Music
Press
Given the events of recent months, calling Josh Heinrichs‘ album Things Change seems like wrapping six songs around an understatement. First there was the split with his band, the local reggae powerhouse Jah Roots, and the surprising cutting of his signature dreadlocks soon after. Whether planned or coincidental in their timing, breaks with the past seemed to be all around. The inevitable question surfaced: How would it affect the music?
There is change, indeed, in Heinrichs’ music, and some of it is immediately noticed. Heinrichs slows down his tempo considerably for the collection of six songs here, using his acoustic guitar and only very spare backing instrumentation. It’s a stunning shift from the full-percussion reggae jams he’s fronted in the past, and it caters well to Heinrichs’ greatest strength: a voice that sounds of soulful longing without reducing such a sound to whining. While one may not always know what Heinrichs is singing about (at times, entire phrases can sound like a single word unless one is paying very close attention), there is never a doubt of his conviction as he sings it.
They are, ostensibly, songs of love, both heavenly and earthly–no change there, as Heinrichs has long used this as source material. At least three of the tracks–”Joy,” “Wanting You” and “Only Wanna Be With You”–are reworked versions of songs found in the Jah Roots catalog, suggesting an artist in transition. They work differently in this context, of course, more meditative than danceable. Whereas the music Jah Roots served as the basis for a good night’s party, Things Change is six songs to chill on an evening porch to and appreciate beauty, and the beauty here is the constants: the voice and songs, the two things Heinrichs needs to roll with the changes. - TheFourFour.com
Discography
JOSH HEINRICHS DISCOGRAPHY
w/ Jah Roots - 2001 - 2009
* Steppin Out Of Babylon (2002) Avail. Online Free
* More Herbs for the Youth (2005) Avail. Online Free
* Babylon Weak Heart w/ Baddaflexx (2005) Avail. Online Free
* Crucial (2006) Avail. On iTunes
* Joy (2008) Avail. On iTunes
Solo Albums
* Things Change (EP) (2009) Avail. On iTunes
* Favorites (LP w/ Cas Haley) (2009)
Photos
Bio
Josh Heinrichs: Things Change
OFFICIAL BIO:
After recording five studio albums with the internationally known reggae band JAH ROOTS, which Heinrichs founded in 2001, and the grueling tour schedule required to support each release, Mr. Heinrichs has decided to move in a new direction and step out on his own as a solo artist. A move deemed necessary so that he could spend more time with his wife and family. Though the band’s disassembling was initially greeted with shock and dismay by tens of thousands of diehard JAH ROOTS fans, who can be found scattered across the globe, recent on-line leaks of tracks comprising Things Change, Josh’s upcoming EP, have satiated any worries that Heinrichs and his unique voice will be going on hiatus simply because JAH ROOTS has disbanded.
In addition to founding JAH ROOTS, and subsequently launching a successful music career, Josh also founded his own record label GANJAH RECORDS, through which he releases all of his own music. The global following engendered by JAH ROOTS was purely an organic process, never was a corporate dime accepted by Heinrichs to further his music career. Though still in his twenties Heinrichs is a testament to what can be accomplished when talent, entrepreneurial spirit, a tireless work ethic and a stubborn refusal to listen to those who might’ve suggested launching a wildly popular reggae band from a home base located in America’s heartland, Springfield, Missouri, was not only not a viable option, but rather, an impossible ambition to pursue.
Appearing on the 2008 release JOY, they were joined in the studio by reggae legend, and former lead-guitarist for Bob Marley & The Wailers, Junior Marvin. Mr. Marvin was crucial in the composition of much of the music appearing on Bob Marley’s 1977’s release, Exodus, which, in 2000, was nominated as TIME MAGAZINES’S “Album of The Century.” Mr. Marvin overdubbed his legendary, masterful, brand of guitar playing on to two of the album’s tracks. When reached for comment concerning Mr. Heinrich’s abilities as a vocalist and lyricist, Mr. Marvin had the following comment, “Josh is one of those guys who comes along and fills his music with such an inspiration and with such energy that it translates so easily and positively to anyone hearing it. He is a rare talent in both his ability to craft a song with a certain timeless quality to it, and then, man, his voice, well, I mean, damn, the kid can sing as good as anyone out there; a bright future – that one.”
In 2006 & 2008 JAH ROOTS released the CRUCIAL & JOY albums, which were both predominately written by Heinrichs. Both albums appeared on Billboard Magazine’s “Top 100 Reggae Albums”. In 2007, CRUCIAL was celebrated on the tiny island nation of Guam’s national listing of “Top Ten Reggae Albums of The Year.” In 2008, within the pages of print, JAH ROOTS received wildly enthusiastic reviews for both CRUCIAL and JOY in THE BEAT, an internationally distributed world music magazine. In May 2009 it was announced that lead singer Josh Heinrichs would release his solo album the following month. The six-song EP, which is titled Things Change, recorded in Kansas City, MO. Things Change promises to be an intimate, spare, soulful, acoustic album; one which will exhibit an emerging, and important artist, one who is still growing and striving to fulfill his vast potential.
--- D. Wells
In May/June 2009 it was announced that Josh Heinrichs would release 2 albums. His solo EP "Things Change" was released on July 6 digitally & exclusively on www.ThePier.org & cdbaby.com. & Scheduled for itunes release a few months later. "The six-song EP, titled Things Change, is an acoustic record with some backing instrumentation from members of SeedLove and 77 Jefferson."
Also "Favorites" A collection of Modern & Classic reggae favorites redone by Heinrichs with Cas Haley was announced to be released in late summer 09' on Big Karma Records. The album is to be mastered by Rob Fraboni.
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