Joshua James is an American singer-songwriter and folk singer from Lincoln, United States, and he is based in American Fork, Utah and Lincoln, Nebraska. His music sits within alternative rock and folk rock, and it also draws on acoustic and indie styles. He releases material on Northplatte Records and Willamette Mountain Records.

Style and songwriting

James is known for a whispery, intimate vocal style. His writing often moves between folk harmonies, country twang, world beats and southern rock, while also taking in heavier hard-rock textures. His songs frequently deal with spiritual searching, depression, loss and damaged relationships, and he says he writes from whatever he is feeling at the time rather than from fixed subjects. He describes his work as a search for connection with listeners and as a way to express contrasts such as “sweet and salty” or “ugly and beautiful”.

Albums and notable songs

His debut album reaches number one on iTunes’ folk album chart. His second album, Build Me This, follows The Sun is Always Brighter and is produced by Shannon Edgar, an industry veteran. The album expands his sound into darker, more hard-rock territory. It includes “FM Radio”, a song about a childhood friend coping with the death of his father, which gathers more than 150,000 downloads through an iTunes promotion. Other songs on the album include “Magazine”, about separation, and “In the Middle”, which deals with the end of a romance.

Career and live work

James grows up in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he listens to music his parents ban and develops an interest in classic rock acts including Jim Morrison and The Doors, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. His live career includes performances at Sundance, SXSW and CMJ, and he tours with John Mayer, David Gray and Ani DiFranco. His stage performances are described as the setting where his music becomes most direct and absorbing.

Influences and reception

His sound is placed between Bob Dylan and Neil Young, and his songs are presented as introspective and spiritually searching. Build Me This attracts major-label interest, and his debut and breakout track help establish an early audience for his work.