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On The Table Read, “the best entertainment magazine in the UK“, singer-songwriter Josh Jensen talks about his music career and his new single, Anxiety.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed singer-songwriter Josh Jensen about his life and career, what inspires his music, and the work that went into his new single, Anxiety.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
My name is Josh Jensen. I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, UT. I grew up in a Mormon family, but have since left the religion due to conflicting values/beliefs. I am a singer/songwriter/producer who wants to make a positive impact on the world through music.
My goal for my music is to discuss heavy topics such as mental health, relationships, religion, politics, and Buddhist philosophy. I want to inspire and uplift people. I want to help people process difficult emotions through my music. I want to eventually use my platform to tell peoples stories who haven’t had a voice. I am passionate and dedicated to my craft.
When did you first WANT to write songs?
Since I was a little kid. I got serious about writing/producing at around 19 years old after leaving the LDS church. This was an extremely difficult time for me and I needed an outlet. Music has always been my therapy. Creating music is a whole different level of therapy. After leaving the church, I began writing poems and would try to turn those poems into songs.
When did you take a step to start writing songs?
In 2017, I began taking online courses for music production and song writing. Before that I was experimenting on my own in Logic Pro and GarageBand, using loops to create song concepts. I loved creating covers of songs.
What was your first song released, and what was it about?
My first album was actually released about two years ago, but I took it down because the production quality wasn’t up to par with what I wanted for my first album. I couldn’t afford a producer at the time to help me bring it to fruition.
My first official single was just released in April, and I worked with a producer on that one. This song is called “Anxiety” and is about what it feels like to experience anxiety and how it can affect your sobriety. Many people self medicate to soothe intense emotions. I have struggled with that in the past, and that’s what this song is about.
What was your latest song released, and what was it about?
My latest single was just released in April, and I worked with a producer on that one. This song is called “Anxiety” and is about what it feels like to experience anxiety and how it can affect your sobriety. Many people self medicate to soothe intense emotions. I have struggled with that in the past, and that’s what this song is about.
How many songs are you working on right now?
I have 6 songs in the works, all related to mental health and overcoming life’s greatest challenges.
Do you keep to a theme with your music, or just go where the mood strikes?
I create music based on what mood I want to convey to the listener. I don’t have a specific genre yet, but my music tends to be a mixture of hip hop, funk, alternative, and acoustic.
What is your favourite song you’ve recorded, and what do you love about it?
One of my favorite songs hasn’t been released yet. This is a breakup song and I love the therapeutic release I experienced from creating it. Break ups are hard, and this song really helped me process difficult and complicated emotions.
Do you find other people’s music inspires you? Who do you listen to most?
Absolutely. My favorite artist at the moment is Trevor Hall. I love his music because he has a spiritual aspect to it. It can be very meditative and connects you to nature.
Do you write your own music, or do you have musicians you work with?
A little of both. I like to create beats/instrumentals and come up with a basic concept for the lyrics, but collaborate with other musicians on the specific lyrics, melody, and production.
Do you play any instruments?
I play piano and guitar.
Do you like performing live, or does it scare you? Where can people watch you?
I want to release my first full album before I perform live. I have mainly sung at karaoke bars. It does scare me at first, but once I’m on stage and singing I feel at home.
Is your music available online, and where can people listen to it?
Yes, it’s available on all major streaming platforms including but not limited to Apple Music, YouTube, and Spotify.
Are you able to make music full time, or do you have day job?
It is my dream to make music full time, but at the moment I support myself and my girlfriend through a day job.
Are your friends and family supportive of your music career?
Yes they are. They think it’s cool and admirable that I’m following my passion. My girlfriend is especially supportive and I’m very grateful for her.
What’s something you never expected about being a songwriter? What have you learned that surprised you?
How much time goes into perfecting a song. You can come up with a basic idea pretty easily, but it takes months or even years to fine tune a song to something worth putting out into the world.
Have you had any experiences that really stand out because of your songs?
The experiences that stand out most to me are those of cathartic emotional release. Songs that made me cry while making them. I hope others can experience that too through my music.
Do you have any important events coming up we should know about?
I hope to release another single within the next month with the money I’ve raised so far with my crowdfunding campaign on INDIEGOGO (see link below).
What is the first piece of advice you would give to anyone inspired to write songs?
Just start writing. So many people are perfectionists and don’t want to even try because of the self doubt that plagues their minds. The only way to get good at something is to practice and to be okay with being bad at first.
And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
My accomplishments thus far in music are definitely worth the effort. Like I mentioned earlier, my music creation has been the most therapeutic and life changing process. I want everyone to experience the joy of creating art. Pop all your music, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-me-fund-an-album
Original single ANXIETY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUfnXYEA7Qw
On Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/joshua-jensen-417377139
On Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/anxiety/1621586916?i=1621586917
On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/6KOKKQxfM79onws2V3R2ZD?si=XpIjLO1hQbOJnC4Rb_5p_Q&nd=1
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