Category: Bluegrass/Country

Ari Joshua is on a mission to release 24 songs in 2024. Over the course of the last ten months, the South African-born, now American-based songwriter has been consistently releasing these singles, some of which contain multiple tracks and several stand-alone remixes. Each release features a unique line-up of all star musicians, including members of Trey Anastasio Band, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. 

I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Ari who shined a light into his musical process, spoke on his luminary collaborators and opened up about navigating the music industry and the world he has dedicated his life to.

“I’m super honored to be at the point in my career where I can share all the art I’ve been making. When I think about my art and the message that I want to give with it – something from the soul – it reminds me of creating an organic garden, planting seeds, and harvesting foods. If you scale it out one can imagine being an artist today is like sending a rocket ship or a satellite into orbit. I feel like once you’re in orbit as an artist, or once your seeds are harvesting fruits,  you can feel like you are achieving your job – each note, each song, has the potential to propel things further. In a way all the legends are in orbit. In order to get up there, to resonate with listeners, you need a tremendous amount of fuel, and it’s a full time pursuit to manifest that.”

That need to resonate through the music inspired Ari to found The Music Factory, a Seattle-based music school giving lessons to hundreds of kids each week. He is a huge proponent of music education and has continued to grow the school since its inception. Ari has found himself at a point where he is able to take a step back and shift focus on his career being an artist and performer. “After years of juggling duties and taking continuous small steps forward I’ve found myself at a balancing point investing more time into creating meaningful and soul-fulfilling art.” 

Ari’s first three releases of the year, “Dragon’s Layer”, “Country Stroll” and “Elephant Walk,” feature John Medeski and Billy Martin. These Woodstock, NY recorded country and jazz influenced instrumentals are defined by their laid back grooves and catchy melodies. Ari has spent his life studying diverse artists across all genres and setting the foundation for himself so that he can be both over prepared yet able to let go of everything in the moment. When asked about his process of going into the studio with the high caliber collaborators he shares his body of work with, he makes it clear that he wants to allow the space for them to shine and be who they are. It’s their unique voice that he wants captured in the studio. “There’s a certain kind of magic that comes from not knowing what’s going to happen and knowing that the musicians you’re working with are at a certain point. You’re free to trust the process and provide the space for them to do what feels right, and speaks for them.” These songs feel like an extension of the MMW universe – Medeski, Martin & Joshua. “Country Stroll” and “Elephant Walk” showcase tasteful soloing by all three musical juggernauts. 

Ari holds the artists he has worked with to the highest regard. No collaboration is the same. No circumstance is the same. Improvisation usually takes the wheel. When working with artists on complete ends of the spectrum, you have to be able to adapt. Some of his collaborators prefer being sent audio and charts prior, while others only care about the moment once they’re all together. “Each person and each group of people that I get to work with is a totally different situation.” He compares this to making a child. “We’re going to go in there [the studio] and we’re gonna mix up our DNA, ideally with good intentions and love, and ideally a good level of pleasure [laughs]. And we’re going to come out with something that’s its own thing – a new creation.”

Ari’s songwriting knows no bounds. There is truly something for everyone. This is evident with the release of “Elon’s Musk”, his psychedelic, Tipper-inspired electronic single released under the moniker Guitari with ill.gates and Cory Cavazos. Ari’s follow up, “Rare Groove” once again shifts genre and lineup entirely. This funk, R and B-inspired instrumental features Skerik, Grant Schroff and Delvon Lamarr. A recurring theme in Ari’s song writing is his ear-worm melodies, his focus on improvisation and the prominence of organ players. “I am obsessed with really great organ players. There’s just this match made in heaven for me. I really studied that stuff so heavily and I just have this natural gravitation towards it.” “The Clinic” and “Audio Bicycle Day” were also released with the same ensemble. These singles can be categorized by their funky, yet more sinister progressions and feature fantastic improvised solos by all. “Audio Bicycle Day (Suncatchers Version)” is a unique take on the same song but recorded with Joe Doria and Brad Gibson. The Suncatchers Version has a more whimsical, airy quality. He continues this onward trend of eclecticism with his release of “One Dub”, a reggae-inspired instrumental groove that features John Kimock, Andy Hess, and Eden Ladin. There are four remixes of “One Dub” currently available on streaming services. 

Ari has also worked and recorded alongside Russ Lawton and Ray Paczkowski of Trey Anastasio Band. When talking about his unique songwriting approach when working with different artists, he spoke about how Russ would send drum recordings to Trey over the phone, and then Trey would write parts based on Russ’ recordings. This is the approach that Ari wanted to take in the studio, and he had Russ send him a bunch of demo ideas prior to their session in that spirit. These sessions, which originally took place during the pandemic, resulted in over 25 songs, many of which have yet to be released. “Starlight Mountain” is the first release of the year that features Ari on lead vocals. These emotionally delivered vocals, along with his well-crafted distorted guitar solo are extremely powerful and moving. “The TriCeraphClops” was released with the same all star lineup – dubbed the RAAR Trio. This funky and crunchy instrumental showcases the band’s virtuosity and their chemistry as a unit. 

What you see of Ari’s art is just the tip of the iceberg – “almost 90% of it is underwater.” He relates each piece of music to a blank canvas that he’s constantly revisiting, which could take years, if not decades to complete. “Tagine,” recorded with Marco Benevento and Joe Russo over 15 years ago, is just now seeing the light of day. This psychedelic soundscape takes the listener on a sonic journey through the unknown. It exudes imagery of exploring a distant alien planet. 

With no slowing down in sight, Ari has recently announced a brand new supergroup, The All’s Eye, consisting of Ben Atkind (Elephant Proof) and Kris Yunker (Bearly Dead) formerly of Goose. The trio fuse boogaloo funk, soulful organ grooves, Afrobeat, bluegrass, and alternative rock. Fresh off a recording session at Carriage House Studios, the trio is set to release a series of singles over the coming months. They just announced their first official run, four dates on the East Coast and will be sharing their latest single “West Hill Road” on November 20th. When taking the deep dive into Ari’s catalog, you may find yourself pleasantly lost in a rabbit hole of musical and auditory goodness – a yellow brick road of art and sound. 

The All’s Eye Fall Tour 2024

11/20 – The Stone Church – Brattleboro, VT

11/21 – Zenbarn – Waterbury, VT

11/22 – TBA

11/23 – Main Pub – Manchester, CT

11/24 – Sanctuary – Maynard, MA

You can directly support and find out more about Ari Joshua at https://arijoshua.com/home