It’s not often that a young singer/songwriter conveys the passion and soulfulness of legendary artists of years past — Joshua Panda rises to that challenge on his upcoming, eponymous release.
With a hard-to-box-in style and a rich new album that evokes Van Morrison’s gruff swagger and Patsy Cline’s swoon, Panda delivers a preacher-like amalgam of energy, fervor and intimate storytelling.
Considering that Panda started singing gospel music at Rockwell Baptist Church in Huntersville, NC at the ripe age of three, it’s not surprising to hear that his live shows draw audiences ranging from nine year-olds to ninety year-olds to their feet – his passion is invigorating.
Drawing upon varied influences, from Kris Kristofferson and Townes Van Zandt’s Country to Sam Cooke’s soulful vocals to Otis Redding’s stage presence, Panda is a combustible, promising new artist. Listen to a sampler of his upcoming album, here: http://press.joshuapanda.com/
“Joshua Panda’ will be released nationwide in late August/early September on PandaRue Productions. Special ‘pre-release’ copies will be available at shows and via www.joshuapanda.com http://www.joshuapanda.com as of July 3rd, as Panda embarks on a U.S. tour (featuring an unconventional mix of concerts, Busking stops and multi-day visits to a variety of cities). Panda’s diverse CD is a confident introduction to the mainstream, and at times recalls Ryan Adams’ acclaimed debut ‘Heartbreaker’. Panda’s album, which has a warm, ‘old-fashioned’ sound (see details, below,) features 13 tracks: 12 original compositions, and a wild cover of Tom Waits’ ‘Come On Up to the House’.
The album’s opener, ‘Masquerade’, suggests the confidence and drama of early Morrison; ‘Rosie’ is an infectious Creole mash-up; on ‘Pastor’, the Country spirit overtakes Panda; ‘Are You Hurting At All’ channels Patsy Cline; and ‘Weight in Gold’s’ cinematic details craft one of the many highlights of the CD.
Raised in North Carolina and now based in Vermont, Panda is known for delivering live performances which showcase his remarkable voice and soulful band, which includes musicians from Vermont, Montreal, New York and North Carolina, and features guitar, mandolin/piano, accordion, drums, electric guitar, pedal steel, and upright bass. Panda’s regular musicians include Lowell Thompson, Brett Lanier, Brian Axford, Ed Grasmeyer, Dan Davine, and Pete Weiss.
About the Album’s Warm, ‘Old Fashioned’ Sound:
‘Joshua Panda’ was recorded at PJ Mansion studio in Montreal, QC. Panda’s Manager recalls: “We chose a tape studio owned by a good friend and fellow musician in Montreal and knocked out the album in 6 days (January 2-7) during the biggest snow storm of the new year, which, for the most part, locked us in the studio. 2-3 songs per day, pretty much entirely live. Lots of poutine and beer, sleeping in the studio.
We decided to record with tape because of the natural and classic sound that you can get from reels. Also, when recording with tape there is no copy/paste option and very little room for overdub, so it required each musician to check their ego and perfectionism at the door and be satisfied with the best overall take, even if it wasn’t his best take.
We also recorded with almost everyone in the same room. This is rare these days in recording because of fears of bleed over from instrument to instrument. We welcomed bleed and incorporated a list of room mics to attain a live feel.
Another interesting approach we took on this time around was every night (whether at 12 a.m. or 2 a.m., whenever the day wrapped up) we would rehearse the first song to be played the following morning. It was unbelievable how much work these musicians did in their sleep– envisioning, dreaming. Each of them would come into the studio the next morning with lots of ideas and new thoughts.
Production: Joshua produced this album himself and went into the studio with an incredibly thought-through vision for each song. That said, it was very much a full-band effort. This is the first album that Pandarue has recorded with the “band” (not simply hired studio musicians), so we had very important contributions from all of the musicians.
We did include a few studio guys, but we had a core band present. The cover and “remake” of “Come on up to the House” was our accordion player’s idea (Pete Weiss). Joe Grass, a multi-instrumentalist on the album and one of the owners of the studio, also took on some production leadership (he played acoustic and electric guitar, pedal steel, banjo, mandolin, slide guitar). As did our “constants” Lowell Thompson (electric guitar and harmonies) and Brian Axford (piano and mandolin).”
More about Joshua Panda:
Joshua Pender was born the second son of a truck driver and a beauty queen in what was once the small farm town of Huntersville, North Carolina. His daddy spent months at a time driving freight cross-country and his mama, former Ms. Mecklenburg County, was a pianist and gospel singer in the local Southern Baptist Church circuit.
By age three, Joshua was belting out gospel music while absorbing the wild flailing of the choir and the possessed bodies of the believers, himself brewing a passion and fanatical energy that oozes out of every fidgeting limb of his body.
Bound by the quiet country days hunting critters with the twenty odd coonhounds his father kept, chasing goats, and attaching rolled up pieces of scotch tape to the paw pads of the indoor cats, Joshua’s bubbling energy instilled by Sundays at church began to boil.
Meanwhile Joshua’s older brother, Sam, developed a life-threatening case of aplastic anemia, a tragedy that engulfed the family completely. Years of hospital visits and desperate prayers later, Sam went into remission just as Sandy, Joshua’s mother, barely survived a horrific car wreck. All of which left the young, bursting artist without guidance or an outlet for his booming intellect and fervor.
By the time Joshua turned 17 the church years were over, and he had outgrown the simple farm life of his childhood. His untamed and raw spirit took him to Charlotte and into a whirlwind of rocky and deeply confusing years. He spiraled into out-of-control teenage days of music, drugs, fiancés, vans, and short-lived jobs as a house painter and a mailman.
But he kept the music evolving through it all; from his rock band Humans, to a folk duo, Autumn in August, to hip hop group Eyes of the Elders. After the troublesome and disjointed years on his own, Joshua has finally found a way to reconnect with his family and his roots through his music.
(Interestingly, in moving to Vermont Joshua finally felt able to embrace his profoundly southern upbringing). The Joshua Panda Band is a blend of country, folk, soul, blues, and pop: a unique and truly fascinating combination of Joshua’s rock and roll years and the gospel of his youth.
Joshua Panda on Tour:
July 7, 8 The Shrunken Head Columbus, OH
Jul 13 Mojo’s Columbia, MO
July 17 The City Market Kansas City, MO (farmers market)
July 19, 20, 21 Quixote’s Denver, CO
July 23 Aspen Brewery Aspen, CO
July 29, 30 Cowgirl BBQ Santa Fe, NM
July 31 Oskar Brewery Lyons, CO
August 13-15 Lake Champlain Maritime Festival Burlington, Vermont
September 3 Bristol Border Bash Bristol, TN
October 9-10 Sunflower Fest Cumberland, MD
An expanded tour will be announced soon.
http://www.joshuapanda.com/
http://www.myspace.com/joshuapanda
For more information about Joshua Panda, to set an interview, or for a review copy of his new CD, please contact sethcohenpr@earthlink.net or 212.873.1011.
