Joshua Hedley Says The Right Things Ahead of New Release. “Country music. It’s not a dirty word.”
Joshua Hedley already has our anticipation sky high for his debut record Mr. Jukebox to be released April 20th via Third Man Records after years of playing traditional country music at Robert’s Western World on lower Broadway in Nashville, and from showing up on the recordings and tours of other important Nashville independent stars. The wait seemed like forever to get news on Hedley’s big label debut, and now April can’t get here soon enough.
Hedley stoked anticipation even more when he released the title track to the record, and despite concerns from some that perhaps he would go off in some different direction now that he’s finally receiving the opportunity he deserves, “Mr. Jukebox” was very solidly country. But it’s not just the music, and the potential Joshua Hedley has exhibited over the years that has folks frothing with anticipation over his new record. It’s his willingness to say what needs to be said about the music.
“It’s not a throwback,” Hedley said when his new album was first announced. “It sounds new because it is new, and it sounds the way it sounds because it’s the only thing I know how to do. I can’t write a song that sounds different. Classic country is like a suit. Nothing about a men’s suit has changed in like 100 years. Classic never goes out of style. Something can’t be a throwback if it’s never been out of style.”
This was like candy to the ears of country music fans who are looking for champions in artists who are unwilling to compromise their sound and style for the commercial interests prevalent in Nashville.
“I just want people to remember they have feelings, and that they’re valid,” Hedley continued. “Not everything is Coors Light and tailgates. There are other aspects of life that aren’t so great that people experience. They’re part of life, part of what shapes people. And that’s worth noting.”
Then on Monday (2-19), Joshua Hedley went even further to explain his devotion to the music, and his understanding of just how the term “country” is being eroded and exploited by folks who want to relegate actual country music to other terms.
“I play country music,” Hedley said. “Not alt-country, not ameripolitan, not americana, not trad-country, not neo folk outlaw whatever made up thing, none of that. Country music. It’s not a dirty word. I am a country singer, I sing country music. Period.”
Though there’s nothing wrong with other genres of music that are not country, or other types of country that are not right down the middle like alt-country or Americana—or even organizations that are doing their level best to support the music that the mainstream industry is gazing over like Ameripolitan or the Americana Music Association—support for these organizations or terms should never be in lieu of giving up the fight over what country music is, and what the term “country” means. It’s not their term. “Country” is our term. It’s a word owned by the people of country music, as opposed to an industry that would abscond with it and use it for their own commercial purposes.
True country music should never be forced into adopting prefixes, suffixes, or portmanteaus to explain itself. It should be the others who are straying away from the true sounds of country that should be tasked with finding new terms, and new avenues to promote it. Because the term “country” means something, and too often these days what it means, and what you hear are two completely different things.
Steve
February 20, 2018 @ 1:15 pm
“Yeah, but, like, country, like, changes. y’know?”
-Walker Hayes, probably.
Corncaster
February 20, 2018 @ 1:56 pm
Walker Hayes is a hick hop dude. Luke Bryan is “nascar pop.” A lot of down-tempo Americana is “bootgaze.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that. (rolls eyes)
Megan
February 20, 2018 @ 2:47 pm
“Nascar pop”…lol, sadly this is pretty much correct.
Ags Connolly
February 20, 2018 @ 2:14 pm
For the first time in a very long time we have a 100% traditional country artist with a significant platform. I hope he gets all the opportunities he deserves.
Gabe
February 20, 2018 @ 2:37 pm
Thanks trig for highlighting him cos I wasn’t entirely convinced but now I’m gonna preorder his album. March/April is gonna be stacked with Scotty, Ashley McBryde, Kacey and now him
Dave F
February 20, 2018 @ 2:40 pm
Now this is real country music. My favorite kind of country music is the shuffle.
Benny Lee
February 20, 2018 @ 3:31 pm
The music is real nice. And country!
But is it just me, or does that hat look ridiculous on his head?
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 20, 2018 @ 3:35 pm
It looks utterly ridiculous.
Corncaster
February 20, 2018 @ 4:57 pm
It does. He seems self-aware, but not self-aware. I can’t tell what’s going on. But then don’t think much of his voice, so it doesn’t really matter. He’s a writer, not a front man. Sorry to be blunt. I’m getting older.
albert
February 20, 2018 @ 5:41 pm
Cornman …..if you wanna hear an ‘older’ guy being blunt and saying whatever he wants to read the ” Vulture ” Qincy Jones interview
Ulysses McCaskill
February 20, 2018 @ 8:45 pm
albert, yeah that, or just turn on the tv on any given day and listen to Trump talk.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 20, 2018 @ 6:41 pm
Yeah, his voice is completely unremarkable. For the life of me I can’t figure out what the big deal is. The headline should read as follows:
“Another Tatted-Up, Horn Rim-Glassed, Thrift Store-Dressed Cool Dude With Slightly Below Average Vocal Talent Replicates Traditional Country Music With Debut Album”
Trigger
February 20, 2018 @ 7:03 pm
And your comment should read, “Another closed-minded traditionalist judges artist based primarily on looks after hearing only one song.”
Do you want to listen to him or have sex with him? Who gives a shit what he looks like. Get over it.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 20, 2018 @ 7:38 pm
Trigger,
You apparently didn’t read the last half of my description.
…”With Slightly Below Average Vocal Talent REPLICATES Traditional Country Music With Debut Album”
I don’t want to listen to him, and I can’t have sex with him without a vagina.
Strait Country 81
February 20, 2018 @ 10:20 pm
So if you only judge someone by their voice you must hate Hank Sr (you know the legend that inspired almost every other legend)
Jtrpdx
February 20, 2018 @ 7:24 pm
Damnit honky. This is like the second time in as many weeks that we agree! : )
albert
February 20, 2018 @ 5:42 pm
still looks better than it does on Vince Gill ……wtf ?
Jackie Treehorn
February 20, 2018 @ 10:04 pm
Hey Benny, who gives a fuck? The music sounds pretty good to me and that all I care about.
Benny Lee
February 21, 2018 @ 7:31 am
Just an observation. Doesn’t stop me from listening.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 20, 2018 @ 3:34 pm
Yeah I love his attitude, and agree with what he said. But it’s impossible for me to get past the hipsterism that is inherent in guys like this.
Ulysses McCaskill
February 20, 2018 @ 8:43 pm
The only problem you have is his looks then, right? Maybe you shouldn’t judge a book by the cover Honk.
Clyde
February 21, 2018 @ 1:44 pm
How do you think he should look and dress? What would be “appropriate” for an artist like him? Specifics. I agree to some extent, but it is show business and he can’t do a show just looking like he’s any old schmo in the crowd.
Trigger
February 21, 2018 @ 1:52 pm
The funny thing about this whole discussion about what Hedley looks like is the premise of the video for “Mr. Jukebox” is that producers and directors are trying to dress him up and have him act like something, and he’s rejecting it. I think there’s a lot he says about image in that video.
Kevin Smith
February 22, 2018 @ 8:16 am
Here’s another perspective. Hedley is a fiddle playing western swing and country music preservationist who has been working for tips for years at Roberts Western World and Nashville Palace while many of us work our comfy day jobs with benefits. He has never compromised or sold out anything. He has a record deal with Jack White and it might launch him enough to make a living, time will tell. As for hipster, I frequent Roberts and The Palace while in Nashville and make no mistake, those venues are NOT hipster in any way. Hedley has been playing Bob freaking Wills and Hank and Lefty and Tubb for country music loving tourists for years. The crowd is decidedly older folks who love, appreciate and listen to Haggard, Jones, Williams and all the others. That’s who support Hedley. He sings with other like minded preservationists like Sarah Gayle Meech. He’s a southern boy too, I might add. As for the look, he favors the vintage style western hat with a smaller brim. He wears combo boots, and western shirts, oh the horror!
Kevin Smith
February 22, 2018 @ 8:20 am
Cowboy boots….oh and what kind of glasses should he wear? As for Tattoos, it’s a generational thing. Every farm kid I see has em nowadays.
Sarah
February 24, 2018 @ 12:05 pm
Thank you, Kevin Smith. I fell in love with his voice the first time I heard it at about 1am on a Wednesday night at Roberts, 3 or 4 years ago. Josh Hedley is absolutely the real deal…top to bottom. He’s not pretending at all. For all of you who are touting he’s just another hipster, you’ve never been in a room to hear that pure tone and smooth-as-silk delivery. No, you’ve not been there to witness the room go silent when he delivers a haunting ballad, or feel the tingle of chills run down your body because you know you’re witnessing something special. His is the best voice in Nashville. Without a doubt. I’d so much rather support someone with talent, than the crappy crap we hear on radio now. I’ll even probably buy extra copies of this album just to hand them out to other people.
DJ
February 20, 2018 @ 3:40 pm
Unapologetic honky tonk- adult music.
Jtrpdx
February 20, 2018 @ 7:29 pm
Completely agreed that those “straying” from country should be the ones coming up with new names. Also, we shouldn’t be throwing around the term “country” on any and everyone, like has been done with the turnpike troubadours. Finally, Courtney Patton out a great album a few days ago, in case anyone missed it.
Corncaster
February 20, 2018 @ 7:55 pm
I missed it. She seems like a tough broad, in a good way. Eady sounds like James Taylor on Paxil next to her. I’d like to hear him get pissed off for once in his life. And vice versa: a really sappy love song would sound good from her because it would sound like a letting down of her guard, which is what love is, after all. Ditto for that hard-bitten sexy mom, Jamie Lin Wilson.
Jtrpdx
February 21, 2018 @ 8:20 pm
Haha. I love Eady but totally get where you are coming from. Definitely check out Courtney’s new album. Great writing, great sound quality, and it is definitely a letting down of her guard. I don’t think she will ever do sappy though.
Ulysses McCaskill
February 20, 2018 @ 8:43 pm
Two things can be counted on here:
1) This album will be pure country.
2) Lord Honky will dislike it and dismiss him as a hipster once again.
Nicolet
February 21, 2018 @ 12:39 pm
Very fair assessment.
Jim
February 20, 2018 @ 8:52 pm
Hot damn, rough crowd! I’ll admit I wasn’t knocked out by his voice, but I dig the sound for sure. Even felt my hipster radar going off a touch from the video, but not sold on that one yet. But it’s one song that was good enough I’ll check some more out before deciding.
Sometimes a voice’ll grow on you. Sometimes you give Tyler Childers a pass on the man bun. Who the hell knows??
Abel Russell
February 20, 2018 @ 8:53 pm
Aaaand… what’s wrong with looking like a “hipster?” Most everyone who thinks for a minute about how they dress looks this way now. I probably fit the appearance pretty closely and I’m anything but a hipster. Just sayin’
Christian H.
February 20, 2018 @ 11:07 pm
The music is good, great sound. Maybe his voice doesn’t do it for everyone, can’t argue that point. But I have to agree with the comment, “who cares what he looks like?” This is the reason I hate music videos. The whole dialogue turns to hats, glasses, clothing and tattoos. Maybe we can all just start to upload photos of ourselves instead of writing opinions and then we can judge everyone that way….sheesh. Stupid.
Fat Freddy's Cat
February 22, 2018 @ 10:05 am
LOL I wouldn’t fare well in that case! If you had a dog that looked like me you’d shave his butt and make him walk backwards.
hoptowntiger94
February 21, 2018 @ 12:54 am
You know who would tear this song up? Raul Malo and The Mavericks. It kinda reminds me of something from those mid 90’s albums.
Trigger
February 21, 2018 @ 9:58 am
Raul Malo will tear any song up because he’s one of the greatest living singers, and doesn’t receive nearly enough credit for it.
hoptowntiger94
February 21, 2018 @ 11:57 am
I went back and listened to “What a Crying Shame” this morning … that album deserves a retro album review!
Corncaster
February 21, 2018 @ 3:41 am
His voice suits this one though:
https://youtu.be/yCXe8OAdNrI
Love the Ray Price nod in the opening.
Madwolfe
February 21, 2018 @ 2:56 pm
Dude’s got a badass Hank Williams tattoo on his left hand/arm…I think that deserves extra credit.