Meet Joshua Ketchmark | Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joshua Ketchmark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joshua, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“How well I have learned that there is no fence to sit on between heaven and hell.” This is a quote I came across recently from Johnny Cash that I really relate to. The first time I heard it, it left me with a strong impression. Life is a journey and not a destination. The work is the reward. It’s a nice reminder because I seem to forget that sometimes, I’ve always been someone looking to the horizon instead of concentrating on what’s in front of me, my mind is always at least ten steps ahead of where I’m at and this helps to remind me to be present. Right now I’m in the process of writing songs for my next record (Hellhounds) which I’m anticipating being a double record. So far I’ve written a little over 100 songs in the last 18 months since my last record “Blood” was released in July of 2022. Out of all of those songs, I’ve narrowed it down to twelve that I feel will fit for the next record, so all in all I’m about half way there. I’m hopeful that production will start sometime late summer/ early fall of 2024. My plan right now is to record 25 songs for my next release. Remembering this quote has helped me to keep my feet on the ground and concentrate on the songs and stories I want to tell.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think I’ve always seen what I do as an uphill battle. From the ever changing state of the music industry over the past twenty plus years to the challenges that I face always trying to write better songs, produce better records and constantly improve my mixes. I grew up in the Midwest in a time when you were expected to follow in your parents footsteps and there wasn’t any idea of leaving the small town where I had grew up. I think I started trying to find my place in the world at a very early age. As an adopted, only child, I never felt like I fit in anywhere until music found me. It was slow going at first and it took some time to find my feet. I was a very shy and scared kid. I never really felt like I was worth much. So I would just spend a lot of time alone and watch my favorite movies on repeat and wear out whatever music I could find, until I found an acoustic guitar in my mother closet under the stairs and that was it. It took me some time to start learning my way around the fret board. Then something unexpected happened – I was in the middle of writing my first song. It wasn’t something I sat down to do. It just came out, and for me it was a far better feeling then being able to play a million notes at lightning speed, I abandoned the thought of being an accomplished musician and I dove into my cowboy chords and lyrics.
I moved from my small town to Nashville for the first time for a couple years and then relocated again. It was living in Los Angeles that I think I really found myself – after the first 6 months were behind me. I had been writing songs for years and now I found myself working in incredible studios with famous artist and producers. I had a front row seat to watch how these big budget records were produced and recorded. I learned who does what on the production end and what role they play in the grander scheme of the recording process. I worked as a guitar tech on those sessions as well as working outside the studio for larger artists. It was a great learning process and the people around me valued my work. It was around this time that the idea of recording a solo record started to materialize – not to be a solo artist but as something I could hand people around town to showcase what I could bring to the table. More of an extravagant business card – not a business plan but the release of that record called ‘List Of Regrets’ in 2008 crossed a line I didn’t even know was there and I was now a solo artist.
Being a solo artist has been a lot of work. I like to very hands on in every aspect of what I do and with that said, it has brought so many amazing people in and out of my life. It has shaped my life and everything in it. These days I try to use the tricks of the trade I’ve learned, and my experience to help other artists produce and finish their own records at my studio, Black Gold Speakeasy. It has become something that I enjoy.
I fly comfortably under the radar here in Nashville, and I’m sure I will continue to make records until the day I die. There are still stories I want to tell. I’ve realized this is where I was always meant to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Things to do in Nashville?

I really don’t spend much time outside of the studio these days so I really only make my way around town that often unless someone visits.

I would say see a show at the Ryman and then go to The Blue Bird cafe for a writers night. I don’t spend much time on Lower Broad but when someone comes to town it’s always a stop that you have to make. So many bands on so many different levels, music coming from everywhere. It’s diffidently something to see.

As far as food 12 south has a couple cool spots, I just had breakfast last week at a new place on the backside of the Gulch. New restaurants seems to be popping up all over these days it’s hard to keep up with. I would have to take them to one of my girlfriends favorite spots for cheese dip at one of the Mexican spots around town. Pizza or a burger in Germantown or take them to the Speakeasys in midtown for drinks.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If there’s anyone I could dedicate this to, it would be everyone who has ever told me “No,” and to all the people who have come up short and not lived up to their word. To the ones that tell you you’re not good enough or treat like you don’t deserve what you have from all of the hard work you’ve put in. From the smallest kindling to the largest logs, you are all keeping my fire lit. With all that said, I would like to give a shoutout to the ever evolving community of songwriters and musicians that I feel incredibly fortunate to work with from Los Angeles and around the country. There is always a great, new, talented person I constantly come across from Nashville. Thank you for keeping me inspired.

Website: https://joshuaketchmark.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuaketchmark/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshuaketchmark

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/joshuaketchmark

Image Credits
Live shot by: Frances Lacuzzi Photography