10 Questions with ... Josh Wilson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

It doesn't often turn out this way, but when Josh Wilson departed Capitol Christian a couple of years back, the end of that season was the start of a flourishing, new opportunity for the 34 year-old singer-songwriter. In March, Josh released his first single since signing to Nashville indie label Black River Christian in 2017, curiously titled "Dream Small." In only two months since its release, the song has already cracked into the Mediabase and Billboard Christian Top 15.

1. What has the past year looked like for you, personally and professionally?

Personally, the last year has provided some really fun family experiences. My son, Asher, turned two last November, so there have been lots of adventures that have come along with that. He loves singing and dancing with me and his mom. My wife, Becca, and I are celebrating nine years of marriage, which is really exciting. She's the world's best mom (no bias, of course), and Asher adores her. Our current favorite activity is going to the swimming pool. Being in the water is fun for him, but it's mostly about the snacks that come along with pool time, like pizza and cookies.

Professionally, the last year has been very eventful. I'm so proud to have signed a new record deal with Black River Christian, and I just released my newest single, Dream Small, with them. It's been fun seeing how the team operates. There's a lot of belief and encouragement in that building, and it's contagious. I'm extremely happy to be a part of the Black River family, and I can't wait to see what's next. As for now, I'm writing, writing, writing. New music coming this fall!

2. You released your first five studio albums through EMI/CMG (now Capitol Christian Music Group) from 2008 to 2015; which of those projects during that season holds the most significance to you, either artistically or personally?

Of my records with Capitol Christian, the one I'm most proud of is probably "That Was Then, This Is Now." I feel like I've grown a lot over the last decade as a writer, singer, and artist, and I'm really proud of how many of the songs turned out on that project. There's a lot of vulnerability and honesty in tracks like "The Songs I Need To Hear" and "Don't Let Go." I'm also really proud of the pop elements in the title track and other songs like "This Is The Day." It sort of runs the gamut of who I am as an artist.

The "Carry Me" album will always be very meaningful to me, as I wrote and recorded that during a season of intense anxiety and panic attacks. It was an incredibly hard time in my life, and the album documents that with songs like "Pushing Back the Dark" and the title track.

3. Was there a feeling you felt more than any other as CCMG chapter came to a close?

Gratitude. I am just so thankful for my years with CCMG. I made some very dear friends and got to work with some of the best and smartest people in the Christian music industry. I still stay in touch with many of them, and am grateful to call them friends. A decade is a long time in music years, and to stay somewhere that long means something was working. I'm extremely thankful for that.

4. How would you describe the transition from being signed to Christian music's largest record label to a being on a young, boutique indie label?

Exciting and different. The work ethic is the same. Everyone at Black River wants to work hard and put out great music. One big difference is that I get to be a priority, simply because of the math. I'm one of only two Christian music artists at Black River, which means a lot of time, energy, and focus goes into me and my music. That's been a lot of fun so far.

5. Throughout these past couple of transitional years, what have you learned most about yourself?

I've learned that I'm not in control. I wasn't in control of either of these record deals, I'm not in control of whether or not I can write my next song, I'm not in control of my health on or off the road. God is teaching me what it means to surrender. Sometimes it feels like the more I try to manufacture something on my own, the more it backfires. I wasn't looking to sign a new deal, but Black River came along at just the right time and it was a perfect fit. I feel like if I was trying to sign a deal somewhere, it wouldn't have happened, or I would have signed the wrong deal. I was simple writing the music God was putting on my heart, and He put the right people in my path. I simply had/have to surrender to His plans, because they're always better than mine.

6. Your current single "Dream Small" certainly carries an autobiographical tone. Did you write this song out of personal experience and/or revelation?

The song is completely autobiographical. Verse one is about my wife, me, and my two year-old son. Verse two is about my grandfather, who was a pastor at the same little church for 35 years. Verse 3 describes some of the small ways my wife and I try to volunteer and minister in our town. The song came really easily because I just wrote about what we're doing. It's nothing glamorous, nothing that's going to be on the news. It's just the small things we're trying to do to show the love of God. Once I had the title for the song, it pretty much wrote itself.

7. What are the challenges (if any) of writing a "call-to-action" song, opposed to, say, more strictly-worshipful content?

I never want to come off as "preachy" or patronizing. I don't want to assume anything about my listeners. I think the trick to this is writing to myself. I'm telling myself to dream small, to be faithful in the little things. If I'm being honest about my own journey, then the "call-to-action" I need is hopefully the same one someone else needs. I guess I'm still trying to write the songs I need to hear myself, and hope that someone else needs to hear them too.

8. At this point in your life and career as a songwriter, is there any specific subject or theme you're finding yourself wanting to write about more than anything else?

Grace. The older I get, the more I understand just how much I need God's grace. I really am so far from perfect. I really do have things about myself I'm not proud of-things I thought would be fixed by now. But somehow, God is continually patient with me and calls me to keep walking, to keep going. It's by His grace that I'm still doing this, and I see that more clearly every day. I have way less judgment than I used to for things people are facing, because I've now faced a lot of those same things myself. No one is perfect, and especially not Christians. If we were perfect, we wouldn't need Jesus!

9. As you're writing new material, what artists are you drawing inspiration from, musically or lyrically?

Musically, I've really been digging a guy named Jack Garratt. He does some great looping stuff that's inspired me for my live show as well. Lyrically, I always go back to songwriters like Jon Foreman, John Mayer, Patty Griffin, and Paul Simon.

10. What are the three things most on your mind as you head into the rest of 2018?

1. My family. I love being a husband and a father. My wife and I are headed to Cancun to celebrate our 10 year anniversary soon. I love spending time with her, and we're excited to go on this trip together. I'm loving all the family time I'm getting to spend this summer. Trips, swimming pools, trampolines, walks down the street. Every moment with family counts.
2. I've already said this, but surrender is a big things that's on my mind. God is teaching me to surrender to my own plans and trust His.
3. My live show. I'm excited to revamp and reboot what I'm doing live. Lots of fun, new things on the horizon, and I'm excited to share them.