Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
- We’re very excited to have some time today with acclaimed Chicano rocker Joshua Josué; greetings and salutations Joshua and thanks for taking time out of a super-busy schedule to speak with all your fans here at Vents Magazine! Before we dive down the Q&A musical rabbit hole, how is 2025 treating you and yours?
Thanks for having me! It’s a pleasure to be here. 2025 is treating me wonderfully. This has been an amazing year, recording music, touring, and getting to meet lots of new people.
- Major congratulations on the eagerly-anticipated release of your stunning debut full-length album Beneath the Sand which is set to knock everyone’s socks off when it premieres this August 8! Starting at the top, can you talk about what inspired the best debut album of 2025?
Thank you, that’s very kind.
The inspiration for this album was born in the deserts of Mexico and along the backroads of Central America. I spent several years crisscrossing Mexico on my motorcycle, eventually dedicating about a year to a similar journey through Central America. Throughout that time, my guitar was always with me, and I performed in local bars and other venues favored by figures involved in less-than-official export ventures. The album began to take shape as I wrote about my day to existence during this time.
- You have some very special musical guests on your upcoming Beneath the Sand album, including the stellar likes of The Old 97s, members of the legendary Chicano rock band Los Lobos, as well as some star-studded members of twin music icons Chris Isaak and Dwight Yoakam’s respective bands! What was it like collaborating with these luminaries of music? Was it at all intimidating?
Having the opportunity to collaborate with some of my musical heroes was nothing short of amazing. Was it intimidating? At first, absolutely. In the days leading up to the recording session, I was extremely nervous. But all of that melted away the moment we started laying down tracks.
The knowledge and experience that Rowland Salley and Mitch Marine brought to the studio was incredible. They not only helped shape the overall sound of this record, but also made the process feel collaborative and supportive. For example, I had written the song Silbato just a few days before the session—and pretty loosely at that. I knew the structure was full of irregularities: an extra beat in one measure, a skipped beat in another. I told them, “This song needs to be straightened out before we record it.” Mitch looked at me and said, “Let’s just record the song the way you hear it in your head,” and handed me an acoustic guitar.
I played it as I imagined it, while Rowland sat with a pencil and paper, charting the song in real time. Mitch offered subtle guidance—”There’s an extra beat there”—and Rowland would reply, “Got it!” We each made a copy of Rowland’s notes and then recorded the song in a single take. That kind of brilliance and trust in the process was a huge reminder that there’s no right or wrong way to make music—it’s about what you hear in your head and feel in your heart.
Having Steve Berlin join the session was a dream come true. Los Lobos inspired me as a teenager to pursue a career in music, so to have him not only in the room, but actually contributing to my album, felt like things had come full circle in the most beautiful way.
- From start to finish, Beneath the Sand is the very definition of a genre-defying album with its winks and tip of the hat to such genres as Americana, Latin folk and good old-fashioned rock and roll! Was this an intentional artistic choice on your part, or did this all fall together quite organically?
It all came together quite organically. I didn’t set out to write within a specific genre—I just wrote and performed the songs the way I felt them and hoped they would resonate with listeners. It’s really meaningful to me if the influences from the artists and records I grew up with come through in these songs. That’s not something I planned, but if people hear it, it makes me feel like the music is connecting in an honest way.
- Word ‘round industry campfire has it that no less than two tracks from the forthcoming Beneath the Sand LP are already under serious consideration for Grammy nominations – Congrats again! What are your feelings about all the early praise your debut LP has garnered? Is it at all humbling?
Thank you. Honestly, I’m extremely grateful just to be considered in the Grammy conversation. It still doesn’t feel real—like maybe they got the wrong guy or mixed me up with someone else. But if a Grammy ever did come through, I would be grateful beyond belief. That said, I already feel like I’ve achieved what I set out to do: to record an honest album that speaks from my heart and soul, and to do it alongside friends and musicians I deeply respect and admire. Everything else beyond that is just a beautiful bonus.
- We’re tremendous admirers of the gem of a ditty Restless Heart which can be found front-and-center on the upcoming Beneath the Sand album! What’s the inside scoop on this showstopper of a track?
Thank you for that. Restless Heart is a song that’s very near and dear to me. The lyrics are autobiographical, inspired by the many times I’ve traveled the Baja Peninsula on my motorcycle. It’s about embracing the adventure of Mexico Highway 1, the peace and solitude of the desert night, and the feeling of being most myself—most content—when I’m far away from home. It’s also a quiet prayer that my mother finds some comfort in knowing that even though I sometimes put myself in less-than-ideal situations, I carry her love with me and continue to be blessed with an open road ahead.
This track also really showcases the influence of the band during the recording session. From the start, Mitch Marine came in with that incredible drum lead-in, and Rowland Salley locked in with him on bass, creating that perfect driving rhythm that gives the song its open highway feel.
One of the real highlights was getting Hershel Yatovitz to play guitar on the track. For years, I’ve tried to emulate his tone—I’ve even caught myself trying to sneak a peek at his amp settings at Chris Isaak shows just to figure out how he does it. When he laid down the guitar track for Restless Heart, my mind was blown. There it was—the sound I’ve been chasing for years—right there in front of me, adding that shimmer to my song. It was one of the rare moments in my life where I can honestly say I was speechless.
- Who did the producing honors on Beneath the Sand and what did the in-studio collaboration between artist and producer look like while fashioning and shaping the debut LP?
Pat Kearns produced Beneath the Sand, and we recorded it at his off-grid, solar-powered studio in the Mojave Desert. Pat has been a close friend for many years, and working with him on this album was a truly special experience. He has an amazing ear for recording and an instinctive understanding of where I’m trying to go with a song—even when I can’t always articulate it in technical musical terms.
One of Pat’s strengths is his ability to translate my ideas into a language that the rest of the musicians can understand. He was always respectful of my artistic process and never tried to turn the music into something it wasn’t. That said, he wasn’t afraid to push me creatively either. He’d say things like, “That’s pretty good, but I think you can do better on that last verse,” or “I think you can dig a little deeper and find the line you’re really looking for.”
Recording sessions can sometimes feel like herding cats, especially with a room full of talented musicians, but Pat handled it all with calm focus. He kept everyone on track and helped keep me honest about what I was trying to create. The result was an album that feels true to who I am, shaped by a collaborative process built on trust and mutual respect.
- In the wake of the August 8 release of Beneath the Sand, what does your touring/performing dance card look like?
At this point, I’m focusing my live performances primarily in the Pacific Northwest and Western U.S. , with the exception of two special shows in Istanbul and Bursa, Turkey this September As Beneath the Sand continues to gain traction, I’m hoping to expand into more national and international dates. We’re currently exploring opportunities to join festivals both in the U.S. and abroad, and I’m excited about what’s on the horizon
- We’re huge Ritchie Valens aficionados here at Vents (ye interviewer actually wrote four books about Ritchie’s final tour) and we can hear some echoes of Valens in your own indelible and unique musical stylings on Beneath the Sand! How important has the legacy of Ritchie Valens been to your own music?
I didn’t realize you had written so extensively about Ritchie — that’s incredible.
To answer your question, Ritchie Valens has been the single most important influence on my music. He’s the reason I picked up a guitar and started writing songs. As a teenager, I stumbled across the music video for La Bamba featuring Los Lobos, and it absolutely blew my mind. The song hit hard, of course — but what really struck me was the visual. The band looked like my tíos, and the actors looked like people from my family or my neighborhood.
That video led me to watch the La Bamba film, which was a revelation. It was the first time I saw a movie where Latinos were in the lead roles, portrayed positively — not as side characters, criminals, or stereotypes, but as heroes. They spoke English and Spanish, just like we did at home. That representation meant everything to me.
After that, I bought all three of Ritchie’s albums and started learning to play guitar from those records. On my 18th birthday, I got a tattoo of the flying guitar like the one shown in the movie. I never had the chance to meet Ritchie, of course, but I visit his grave each year to pay my respects and bring flowers. I’ve even been fortunate enough to correspond with some of his family members. His legacy isn’t just important to me — it’s foundational.
- At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-spin to your beautiful debut LP Beneath the Sand?
Well, first and foremost, I hope listeners enjoy it. I hope it makes them want to dance but also draws them into the fabric of the stories woven throughout the album. Beyond that, I hope it helps shine a brighter light on modern Chicano rock. I’ve always felt that Chicano music hasn’t been fully recognized as a genre in its own right, and I’d be honored if this album contributes even in a small way to its continued evolution and visibility. I’m truly thankful for the chance to be a part of that conversation.
