New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Some of Josh Gilligan's earliest memories took place in the back row of his mom's Dodge Caravan, listening to the best music the 70s had to offer.
"It's not that we weren't aware of other music; my parents just preferred 'the oldies.' So we did too," he says. Today, his own songs - marked by pure vocals, unabashedly introspective lyrics and dynamic, swirling melodies - bear evidence of the hours he spent soaking up the choruses of artists like Bread, America,
Paul Simon and
James Taylor.
The Gilligan home was a very musical one, and the kids were always encouraged to pursue creative outlets. They lived in a small town mostly made up of rolling hills and horse farms. It's a side of
America that Gilligan still appreciates today - untouched, authentic, timeless - and it heavily influences his musical style.
"In general, I'm a nostalgic person," Gilligan says. But he adds, "I don't think retrospective behavior is completely healthy. We don't just look back and stop there. The music I write might be reminiscent of the artists that shaped me, but my own musical personality and experiences are present as well."
Give even a quick listen to Steady On, Gilligan's newest full-length effort, and you'll hear it: Something new, but equally familiar. Something original, yet sentimental.
The record, written and arranged by Gilligan at his home in Nashville, came together over a handful of live-tracked sessions, with engineer and producer Stephen Earnest behind the console. Gilligan, leading with vocals and acoustic guitar, is backed up by a cast of talented friends, including artists
Molly Parden, Thad Kopec, Matt Wright, Escondido's Tyler
James and Poema's Elle Puckett.
Steady On is an eight-song glimpse into the most formative stretch of Gilligan's life: a different city, a new community, the end of a long relationship. It's a carefully crafted set of songs that walks through stories of hope, guilt, frustration, darkness and, ultimately, light. It gives the listener permission to look back, while extending that most important of invitations: to move forward.
Steady On - Release Date: 5/22/15
1. Old And Tired Ground
2. Taking a Lot
3. Friendly Sorrow
4. Fury
5. Enough
6. The Distance In Between
7. Package Deal
8. Steady On
