JOSI WAILS is currently playing and recording with SCOTT MANN and JON MORSE at SPICEFIGHTER STUDIOS.
Influences
BIG PICTURE: Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jesus Christ Superstar, Los Lobos, Cassandra Wilson, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Laura Nyro. WRITE NOW: The Baldwin Grand in the living room, Ray Lamontagne, Lucinda Williams, The Prospect.
Sounds Like
Josi Wails... with a little Laura Nyro, Abbey Lincoln, Crosby Stills & Nash, Joan Osborne, Cassandra Wilson, Neil Young, Natalie Merchant, Suzanne Vega, Jackson Browne, Tracy Chapman, Uncle Bonsai, Van Morrison, Ani DiFranco and an edge of Murray Head.
If you haven’t heard Josi Wails before, your first impression is bound to be, “Why haven’t I heard this before?” Her sound is refreshing, thoughtfully played with an optimistic tempo that embraces its listener. She touches on topics such as politics, family, love and friendship in an intelligent, eloquent way that doesn’t lose its natural ease and fun—inciting both tears and laughter within a stanza or two. Each unique song takes the listener to a moment of great spiritual and emotional revelation for this talented artist—one that she seems more than willing to share.
Raised in a family where “making music was an automatic response to living,” Josi’s early exposure to the country’s finest jazz, blues, gospel, folk, big band, country and show music is shines through in a natural fusion of these elements, including influential sparks by such greats Abbey Lincoln and Billie Holiday to Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd. Josi has the rare ability to fuse these eclectic influences into a natural, solid classic sound with a fresh, raw contemporary spirit.
Josi’s passion to perform began at an open mic in Salisbury, MD at 18, and soon after, led to cross country quests, and work with numerous bands, including Secret Service, Pops & The Playaz, The Holy Ghost Revival, Delmonico Bombe, one hand clapping, and others – meanwhile writing “dozens of songs on borrowed guitars,” picking up nearly as many new instruments as adventures along the way—including the mandolin, banjo, stand-up bass and then returning to the piano, her first instrument. But it was the debut of “Believe,” a deeply stirring ballad of love, loss and redemption in 2004 that not only won her the first ever Foxwoods Casino BETSY Award for Best performance, originality and creativity, but also the ear of William Morris Agency’s Senior VP of Talent, and an opening spot for two Bill Cosby performances.
“(Believe) became my mantra…”Josi says. “(it was) the song that would heal me, give me two feet to stand on as I battled new scars, looked hate and pity and rage in the face and did my best to give my first born more love than I had…”
Now, in Josi’s first full length compilation, “The Evolution of Love,” Josi effortlessly sings stories of false starts, dreams lost and regained, friendship and discovery as well as courageously grappling with the complex themes of motherhood, falling in love, and the steep risks and choices one makes when building a life with another.
Josi Wails touches a place in the human soul—almost to the point of pain—but a place crying out for precisely that kind of touch. Josi doesn’t just say, “Come with me,” she takes you gently by the heart and leads you there….
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Reason to Ride "A Reason to Ride," Connecticut's 10th annual Flag Day motorcycle Flag Day bike run, will be held June 8, 2008, from the Plainfield VFW 5446, 7 Winsor Avenue, Plainville. Registration is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and donation is $15 per person. There will be food, raffles, sale of RTR items, pins, tee-shirts, tank tops, patches, stickers, a live band. Proceeds benefit the needy veterans of Connecticut. Information, 860-564-5446, www. areasontoride. org.
Live @ The C. M. L. House May 24, 2008 04:00 PM Barnaba Institute Benefit featuring: Quiet Life, Monitor and the Merrimac, Jonny Rogers, & Christopher M. Listorti 62 Coulter St Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475 Cost: $5.00 suggested donation Description: A few of CT's best singer songwriters, right in your own back yard don't miss out, More Bands TBA..... open to public. Please Visit: http://www. barnabainstitute. org/ http://www. chrislistorti. com
2008 Tax Code For The Penis The only thing that the IRS has not taxed yet is the male penis.
This is due to the fact that 69% of the time it is hanging around unemployed, 10% of the time it is hard up, 20% of the time it is pissed off and 1% of the time it is in the hole.
On top of that, it has two dependents and they are both nuts! HOWEVER, effective January 1st, 2008, the penis will now be taxed according to size:
The brackets are as follows: 10 - 12" Luxury Tax $300.
New songs posted off the upcoming album "Mary Sunely Cresent":
-The Shadow's of Life -On the Road -Mary Cresent Morning
I've been in the studio for about 5 months now working on this album and after my trip to Jamaica I've had a bit of enlightenment; reworking a few ideas. But its nearly finish and I hope that you enjoy. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
Evelyn is doing well. Gaining weight like a champ. Have to get in touch with Chris and Amy about the store, and also about the S.T. Quartet. Hope all is well Talk to you soon
Hi Josi! listening to your album right now and enjoying it so i thought i'd say Hey, how's everything, particularly on the music end? -Rachel, from NTI spring06
