and it’s a powerful love song that speaks to how it feels to know the one you want wants you too. It was inspired when I was sitting at a bar top next to a friend who had just gotten back into town after a long work trip. He talked about writing a song about how it feels to see the person you miss when you’re on the road. When you can see how someone looks at you, it’s better than just being able to talk to them on the phone. This song addresses that issue with the intimacy of an acoustic guitar and unhinged vocals.
Do you have any news to share?
On June 21 I am playing a 12 hour concert to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. I will play all songs from memory and will not repeat a single song. This show will be live streamed and donations can be accepted all day long. We have a goal of $10,000.
More information can be found at joshuaingram.com/the-longest-day-june-21
How can fans find you?
joshuaingram.com/links
Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
Thanks for the opportunity to tell you about what I do. I’m excited to work with people who help independent artists in an industry that has some really heavy overhead. Indie artists don’t have the access to the funding and connections that labels and media moguls have, so it’s awesome to have media groups who make themselves available. Thanks again!