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Joshua Morrison

MusicBlog

Location: Nashville

Website: http://www.jmorrisonmusic.com/

Bio: Growing up in a small town between Seattle and the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, (Monroe, WA) music always provided a comfort to Joshua Morrison. ... (more) Exposed to a broad musical spectrum as a child, Morrison gained an appreciation for all styles. His mother first introduced him to the symphony, a family event where seven year-old Joshua was forced into his Sunday’s finest: a dress shirt and a clip-on tie. His father (who worked at the local prison as a guard) imposed his musical influence differently: Joshua, as a passenger in his father’s flat black 1981 Chevy pickup, listened to his father’s musings (which include where his father first heard the given song, when the song had been released, who recorded, etc) about such artists as the Moody Blues, Glenn Campbell and everything in between.

At fifteen, he bought his first guitar from a friend for $50 and pestered his parents until they agreed to pay for lessons. His passion for music coupled with a newly attained driver's license brought about frequent trips to Seattle to see local bands like Pedro the Lion, Rocky Votolato, and Death Cab for Cutie. Most influenced by the simplicity and honesty of their music, undiluted by guitar solos and distortion, strengthened more by what they left out rather than what they included, made him realize good music didn't need to be complex, honesty could overcome lack of complexity in a song. Morrison fondly remembers seeing Rocky Votolato play at a teen center near Seattle, “I sat on a pool table in the back and listened as he played his acoustic guitar with more passion and intensity than I had ever seen.”

In early 2004, Morrison joined the Army after accruing a fair share of student loans at Northwest University. Three plus years in the Army has led to a greater appreciation of many things, music certainly among those. Although he’s learned a lot serving the country, following your dream provides some challenges, he says “I'll always make time for music. I play and write everyday.”

Joshua Morrison wrote the songs on his debut EP after returning from Iraq in 2005. Stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, Morrison found himself only 15 minutes away from the hospital where he was born. The proximity to his birthplace combined with the distance spent away from home resonates within the downhearted vocals and delicate optimism featured on those initial songs.

Home, Morrison’s first full-length release out on Expanding Brooklyn, explores the feelings of longing and loss, of want for that quiet cup of tea shared with a loved one. His songs are thematically counter-intuitive for an individual who has first-hand experience with combat. When talking about his music and that of his military career, his sense of humility is omnipresent: “There are so many soldiers who make music, write, do things outside of the military. I’m just one of them.” (less)