1WISH

Was there ever any real doubt Joshua Shew was going to make a name for himself in the entertainment world - considering it was at the top of his wish list.

So three years after graduating from Quincy High School, the 21-year-old has found himself smack in the middle of a dream come true.

He is the bass player for the alternative rock band 1Wish. Although the group is still new, they have cut a single “The Secret.”



Shew has been on a roller coaster of sorts since he graduated. He went off to study jazz at Olympic College in Bremerton, but was antsy to make a name for himself and joined the band Cold December. That first foray into being a professional musician lasted all of seven months. The group was given music to play, but told to make it their own.

“It was like “Here’s the clay, now mold it,’” Shew said.

Unfortunately, in May of 2009 the band fired Shew, after a disagreement with one of the band members and the manager. But he did not sit idle and instead, jumped in his car and headed to Hollywood to try and enroll in the Musicians Institute. In September of 2009 he was told by the Dean of Students to wait until April. He never got the chance to prove himself. but made a connection with his former band Cold December. The band was stuck at the airport and needed a ride to a gig in Southern California.

“I had to swallow my pride and gave them a ride,” Shew remembered.

But his act of kindness also helped him reconnect with lead singer Andrew Stranack. It was not the last time the two would work together. Just before Shew was about to head back to the Mucisians Institute, he got a call from his mom, who told him his stepfather had passed away and she wanted him to come home to be by her side. At the time he lost a foothold on one dream, but it was not long before another door opened up.

During his time in Quincy, Cold December dissolved and Stranack started another band - and sought out Shew. 1Wish was formed with Stranack as lead vocals and guitarist, Shew on the MTDesigns KZ 6-string bass, Seth Hanenberg on guitar and Raj Punjabi on drums. Punjabi played with Green Day in the early years. 1Wish, though, decided to be all original and create their own music.

“All the songs are written by Raj and Andrew,” Shew said. “Usually the producer hires somebody to write the music. Raj and Andrew are the producers of 1Wish.”

Not only does Shew play bass, but he helps with lyrics, updates the Facebook pages for each band member and the group and other public relations duties.

It is a full-time job playing and working to get the band up and going.

“I’m kind of running all over the place,” he said. “It’s not rare to be seen on three or four i-phones at a time.

“This is a job and I make enough to pay my car payment. I’m happy and I’m living the dream.

1Wish has several shows lined up - check updates at www.facebook.com/pages/1Wish for the lastest shows. March 19 they are scheduled for Firwood Rock Lounge; March 26 at Ace’s Casino; and April 10 at Backstage.

“Ace’s Casino in Arlington is like our hometown gig,” Shew said.

The group has one single available to listen too, but has recorded several more. They have yet to release an album, but have plans for a three-song EP. The plans are in the works, with the help of recording legend Beau Hill of Beau Hill Music Production. Hill is known for his work with rock bands Ratt, Warrant, Europe, Winger and Kix. He produced the double platinum song “Cherry Pie” by Warrant and triple platinum album “Out of the Cellar” by Ratt.

The group handed him a song at the Tulalip Casino and hoped he would contact them to be a producer. After several days of anticipation the phone rang.

“Do you know who this is?” said Hill on the other end of the line. “We have a problem. I like your music, but bad news is I can’t get it out of my head.” said the 14-time multi-platinum producer.

So the group aligned with Beau Hill Music Production to mix their songs into radio quality tracks. At $1,000 per track, the cost is not cheap, but they decided to do it right the first time.

“We all consider ourselves to have the golden ticket at this time,” Shew said.

Some Quincy residents may remember the 21-year-old as the bass player for the Dirty Shews, which entertained the crowd during halftime of the 2004/05 QHS basketball season. Shew joined forces with vocalist David Law, drummer Carl Seaberg and guitarist Stan Stadelman. The foursome even played at the state tournament in the Yakima Sun Dome during the QHS boys state run.

“It was a good experience,” Shew said. “It was the first time I played in front of 1,000 people.”

He also played at the Free Methodist Chucrch and was taught by music teacher Mike Silk, while in junior high.

But the real credit for Shew’s talent comes from Billy Shew of the The Billy Shew Band, who happens to be his father. The senior Shew is a jazz singer, bass player and a math teacher out of Tacoma. He gave his son a half-sized Kingston Bass.

“I was in love on the first day,” Shew said. “My dad took me to the Empire for my birthday and if you don’t cut corners there is a jazz room at the end. My dad said hop on the bass.”

And as they say...the rest if history.

- The Quincy Valley Post Register.