Josh Bray
Encyclopedia
Josh Bray is a folk blues singer-songwriter
born in Devon
, currently living in London
. His debut album Whisky And Wool will be released on March 7, 2011 on NewTide Records. His track 'The River Song' was featured recently in a TV advert for Jack Wills
.
After having dabbled in music for a while and having played local clubs, Josh decided to put music to one side and went to study law at university. After graduating, he was all set to move to the US and work in human rights law for people on death row, where he’d been offered a job – but then a friend persuaded him to put his law career on hold for a while and give music a go.
Half of the album was recorded in Truck Studios, run by the Bennet Brothers, members of the critically acclaimed Oxford-based group Danny and The Champions. Whilst the other half of the record was recorded in London’s Apollo Control Studios by renowned producer Howard Gray
and Ashley Krajewski. Howard has worked with Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Jimmy Page, U2 and the Cure.
BBC Music: "An album that’d sit nicely between solo efforts from the likes of Roddy Woomble and Fyfe Dangerfield, Bray’s debut is a really accomplished, affecting set."
allgigs.co.uk: "I'm certain that at least a Mercury Music Prize Award nomination is surely forthcoming later this year."
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
born in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, currently living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His debut album Whisky And Wool will be released on March 7, 2011 on NewTide Records. His track 'The River Song' was featured recently in a TV advert for Jack Wills
Jack Wills
__NOEDITSECTION__Jack Wills is a mid-range British clothing brand aimed at university students. The fashion label uses the brand and registered trademark "Jack Wills – University Outfitters" to reflect the heritage and inspiration behind the brand....
.
Biography
Born in Devon, Josh grew up in Dorset, where he spent his time listening not to acoustic singer-songwriters, as you might imagine, but the likes of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Led Zeppelin and Pantera. It wasn’t until Bray happened to switch on the TV a few years later, when he moved to Bristol to live with his brother, and heard the late Nick Drake performing ‘Riverman’, that he wanted to start to learn to play all the songs that had surrounded his life to that point. Josh started down a path which, not only, took in all those previously mentioned but also incorporated this newly discovered folk/blues world. As such he soon became immersed, taking in Joni Mitchell, CSN and Neil Young as well as John Martyn, Fairport Convention, Bob Dylan, The Band, Little Feat, The Allman Brothers and more. He did so by picking up an old Spanish guitar which belonged to his late father whilst living in Bristol, and which he still plays with, and began to teach himself. The detuned style he inherited from the British folk scene is still a significant part of his style.After having dabbled in music for a while and having played local clubs, Josh decided to put music to one side and went to study law at university. After graduating, he was all set to move to the US and work in human rights law for people on death row, where he’d been offered a job – but then a friend persuaded him to put his law career on hold for a while and give music a go.
Albums
- "Whisky And Wool" (Release Date March 2011)
Half of the album was recorded in Truck Studios, run by the Bennet Brothers, members of the critically acclaimed Oxford-based group Danny and The Champions. Whilst the other half of the record was recorded in London’s Apollo Control Studios by renowned producer Howard Gray
Howard Gray
Howard Gray is a musician, sound engineer, programmer, composer, re-mixer and producer who has worked with, and on the work of Public Image Ltd, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Kirsty MacColl, The Armoury Show, The Pale Fountains, Japan, The Stranglers, Simple Minds, The Pretenders, XTC, UB40,...
and Ashley Krajewski. Howard has worked with Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Jimmy Page, U2 and the Cure.
Press
Indie London: “EP of the Week - You really do need to check this guy out.”BBC Music: "An album that’d sit nicely between solo efforts from the likes of Roddy Woomble and Fyfe Dangerfield, Bray’s debut is a really accomplished, affecting set."
allgigs.co.uk: "I'm certain that at least a Mercury Music Prize Award nomination is surely forthcoming later this year."