We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joshua Sinclair a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Joshua thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I was a freshman in high school and I remember having a conversation with a junior while we were both trying out for the golf team. He said to me; “life is all about the people you meet and the stories they share.” I had been playing the guitar for about 5 years at that point but I knew it was something I wanted to pursue because I absolutely loved everything about it. His simple philosophy on life became the backbone for my songwriting. I began to use the experiences I had, the places I went, and the people I met, as a way to write songs. That’s still the basis for my songwriting…as long as I’m alive, I’ll always have new ideas for songs each and every day. Sometimes the songs I write are filled with humor, sometimes with heartbreak, etc, but they are all a reflection of my life and the moments I’ve experienced along w the people I’ve met. Songwriting is basically a musical diary of my life and I am grateful to get to share those passages with people as a touring musician and songwriter.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My story is probably like a lot of other creatives stories…I fell in love with the guitar. Learning everything I could about it. Absolutely immersing myself into a craft. It was something that I knew I would do regardless of if I could make a living at doing it. I am extremely thankful that I am able to make a living doing something I love, but it comes with that constant “hustle” mentality. My full tour schedule is a direct reflection of the work and the grind I put into it each and every day. Booking shows, tours, doing interviews, creating event promos, shooting music videos, writing songs, recording, designing and releasing new merchandise constantly, designing my website, etc.

I’ve been lucky enough to get signed to a few labels over the years but it wasn’t just being at the right place, right time. It was all about being out there, honing my craft, getting better at songwriting, etc. I knew being on labels wouldn’t last forever but I soaked in every ounce of the process while I was signed. I learned about the in’s and out’s of a recording studio, how to properly record and release albums, how to do web design and graphics. So many things I was able to take from those experiences that have helped me be able to sustain a career as an independent artist and a do-it-yourself work ethic.

I used a tragic moment in my life (breaking my knee) to learn a new skill; live looping. I had always wanted to incorporate that into my solo shows but didn’t make the time until I couldn’t walk for 3+ months. Live looping has become the cornerstone of my shows and it’s opened up a million new possibilities for my performances. I can utilize my mandolin, harmonica, beat-boxing, and more into the dynamics of a song to make it come to life in a way that’s not just strumming a guitar and singing. That has helped set me apart and keeps everything fresh and fun. I use live looping as an instrument, not just a gimmick.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love being able to touch people with the songs I write. Whether it be through laughter, tears, party anthems, and more. When people come up to me after a show or send me emails saying a song of mine meant this or that to them, that’s an amazing and rewarding feeling.

I recently wrote and released a song called “Brothers” about my 3 brothers and I growing up together. I played it at a show the other night and after my show, a gentleman came up to me and said that he recently lost his brother and how that song touched him so incredible deeply. He was crying but also seemed happy as it was a therapeutic way to talk about the loss of his brother. I’ll never forget him telling me that he wished he would have heard that song before his brother died because he would have played it at his funeral.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal for each and every show I play or song I write is to touch the people that are listening. I love getting the chance to open up for headliners because it gives me a chance to win people over when they didn’t come to see you. My mission is to always give listeners the best of me, no matter the size of the crowd or venue.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joshuasinclair.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/joshsinclair
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/joshuasinclairmusic
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/joshuasinclairmusic
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/joshuasinclair

Image Credits
Zach Van Dorn Jeff Hackbarth Mark Lage Lenny Palmer