Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Joshua - vocals, lyricist, and producer

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to ‘Joshua’? How long has the band been around?

I wasn’t a part of any other group, always been a solo act but I’ve gone through various name changes (as many rappers do haha). I started rapping when I was 13, and I started recording music on my laptop when I was 18, but I really started to take my craft seriously as a profession in the fall of 2015 - so professionally speaking, I have been around for a little over 2 years now.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

It’s my government. As I said before, I have gone through several changes over the years - those being, JayD, JD, Joshua Davies, and now Joshua. I decided to just go with my first name because that’s what people call me and at some point, around the summer of 2015, I really thought about chasing this dream and making a brand for myself. I could’ve chosen a different name to go with but how I see it, I’m the same dude off the stage that I am on the stage, same dude rapping my lyrics, etc, and I feel that my music is a message of my journey and so I feel people listen to my music to get to know me, to get to know Joshua. Ya feel me?

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

I write them, from the beats to the lyrics, and then when I collaborate with friends and other artists, I obviously go through the process of sharing ideas and concepts and then in those cases, we’re writing together. Some those people being my homies Pauly J, BTM, Cem, KJ (aka Kaydo) and Delvon (aka Dr. Del). 

The topics are all over the place man, ya know I’m writing about life. I’ve written about heartbreaks, meeting my wife and getting married, getting a dog haha, i don’t know, my dreams, struggles, hopes, fears, my faith and how Jesus has been such a rock in my life. I want to show people that there’s a season for everything in life, a season to struggle but then a season to hope and that hope needs to be in Jesus. I have a project, I’ve been working on and will be all year, coming out late 2018 that’ll be about how everything in life has a season. 

What bands/rappers are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

Lecrae, NF, Demi Lovato, Andy Mineo, Lil Wayne, Aha Gazelle, and J Cole. And I know what you’re thinking, why Demi? But for real, her song Tell Me You Love Me is killer and it’s been on repeat on my Spotify for the past month haha.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a music career?

To be honest, Lil Wayne inspired me when I was young. Him and Drake both played a HUGE influence on my life from like 13 years old until I was 18. I listened to them more than anyone and I listened to everyone but then I heard Lecrae when I was 19 and he really inspired me to be myself through my craft and really showed me that you can mix rap and Jesus. Lecrae really showed me that you and be real on and off the microphone. That kind of helped push me to stop “faking it” in my lyrics and actually write about life and what I’m going through - and that people will like it.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc.?

Before a show, I rehearse the set at least 15 times. Tweaking it as I go - making sure I know my cues and I know my songs and the order they go in. I strive for excellence in all I do, there is no second best, there is no “I tried”, it’s either do it or don’t. I workout 3-4 times a week so I try to always stay in shape because on stage I’m moving a lot. I always pray before a show - and if my wife is there, we pray together before I go on, every time.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

The biggest highlight of my career so far has to be whenever I get a message from someone who says “thank you for your song, it helped me get out of a dark place. I need it.” I’ve had multiple times when this has happened and I’ll be honest, I don’t make much money with this yet but those messages make all the hours I put in, for just a song even - with production, promotion, recording, editing - so worth it. If I didn’t make a dime of rap, it’d be more than enough if my music brought people the hope they needed.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

I’d be incredibly honored to tour with Lecrae, KB, Andy Mineo, and/or Dee-1. But aye, if anybody asked me to tour with them and everything lined up, I’d do it (small artist or big). I feel like you would be able to get your music, brand, and sound in front of so many different crowds that you wouldn’t necessary get in front of. It’d be so dope and those connects would be awesome. I also feel like, yes it is work and it should be treated as such but you’d also build great friendships through the process, hopefully.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

My latest mixtape “Who Am I?” is OUT on SoundCloud. http://bit.l/soundWAI. I’ve been dropping singles since June 2017 and I have more coming out through this May. One single has dropped a month. They are all available on every streaming outlet so check those out. I have new merch available now - #beStrong19 dad hats - and I’ll have shirts coming in March. Music videos coming. A new mixtape coming out late 2018, super pumped about that. More on that soon but for now, all I can say is, my music is here for anyone and everyone. Throughout life we all struggle and we’re told over and over we’re not enough and that we don’t have what it takes to go after our dreams. I rep a movement, #beStrong19, and it’s message to remind you to LIVE STRONG and to LIVE WITH COURAGE because you do have what it takes to go after it. And it reminds you also that you aren’t alone on that journey. That’s all I got. Thank you to talking and listening. Follow the music. Follow the movement. #beStrong19.