INTERVIEW: Josh Jensen shares new album

Josh Jensen’s new album, Moon Time, is a refreshing mix of genres that showcase the Seattle-based singer-songwriter’s unique songwriting approach and style. Jensen’s diverse range of influences are evident throughout the album, which was astonishingly entirely recorded on his phone. Despite its humble beginnings, Moon Time is a triumph of indie folk music with tinges of blues, Americana and rock n’ roll.

Jensen’s vocal leads are soulful, emotive, and set the mood for each song. From the opening track, “Whiskey Grin,” with its rhythmic grooves and piquant guitar leads to the last track, the experimental sounds of “Doggie Ruff,” with its playful, swirling pitched vocals and snappy percussion, Jensen’s songwriting and creativity shines through.

“Kiss Me Once” is a standout track on the album, with its lively bluegrass arrangement and catchy hook-filled writing. The banjo and mandolin solos are particularly noteworthy, and they add an extra layer of depth to the song. The song is full of energy and showcases Jensen’s ability to write catchy, fun tunes that still carry a deeper meaning.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Moon Time is the way in which it was recorded. Jensen recorded the album in his basement late at night, while everyone else in the house was asleep. The album was primarily recorded on his phone using a mixing app. Despite its unconventional recording method, the album sounds great, with each song being well-produced and mixed by Luke Rain.

Jensen’s influences are diverse, and it shows in the eclectic mix of genres on Moon Time. There are hints of Chris Stapleton, Punch Brothers, Jonah Smith and Jeff Buckley throughout the record, but Jensen’s unique style shines brightly in every song. The album is a testament to his ability to take inspiration from a wide range of artists and create something entirely his own.

Moon Time is an album that is full of surprises. From the diverse range of genres to the unique recording method, it’s clear that Jensen is not afraid to take risks and push boundaries. The album is a triumph of progressive folk music, and it showcases Jensen’s talent as a singer-songwriter. It’s an album that’s sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who listens to it.

We caught up with Josh Jensen to find out more about his inspirations, his new album Moon Time and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Josh Jensen below.

Hey Josh, how’s things?

I have been rolling with the punches lately, but doing pretty well these days, thanks for asking!

What are your earliest memories of making music?

My earliest memories are with my cousins at my grandparent’s house, playing on my grandpa’s instruments and putting on concerts for my family. Track 8 on Moon Time, The Teller’s Tale, actually gives a little head nod to that time in my life. The song is about my grandparents and features my cousin, Heather Craig, on vocals. Heather was the band leader of the cousin groups, naturally, since she was the oldest. Heather used to pick up the microphone and sing; I would pick up the guitar; and my cousin Casey would jam on the organ. The other cousins would dance around and pick up whatever other instruments were available.

Which artist first made a lasting impression on you?

The first artist to making a lasting impression on me may have been John Fogerty. At the time, I was into 90s alternative rock artists like Green Day, Blur, Foo Fighters, Alanis Morrisette, and Nirvana. But my friend Dan was really into CCR and could really play the guitar – not just a bunch of power chords, but he actually had good picking and technique, which inspired me to learn more and expand my musical tastes. I would say the same with Leo Kottke, but several years later. My friend Jonathan introduced me to Leo Kottke’s music and I again experienced a paradigm shift of what was possible with the guitar.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from today?

Lately, I have been into a variety of different music, but have been listening to a lot of Cory Wong, Cody Fry, Snarky Puppy, Billy Strings, Khruangbin, Raye Zaragoza, Lianne La Havas, Shubh Saran, Tony Rice, Zoe Muth, Petunia and the Vipers, Ari Joshua, and some more global artists like D’Gary, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Joao Selva, and Omar Sosa. I have also been listening to heavier, more technical music (djent rock, haha) including Vitalism, Their Dogs Were Astronauts, and Unnecessary Gunpoint Lecture. And a buddy just recently turned me onto a Brooklyn-based trio Mutoid Man – they rock hard.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

I find inspiration for my music in stories. Sometimes it includes stories from my past, or something that I am really into at the moment. For example, Track 10 on Moon Time, Material Love/Love In Theory, was inspired by a book I was reading by Albert Einstein entitled “Ideas and Opinions” that was gifted to me by a dear friend. In the book, Einstein describes how scientific thought morphed from material to theoretical beliefs over the years; one preceding the other. This song takes those concepts of scientific thought and transposes them into an esoteric love song.

What do you love about the Seattle music scene?

What I love about the Seattle music scene is the community. There are some venues around town working super hard to support local talent and lift up the music scene. Venues like the Seamonster Lounge and Tim’s Tavern are examples of venues that feature local music nearly every evening – you can just pop in for a drink and know that there will be good tunes and great people around you. It’s really cool have a strong grassroots scene.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

As a solo artist, the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy my sound is definitely at a local brewery or small venue. Usually when I am playing a solo gig, I like to bring other musicians onstage to fill out the sound and keep people entertained. When I am playing with a band, I love playing at local clubs or outdoor events – especially in the Seattle summer, our best kept secret!

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

When I started playing music, I wanted to play alternative rock music like Radiohead and Foo Fighters. That evolved as I delved into fingerpicking, jazz, and eventually funkier music. Lately, I have been playing more bluegrass and Americana style music, as you will discover on Moon Time. I think I still have a lot of my old musical traits shining through many of the songs but now add a little more twang to my voice and flatpicking to the guitar lines and you have my evolution dialed, so far. I am excited to see where it goes to next.

How did you find making your new album ‘Moon Time’?

I wrote and recorded much of my album Moon Time at night after my wife and kids went to sleep. We have a bomb shelter in our house, which was built during the Red Scare of the 1950s, and I did a lot of recording there at all hours of the night. It was fun because I had just discovered the app BandLab, so was able to record everything from my phone and take creative liberties in the recording process to add drums, bass, and even orchestra on some pieces! You can hear on Track 5, Mad Haven II, where I had an instrumental piece that really came to life with a backing orchestral arrangement to augment the chorus parts. I had an absolute blast with it, but next album I am hoping it will be with a full band – I do miss that element for sure.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

This release is an amalgamation of songs that span many years – some are very recent and some I have been working on for some time. The album was so ad hoc in a way that I don’t think there is a particular message other than just play what comes from the heart. The beauty of music is that it’s snapshot in time. A song you write today will probably draw from different experiences and inspiration than a song you write tomorrow. So let it all out and don’t be afraid to tell your story.

How was it recording the whole album on your mobile phone?

Ha! You know, this album was really just supposed to stay on my phone until the tracks started sounding decent. I had just learned about the app BandLab and started messing around with it shortly after the birth of my son. I would record music when I could, and then while rocking him to sleep at night, would throw on my headphones and start mixing the songs that I recorded. I never expected it would sound as good as it did given that it all went through my phone. I sent the files to my friend and producer, Luke Rain, and he really brought them to life! It inspired me to prepare for and release an album that I wasn’t really planning on releasing in this way.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

My musical taste tends to vary by the hour. Most recently, I have been listening to a Scottish guitar player named Moray Pringle. He has some insane guitar chops but also throws a groove into some of his songs which I appreciate.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

I really hope that people listening to my music get to know me a bit better and find their own meaning in the stories that I tell through my songwriting. I do this for fun, but Moon Time also includes some deeply personal songs for me. I hope that people can connect to that.

What’s been your favourite live show so far?

I played at a venue called “Pour Decisions” for my album release party last November. That was such a fun show! My family was there, and my daughter Coralie, that wrote the track “Doggie Ruff”, came up to the stage twice to sing the song to the crowd and they just ate it up. It was such a proud parent moment for me.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

Wow, this is a loaded question! There are so many artists that I would love to play with. I think if it were up to me, I would play a show at Red Rocks in Colorado, USA, opening for Cory Wong and the Wongnotes, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Khruangbin.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

My advice to new artists would be to be deliberate about your release. Plan ahead and know how far you want to take it and what avenues can get you there. We live in a world where a little planning and conversations with those who have been there will make such a difference in how your release is accepted and broadcast through different networks. I learned through this process that patience and planning are important.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

Well, it might be too much information, but my wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy in April to prevent future cancer from occurring. So, 2023 has been a little intense with making sure my wife and my family are taken care of. Fortunately, she was proactive about her screenings and caught it early, so it is not a life-threatening situation. But still, I have been pretty focused on my family. My music is happening again during moon time, after my wife and kids go to sleep, but on a more limited basis because there is a lot going on at the moment. Once we get through this, I am hoping to schedule some more shows and start playing live music with a group of likeminded musicians. I miss playing with a band and am excited to play shows to people who appreciate the art of music.

Listen to Moon Time below