New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The first self-titled EP from Josh Kaufman, Season 6
Champion of NBC's "The Voice," is now available on all music platforms. The EP features a total of six songs, including his first single "Truth Be Told," which was released on May 27. Other songs on the EP include the soulfully upbeat "All I Ask," powerful vocal ballad "Avalanche," jazzy foot-tapper "Paycheck," love-inspired "The World," and catchy radio-ready hit "Digging Deep."
For most of his life, Josh Kaufman has used his smooth, masterful vocals to uplift and inspire. The Indianapolis-based singer-songwriter possesses a stunning range and singular power that captures pure emotion. A longtime guitarist and piano player, Kaufman has also diligently perfected his instrumental skills, with the new EP channeling his rich vocal work into a gracefully catchy blend of soul, funk, R&B, rock and classic pop.
Growing up in a musical family, the Florida-born Kaufman got his start singing in church when he was just four years old. In addition to performing in choirs throughout his childhood, he further honed his vocal skills in part by closely studying the layered harmonies of gospel music. While attending high school in Blacksburg, Va., Kaufman began playing in bands and writing his own songs, mining much inspiration from the soulful yet fiery and guitar-fueled sound of Lenny Kravitz.
Kaufman kept up with his music throughout college and, some years after earning his degree in philosophy, went on to become a staple of the Indianapolis music scene as a solo artist and front man for local soul band The New Etiquette.
Despite his dedication and undeniable passion for singing, Kaufman found himself struggling to move forward with his music as the years went on. "The more I thought about it, the more I realized how important it was for me to keep on pursuing music in my life," says Kaufman. "But since my wife and I had started building a family, I wasn't at a point where I could just keep going and see what came of it. I knew that if I was really going to make something happen, I needed a jumpstart."
That jumpstart came in the summer of 2013, when Kaufman auditioned for The Voice and was selected for the show. Throughout the season, Kaufman floored audiences with his stirring renditions of tracks like Sam Smith's "Stay with Me," Bonnie Raitt's "
I Can't Make You Love Me" and John Legend's "All of Me" - the studio performances of each climbing to the top 5 on the iTunes Charts - and eventually made his way to victory.
Over the past few years, Kaufman has kept busy by sitting in with The
Roots on The
Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, headlining the Indy Jazz Fest, making his Broadway debut as the lead and title role in the Tony Award-winningPippin, and most recently singing the classic Hoosier tune "Back Home Again in Indiana" at this year's historic 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Naming soul legends like
Stevie Wonder and
Marvin Gaye and introspective singer-songwriters like
Jeff Buckley and
Paul Simon among his favorite artists, Kaufman says one of his main goals for his debut is to make music infused with a powerful intimacy.
"I'm a pretty reserved and introverted person by nature, and singing has always been a way to express the things that I might not express otherwise," Kaufman notes. "At its best, music creates this deep emotional connection that transcends explanation, and that, I think, is what keeps me making music."
For more information:
Website: https://www.joshkaufmanmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisjoshkaufman/
Twitter: @iamjoshkaufman
Instagram: @iamjoshkaufman
