Josh Nielsen

Bio:

review of 99E

written by Jason Avery of the Sacramento Music Examiner at

http://www.examiner.com/x-19615-Sacramento-Underground-Music-Examiner~y2010m6d4-Songwriter-Josh-Nielsen

Josh Nielsen's first release 99E is the focus of this article. The album is a highly personal acoustic masterpiece and summation of an era of an artists life. Josh Nielsen is a singer songwriter/jack of all musical trades. Josh wrote all the music and performed all the parts on the album which is a great feat for any musician especially a new artist. Josh's vocals are good and unpolished at times; which can be somewhat refreshing in the day and age of automated/auto tuned vocals and music. The integrity on the album does shine through and the album feels very honest. Josh has a good voice and when he doesn't stray too far from his natural range he sounds great!

The lyrics are incredibly personal and I think a lot of people will be able relate to them. The themes are universal and deal with love and relationships. Josh's compositions flow together well and seem like they hover around the realm of pop songs however, the choruses do seem like they could be a little stronger. The album is very cohesive in it's writing and the songs flow very well on the album. I think all the songs compliment each other very well and the tracks placement on the album fit very well. Overall it's a great first release from a new artist and I am looking forward to hearing more from Josh in the future.

How old were you when you started playing guitar and singing?

I started playing drums around age 11, then moved into guitar at 12, when I wrote my first song. I still remember the lyrics: "I am breaking up the images / that terrorize my mind..."

When you play live do you typically have the same guys onstage or are the live shows mostly solo?

I play solo sometimes, but I usually play with a lead guitarist, Jason Frischetti, with whom I've been playing shows for the last few months. So it's either just me, or me and Jason. We'll probably be looking for more musicians in the future to form a real band-type-band.

Who were the other musicians that played on the album?

I played all the parts on the album.

When did you get your first guitar?

I basically appropriated my mom's classical guitar for a year, then bought a Fender acoustic off a buddy for a hundred bucks.

What guitar is your favorite?

Definitely my Taylor 210E acoustic-electric. But I'm not a guitar guy, or much of a musical instrument nerd at all.

I noticed that 99E has good production value. Where was the album recorded and who was the engineer that helped?

I worked with producer/musician David Evan (http://www.myspace.com/davidevanmusic) at his home studio, called Murgatroyd Studios, in Portland, OR. We both had crazy schedules, so our recording span was very spread-out. I'd go in and do a song - always one song a session, all the parts - and come back a week or two later. We began recording in July 2008, and got the album out by June 2009 for my CD release party.

Do you still have stage fright or are you pretty comfortable onstage?

I'd like to think I'm getting more comfortable performing in front of people as I continue to play out. Really what it comes down to for me is audiences. If a crowd is engaged and listening, I'm much more relaxed, having fun, happy. But if I'm being ignored or it's really loud in the bar, etc., I can get nervous and annoyed. That right there is my biggest weakness as a musician.

Who would you say is the biggest influence on your music?

That is the question, isn't it? Jimi Hendrix.

What was the first cd you ever bought and musically, which songwriters are in your top five?

The first CD I remember buying, that meant anything real to me, was Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters. He recorded that entire album himself during what must have been a very difficult time - you know, right after Kurt's death. He just put himself in a frickin' studio and got all these feelings out, and made amazingly beautiful, devastating rock songs. I tried to emulate that grieving process with the recording of 99E. Top 5 songwriters, in no order Elliott Smith, Jimi Hendrix, Dave Grohl, Beck, Ben Gibbard

I noticed that a lot of your lyrics are incredibly personal and am wondering if that makes it really difficult to sing about onstage. (I really don't think I could do that myself... takes some guts) or do the emotions from the memories help/guide the music out of you and make it more real?

Good question. It's not hard being emotionally vulnerable onstage, because for me, that's the whole point of the music. I think those emotions you hear in some songs have mostly been processed. When you sing a song like "Suchandsuch" or even "Don't Expect Me," both of which have some pretty angry lyrics, you're returning to a place of emotion that reminds you of why you wrote the song, and why you write songs in general: because you absolutely have to. During some of my toughest times, I've gone right to my guitar, instinctively. It's been incredibly comforting and relieving. Guitar and piano have always been good to me.

What does your family think about your music? Are they supportive?

My mom is my number one fan.

Where is the most convenient place readers can find your album?

99E is on iTunes. It's also right below. You can buy the whole album, or any song.

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Review of 99E

written by Brandon Swift of Swift Reviews at http://swiftreviews.blogspot.com/

Josh Nielsen, of Portland, OR, began writing music at age 12. Now, years later, he has released his first album, 99E. Josh's songs are obviously very close to his heart and you can tell because his songs glow with authenticity. Taking a laid-back, folky approach to composition with a delicate mix of grunge influence thrown in, 99E seems to be more of a complete story rather than a just collection of songs.

The album starts of with Don't Expect Me, a folky song reminiscent of Jack Johnson's style - even though the first line clearly states that it is Johnson impersonating Josh Nielsen. Acoustically driven, like much of the album, this track sets up the listener to wonder what could possibly next and sets Josh apart from the status quo.

A track that sticks out as a winner, Your Life has hints of jam band influence mixed quite well with vocal harmonies that sound like they are straight out of the 90s grunge area. Think Scott Weiland meets Christopher Thorn.

Suchandsuch has a catchy title and tune. Once again acoustically driven song with a little reggae back beat mixed in, Nielsen seems to be painting a picture of getting over a intense separation.

If you want to get to know Josh Nielsen, take a listen to 99E. He's managed to poetically and gracefully capture the feelings of love, heartbreak and independence while mostly avoiding any real cliches.

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Member Since:

April 03, 2006

Members:

99E - written and performed by Josh Nielsen / produced by Josh Nielsen / engineered and co-produced by David Evan / recorded at murgatroyd studios, Portland, OR, 2008-09 / photography by Matt O'Brien / art design by Dylan Toomey / © kizik productions 2009 / ***all songs with an asterisk (*) produced by JN ***/ Currently gigging with lead guitarist Jason Frischetti / For booking please email Josh at joshnielsen@hotmail.com or leave a message here.

99E available on iTunes NOW!

Influences:

Phish, Jimi Hendrix, moe., Elliott Smith, Beck, Dave Matthews, Dave Grohl, John Frusciante, Tom Petty, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Local H, Smashing Pumpkins, and other musicians/bands have also influenced me.

Sounds Like:

Record Label:

For booking please email: joshnielsen@hotmail.com