 Courtesy of the Artist Previously the guitarist for Whitey Morgan and the 78s, Josh Card is branching out on his own and releasing his solo debut album With A Heavy Heart, today, November 9. Produced by Dean Miller and featuring some of Nashville's most sought-after players such as Paul Franklin and Mike Johnson on pedal steel; Guthrie Trapp on electric guitar; Mark Beckett on drums and Jennee Fleenor on fiddle, the ten-song project is “the most honest, genuine thing I’ve ever made,” states Card. “I wrote authentic songs, influenced by life, from the deepest depths of my heart and soul. I just wanted to make an album that is “me” without trying to use any formula or mold. It’s a self-made project that I feel truly displays who I am.” From the fiddle-heavy opener, “Suffer,” to the smoldering ballad “Won't Chase Your Love” and the toe-tapper “Choice To Make” Card’s gift with the pen shines throughout. A few weeks ago, Josh kindly took the time to speak in depth about the album, working with Dean Miller, and more. Growing up in Florida, Card spent time learning Conway Twitty tunes on his acoustic guitar, then spent the better part of fifteen years touring the country and beyond in punk and hardcore bands. He says the transition back to country was really about coming full circle musically. Even though I dove into punk and hardcore in my teen years, my first love has always been country music. When I came in from the road with those bands, I was home writing some country songs. Eventually, when I moved to Kentucky for work [Card worked for Harley Davidson], I didn't know anyone, so I returned to sitting with my acoustic guitar and playing songs. Moving to Kentucky was a blessing in disguise because that’s where music really started to reveal itself. I ended up playing open mic nights and dive bars and that sparked something in me; and once I started playing out more and more, it was clear music was my number one priority. Working at Harley Davidson was not a bad job, but I was totally miserable not being able to focus on my music and go on road as freely as I used to – ignoring that was like ignoring a magnetic force that’s pulling you to what you’re supposed to be doing....and you can only ignore something like for that for so long. It's your calling. In 2017 Josh released an album with his band, JC and the Restless Souls, then toured with Whitey Morgan before returning to the studio for his solo project. Do you prefer bandleader or band member or do they both have plus and minuses? When I returned to music, it was with my songs but I approached it from a band aspect because that’s what I was used to. I missed having people on stage with me when I was playing those dive bars, so I started a band called Josh Card and the Restless Souls. Those guys came into the studio with me to record that album, but this new one [With A Heavy Heart] is my first solo project because it was really just me from start to finish - from picking the producer to playing to deciding where to record…it’s fully a Josh Card project. Playing in bands is great and we got to do amazing things all over the world, but one thing that was always hard for me was relying on others to take it as seriously and work as hard. No matter what, when you have 4 or 5 guys it is going to be rare that all of you are on exactly the same page and that’s okay, but what I found most of the time was that I was the one who was more focused and working harder. And that’s one thing about this project that I appreciate the most - there’s no one and nothing that can stop me from my own ambitions and goals except myself. Absolutely, which makes it all the more rewarding.
The album's ten tracks feature elements of neo-traditional country and the Bakersfield sound alongside tough guitar licks and timeless arrangements. You chose Dean Miller to helm the production duties. What made you want to work with him and what did he bring to the project? Dean has the heritage of country music in his blood. Most recently, he produced my friend Dallas Moore’s album, which was the best thing Dallas has ever done. So, I talked with Dallas, reached out to Dean and we immediately clicked. He understood my vision for the album as well as my love and adoration for traditional country music and its heritage. He appreciated my ideas and goals and was excited to work on the project. He was the right person from the start. It’s been a really long year with a lot of obstacles and sacrifices, but yesterday during my drive, I listened to the whole record, which I don’t often do, and I am incredibly happy with what we made. We captured my vision and I think we have something to be proud of. With A Heavy Heart contains nine originals as well as a cover of Neil Young’s “Unknown Legend.” Card says the songs, written since his last record, were not done in the typical Nashville format. I don’t write in the typical Nashville style where you wake up and know you need to write a song today and you have to figure out what it is going to be about. I applaud those guys for being able to do that because many can sit down, say I need to make something, and make something beautiful...but that’s not me. I write when songs come to me, when inspiration hits, or if there’s a feeling or thought I am dwelling on. I’ll write to get those thoughts out of me and to move through it. Whatever it is that I felt over the past few years that stayed with me enough, I put pen to paper and wrote about it for this album. To me, the opening and closing tracks really set the tone. Is there any particular reason to why “Suffer” and “Run On” were chosen as the album bookends? One of the themes of the record is a sad hopefulness. The first song, “Suffer,” is about this fresh brokenness, while the last song, "Run On," is one of empowerment, acceptance, and letting go of your burdens and moving on. While the album has elements of singer-songwriter and Americana, musically, I wanted to make a country music record and what better way than to kick it off than with "Suffer's" twin fiddles and steel guitar. It’s a no frills, nothing faked, country music record filled with honest songs written with sincerity and played by a real band together in a room. And the band you used included some musical heavyweights. We tracked the album in the same room where some of my favorite records were made and I figured why not get some players who played on those records to play on mine. I grew up in 90’s when Strait and Jackson were all you heard on the radio and their music was covered in Paul’s steel guitar, so it was amazing to have him, and the other guys, play on the record. Even now, I could just have Dean send me a copy of the album with the vocals muted and listen to just them playing because they sound so incredible. They definitely do. One song in particular, “Better Off That Way,” is currently my favorite. Can you share the story behind that one? I love that song because of the memories attached to writing it. It was late Summer/early Fall in Kentucky and I needed to get out of the house. I sat in the park with my acoustic guitar and the song came to me. This song is about coming to terms with someone maybe not feeling the same way you do and learning to find the beauty in it – like, here’s the things I didn’t necessarily want to happen, but I suppose it could be better off that way. It's about accepting what you can’t change and moving forward in a positive way when you have unplanned circumstances. Finally, is there any significance to the album's title, With A Heavy Heart? I have the curse of the songwriter as I’m a very deep in thought person at all times, and the title comes from how I write. The way I write is from a place of heaviness, which is my way of getting emotional things out. A lot of songs I have written are about what I have gone through or witnessed or seen other people go through and at times it is the heavy stuff that is difficult to talk about. You know the phrase someone says when they are delivering something sad or tragic? They start with ‘It’s with a heavy heart I deliver this news to you' and that’s where I came from with this record. I wrote it for the world, but it comes with the heavy heart. Card concludes, The reason music is so important to me is that from a very young age I found it gave me a way to express how I felt even though I didn’t write the words. I would hear a Haggard song and think, 'Man it sounds like this was written for me' and l hope ,maybe someday, someone will hear one of my songs and feel that way. Card plans a busy Fall with tour dates forthcoming. For more information visit: Website/Facebook/Instagram
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