Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Gluck.
Josh, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
So around the time, I was about six years old I started asking my mom for a guitar. However, I had to really prove that I wanted it so I waited a year until she finally got me one. From there I started teaching myself how to play from YouTube videos. I think it was really important for me to explore the instrument on my own before I went on to actually study it. Around eight years old, I started taking lessons and became part of a sort of ‘School of Rock’ style school.
That experience opened me up to so much of what music would become for me. Throughout middle school, I played in a Led Zeppelin and Nirvana cover band until I reached high school when I deep dived into Jazz. For the years to follow, I played in jazz, soul/funk, gospel, and r&b groups. I went to the University of Central Florida (graduating this coming semester) to study Entertainment Management (UCF’s take on Music Business) with a minor in music. At the beginning of 2019, I began to write/compose music and play shows as a solo artist. This year was the best year of my life. I felt as if I was the most me.
Has it been a smooth road?
I feel like there’s almost never such thing as a completely smooth road. Or at least I have yet to meet someone who hasn’t at least met some moments of struggle in their endeavors. I’ve definitely had my share of challenges and obstacles but looking specifically at it in terms of my career as an artist, one main aspect I’ve had to overcome in the past was learning to believe in myself and my abilities when the people I looked up to the most doubted me.
I’ve received a lot of great help from some amazing people, but I’ve also had some very important people to me express major doubt in me pursuing what I love. And I don’t believe this is something very uncommon at all. Growing up in communities embedded in music my whole life, just about everyone has gone through something similar. We’ve all heard the “think realistically” or “take a safer route” speeches. Although it’s always much easier said than done, there truly is something about taking that doubt and channeling it into fuel for yourself. At the end of the day, the only person who really needs to believe in you is you.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I am a self-taught Alternative/Soul singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from South Florida. I write, compose, and produce my own music and play live shows frequently with a band and sometimes solo. My roots are heavily grounded in blues and rock. Biggest influence is Jimi Hendrix. Anderson. Paak is a hard second. Following them are Coldplay, John Mayer, Frank Ocean, Solange, etc. I’m particularly proud of my 2019 self.
I have played in bands and groups for as long as I can remember but this year I stepped into myself as a solo artist and it has been so freeing and exciting. The most incredible moment for me as an artist is when someone tells me that something I’ve created has touched or moved them in some way. Being able to positively affect someone’s life, even if it’s just for a moment at a show, is pretty much the only reason I do what I do. When you come to one of my shows, it’s not my show, it’s our show. I’m also really proud of the songs I’ve written recently and can not wait to share them this coming year.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
While I have a huge passion for the business side of the industry, and in time I would like to delve deeper into that side, I see myself as a touring and recording artist for the next ten years. I’m 21 now and it’s almost like a no-brainer that for the next 10 years of my life, that is what I need to do. It’s hard to think about what comes next after that because I haven’t lived this part yet! But in time we shall see.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://joshgluckmusic.wixsite.com/jgluck
- Email: joshgluckmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshgluckmusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshgluckmusic/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6iPvvbUMw36eKnXwWTCr5H/about
Image Credit:
Alex Dixon, Fed, Daniel Hernandez, Kyra Parrow, Ashley Canario, Cindyros
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