1/28/10 – Things that got done in 2009

Preface: I thought I wouldn’t get anywhere this year, with working a full time day job, trying to be a decent dad and husband and everything else (as documented in full on this year’s Values and Virtues EP lol) but i’ve actually hit a lot of firsts this year as a solo guy:

1. Made a CD (Values and Virtues) entirely funded by my fanbase. All costs & first ever Josh Doyle tees covered! Now everything is profit and goes back into the music!

2. Went on my first UK tour as a solo artist, performing to tiny and large crowds all coming to see little me! Came over from Nashville, toured 2 weeks all over the country with no promotion budget (just mailing list and facebook) playing clubs as a solo act, a duo and with two different full bands. By the time I left everything had been paid for and I had made money! In planning stages for 2010 tour dates – go here http://www.joshdoyle.com/fans and get on the list to be notified of the closest gig to you (incl USA) – its all underground, baby…

3. My first songs have shown up on TV shows and promos here in the USA! In the Dumdums we had a lot of this stuff – there was an infrastructure there with big money and manpower behind it. But I love it how it could get done just with me and Jenny and people finding out about the music.

4. I started writing songs for/with other people – at least one of which looks like its going to be my first song released by another band on a major label (Warner) in 2010.

5. First songs of mine in weddings and a funeral (which all meant a whole lot when I found out, I mean huge moments in personal lives, what an honour). Also I heard about people who felt my lyrics worthy of getting them tattooed on themselves - three that i’ve heard of and counting! Flip!

6. Stuart Baxter Wilkinson finished his brilliant and hilarious Dumdums documentary - we couldnt bring it out commercially because of the complications with rights of the clips but you have got to see it if you havent http://www.dumdums.com/movie – its like being in the band from when we started off playing empty clubs to playing for 250,000 in hyde park…and back!

So yeah, stuff is happening, would happen faster if I had a record deal because I wouldnt have to work my day job but I would be away from my wife and kids all the time like some of my famous friends and I dont know if I want that to be my life..we’ll see.. If it can work out being an independent artist that would be ideal…fingers crossed. Keep supporting me!

Yeah, there it is then – i’m looking forward to 2010.

All the best to you and yours,

Josh
www.facebook.com/joshdoylemusic
www.twitter.com/joshdoyle

P.S Thanks everyone who helped on the tour… I mean the Tozers, Rimmers, Sally Bourne, Johnstones, Mark Hamilton, Ashford band, London band.. everyone who let me play your venues.. great experience..

P.P.S There is a vault of free songs – solo, unreleased dumdums, live tracks – its free if you join the e-list at http://www.joshdoyle.com/fans. Its worth it!

1/4/10 – Writing Country? Me?

So yeah I have started writing with my friends Josh and Jason Pantana for their album with producer John Mark Painter and its good stuff! Our songs are like The Cars meets Tom Petty… Theyll have to put the “country” on later hahaha… They havent recorded masters of our songs yet but you can hear some of their songs on facebook @Pantana

12/20/09 – Song on Warner Brothers LP

So I co-wrote a song with these guys Joel and Luke for their band who have been signed now to Warner Brothers and have been working on their record with Aqualung’s Matt Hales (anyone know the Dumdums connections with him?).  Here is a link to a great live recording of that song, “Mint Blue Sky”.

12/10/09 – “End Of Fear” played on US TV

Thanks to Joel for finding this one, and then the stranger on facebook and then Kristina and then Josh P ahaha… End Of Fear has recently been heard all over the TV advertising “Ghost Whisperer” on Ion… Keep an ear out for more Doyle spottings!

The Future? Stay tuned…

“Hi Josh,

I was getting a bit nostaligic over Can’t Get you Out of My Thoughts on You Tube and a few choice links got me onto your website.

The tracks are very strong.  I was a little reticent as I loved the songwriting on your old stuff so much and I didn’t want to be disappointed by what you do these days – needless to say I wasn’t.

So, I read the website and I noticed your comments about a delay getting the solo album released.  You don’t seem the sort to get writers block so without sounding presumptious and intrusive are the problems financial ones?  If indeed they are I’d like to propose a scheme….

I’d like to buy a share in your solo album please.  I think £200 for a couple of shares is a fair price and I think a lot of other people would think so to.  Get another 60 people to think the same way and you have 2 months in a fairly good studio.  Get 5 more and you’ve got it mastered.  Get 15 more and you’ve got a plugger for a US College Radio campaign.  You get my drift….you create the money to get your record going without a label getting involved.

I’m not sure people would ask for much at all in return…a signed Limited Edition CD, a T-Shirt (XXL for me please) and a free ticket when you come to town.

So where do I send the cheque?

Yours sincerely,

Ben
Bath, UK

PS. Get a good Accountant – there must be shitloads of those in Nashville.”

You are a part of something! (email replies)

So since everyone who likes my music is spread out all across the world and i’ve not managed to get a decent system in place for a message board its been hard to establish a community between you folks who support my music and the making of new music. All the feedback goes straight to me and no one gets to see really that there are others out there who are just like them, supporting this solitary musician with only his wits and YOU to preserve him from early rock n roll oblivion… so here are some replies to the email I sent out on wednesday where I asked where you were so I can see where to play…

Any more responses send em to info@joshdoyle.com or comment at the bottom of this blog post.

And if you want to make new friends in this world, do a search for me on facebook and you will find my fan page- seriously message anyone in my fans list tell em youre a josh doyle fan and I bet they will accept you under their wing, cause thats what my music is about!!

(I’ve not put full names of people in case someone doesnt want mentioned but look out for other JDfans who may actually be near you and you didnt even know it. I dont publish emails with any address information or personal in nature without permission to do so)

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Hey Josh or bloke/woman who reads his email for him.
I work and spend a lot of time in and around Birmingham which is my usual live music haunt but really would travel the length of the UK for a band I think are worth it.

If you get to read this Josh – Keep on striving for that restart to your musical career.  There are many of us out there who would like nothing more than to see you make it again on your terms and give us your best for many years.  All the best to your family out there in Tennessee.  Come visit soon.

Gary, Worcestershire, UK

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Hay! Awesome news about touring. Haven’t seen you since the dumdums last gig at greenbelt! Glad things are going well at the moment. Anyway… I’m ………… and I live in Crewe/Nantwich, Cheshire (England).  Manchester is probably the best bet for a gig near here though… Unless you fancy coming to the school I work at! Good luck with the new stuff. If it’s even half as good as the EP it will be amazing! Although I’m sure it will be even better
Em x

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YAY!
Don’t forget to come visit Andrea in the Detroit area!   Just play anywhere between Detroit, MI and Ann Arbor, MI and I’ll be there!

Best wishes, A

———————

I  live in northern California. Let me know if you need a venue list for this area.
Losille

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Just up the road in Ann Arbor MI.  Home of two of the best music venues, “The Ark” and “The Blind Pig.”  Maybe while here, Rob Reinhart could squeeze you in on “Acoustic Cafe (acafe.com).”  Love to see you at either of both!

Larry

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Hey Josh! I’m glad to hear you are doing great & kids are growing up! hmm, here i’m sending you my info…hope u stop by someday =)
Name: Angela ….
City/Country: Panama, LatinAmerica

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glad to hear ur thinkin of tourin and lookin forward to follow up to end of fear. Anyway its jonathan edinburgh scotland. Good luck

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That’s awesome!! My info :Becky ……, Fowlerville, MI, USA
It’s a little town that is growing, but the surrounding areas of Howell and Brighton are booming!!

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Hey hey! I’m rather out of the way to be honest but thought I’d email in all the same. Jo …….. , Belfast, Northern Ireland , BT10 0GW. Hope the gig tonight goes/went well!
Jo xx

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Hey Josh it’s Ali here,
Always good to hear all your news!  – hey if you are touring it would be fantastic for you to stop here in Ashford.  We are begining to organise our Multi-Cultural Extravaganza again for next May (dates tbc) and your name has cropped up several times for you to do a concert in the Park….
Love to all
Ali

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jennifer is my name, and my daughter elizabeth in new albany indiana is also a big fan of yours. i am in anderson, indiana, since you sent me your CD in louisiana, before katrina. still have “the end of fear” on my playlist, it is a heartening medly. (we are the fools that made Mvids from your songs for a year hahahaha.) jen_no on myspace if you aren’t friends with elizabeth she is lizzyloveless i think.

peace

jen

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Hey Josh,
Glad to hear you will be touring again, its been far far too long since I’ve seen you. I’m in Bristol .. but if you came to the UK i’d travel to come see u again so anywhere over here would be cool for me!!
x Kaz x

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Hey!
That’s so exciting your thinking of touring. Right now I’m in Des Moines, Iowa going to college. I am originally from kansas city, Missouri, and I know quite few small venues that would love to have you play. As for Iowa I know of one venue that would be a similar fit. Obviously This is in the United states.  Good luck!

-M. anne

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Michael …Norman, OK USA . Please come around here….i have been patiently waiting to hear some new stuff! Plus we have a cool little venue here in Norman called the Opolis (http://www.starlightmints.com/opolis.html starlight mints place). Hope the music takes off again cause you are very talented.

Cheers Michael

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Dear Josh,

I am doing alright and fine.

It is a pleasent suprise to be reading your email early in the morning of a saturday (Malaysia).

Well it be a blast if you can come over and have your gig here in Malaysia and what am i supposed to do?

Im just only a fan. If I were a corporate someone I would bring you don to Malaysia and tour Asia for a great show. Anyway just want to tell you that your songs have been an inspirations to me and my band. We really dig your music!

Do visit my band if you got time at www.myspace.com/radiogravity..

P/s-Were also doing day job and trying to get the music out there. Thank God we have internet!

Kind Regards;

Stalin M

———————

Yo josh!

Sat in a pub in sunny Southampton! Come back to England for a show sometime, you’ve got a guarunteed opening band if you want it

Hope all is well

Benny.

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Hello Josh!

Good to receive your e-mail.  Don’t know if you remember me and my family.  We met in March.  We were visiting from Virginia Beach and we chatted about the Newsboys and other music.

Anyway, nice to here from you!!! We live in Virginia Beach near the ocean-front. The Jewish Mother on Pacific Ave is a good venue. So is Croc’s in Virginia Beach.

Let me know if you are coming our way. We’d definitely love to see you.

Blessings, Joanna

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Josh

BELFAST mate!

Hey you should do a tour with Ricky Warwick (used to be in The Almighty!) he’s doing a lot of solo acoustic tours these days, you two would be great together!

cheers, Darren

———————

While I’d love to come to Nashville, seeing how its one of my favorite cities not touching water, it is such a tough drive.  If you do tour however, come down the East Coast to Baltimore MD, there’s a great place called the Recher Theatre that would be perfect for you.  It’s located in the suburbs of Baltimore in Towson, MD.

Hope to see ya soon!

Nick

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Hey Josh, I’m Keith S, glad your thinking of touring, problem is i stay in Scotland, so don’t know what your ideas are on overseas gigs.  I live in a little town called forres, 26 miles from Inverness.  If you do get the chance to come over, or are at least throwing the idea about check out this website     www.ironworksvenue.com.  It’s located in the city centre of inverness, and loads of big bands and solo artist have played there and its a really big up and coming venue.  Hope the follow up to end of fear goes well and we hear some new material soon

take care , keith

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Hey, my name is Shannan and I live in Marion, AR US, its right across the bridge from MEMPHIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Josh,
Met you in Nashville about 2 yrs. ago through a guy named Patrick …………  I’ve been keeping up to date with your progress ever since, as I think you’re extremely talented.  My name is Mike……  I’m a Sony songwriter and I’m in a band called Mayday.  We live in Columbus, OH  43205.  Would love to put you on a show up here if you’re coming through.  Our band page is: myspace.com/maydaytheband

Hit me back either way,
Mike

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Hey Josh,

We have talked a few times, I just graduated from Butler with a degree in Marketing and offered to help you.  The offer is still there but other than that I would love to have you tour up here.  I live in Aurora, IL which is right near Chicago.  60502.  If you need anything place to stay or help let me know.  I would love to hear your new music.  can’t wait, hope all is well.

Eric

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Josh!

Come to Olympia, Washington, 98501. I suppose Seattle or Portland
would work, too… Good luck on the new material!

Cheers,
Kyra.

———————

Hey Josh!!    Hope all is great!

Eugene

Babylon New York. 11702

———————
Hey there!

I’m in Minneapolis!! Definitely looking forward to hearing the new stuff:)

Cassandra

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hey josh,

I live in Mishawaka, Indiana, 46544

…but there aren’t many cool venues near my zip code.

There is this really nifty avante garde shop called Manifesto

here’s the contact info there…..just a thought.

-Shaun

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Hello there ^^ This is fellow musician Joe from Cheltenham, I live in Sweden, Skåne, Kristianstad to be precise, some great citys for you to play in would be Malmö (Malmoe) Lund and Kristianstad (tivoli Rock (Tivoli parken)
Hope all is well
Take care!
Joe

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Josh

Kathmandu, Nepal

I will pick you up from the airport and provide you with rice.

Wish i could come out and see you on Friday, bro. Have fun!

-josh

———————

Hi Josh,

As requested…

Name:  Katie

Country:   England

Town:    Lancaster, Lancs.

You should definitely come and play in our town!!

Hope things are going well for you

Katie

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Hey Josh,

I’m in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.  It would be awesome if you made it over here.  *fingers crossed*

Vicky xx

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Hi Josh,

If you’re ever back in the UK come to Stratford Upon Avon!  It’s not great for venues, but Cox’s Yard is pretty good.  My postcode is ………

Have a good day!

Ria

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ueee josh! i’m in italy… ahah… love to have you here though!!

vale

———————

Hey Josh,

Glad to hear that all is going well with you!

I’m Cheryl G (Heartspark on the Dum Dums board) from Glasgow.

Hope to see you in Scotland sometime in the future!

Cheryl

———————

I’m in Carterton, New Zealand!!! A tad far for you to travel perhaps?

Anyway, hope that you can get a US tour sorted. You really do belong up on a stage.

Cheerio for now,

Alison

———————

Hi Josh,

Im Thom, I live in Oxford England

Hope all is good, best of luck with it all.

Thom

———————

new orleans, la. i’ll get people to come out, come on joyle!
- d.p

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Glad to hear you are doing well Josh. Hope the gig goes well on Friday!

Penny & Sam

Worcestershire,

England

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Kristina.. Binghamton, NY.. big college town upstate .. Long Island during the summer.. Babylon more specifically..

Good luck!, Kristina

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Denver, CO    would love to hear some doyle.

Scott
———————

Monica- Oxnard, Ventura County

Good luck! Can’t wait to hear you play!

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oh AWESOME!!!! I’m in Michigan City, Indiana, but if you come to Chicago or South Bend, I’m close enough to do definitely make the trip to see you!!!

Good luck with your follow up! Can’t wait to hear it and I will definitely be looking you up on Facebook!

Take care!
Danielle

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Hey, haha. You know where I am, but I’ll give my local anyway – just for kicks. Although currently I’m at school at Huntington University, in Huntington Indiana. If you came here – well, that would be pretty sweet.

Jandra
Auburn (or Waterloo, or Fort Wayne, or Huntington…etc…) Indiana
USA

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hi i’m charlotte, i live in walsall, near birmingham UK, however at the moment i am at uni in oxford UK
x

———————

Billie,  Washington C.H.,  OH.  It would be AWESOME to see you live!!

———————

Hi Josh,

This is Paul, from Oxford, UK.

Come tour here & you’ll get me plus a few mates turn up without fail!

All the best mate,

Paul.

———————

hey you!! I’m still near cardiff. But you’re not, and you should be. It’s been far too long mister!! We need to catch up xxxx H

———————

Play in London! That’s where we miss you the most

esti

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i’m angie! i’m in groveland, which is about 30 minutes away from orlando, florida! the more popular venues to play are the backbooth, the social, club firestone, and other intimate venues like those. i’d say try those first!

———————

JOSH!

Not sure if you would ever come back this way but I’m in Margate, Kent UK. London is close enough!

Lee

———————

stephen riddell

glasgow

king tuts again?

———————

I live in East Meadow, Long Island, NY

Kate M…

10.3.07

———————

Hello,

I’m in Manor Park, East London.

Sarah x

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g’day

Patti L……..Barraba NSW Australia

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A follow up? Awesome!  I really enjoyed End of Fear it’s a record that has really stuck with me since that fatefull year I joined myspace and stumbled upon your profile. It was the first thing I ever baught online and went on the buy anther one after I lost it ::(  I’m in Memphis now and would LOVE to see you play down here if you tour soon- like in a month.  After that I may be back in San Diego and would REALLY love to see you bust up the music scene there.   When you get to touring nationally email me because I know the best venues to check out for booking, as well as street fairs.

Good luck!!!!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful art with the world.

God Bless,

Anna

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Hi,i’m Nicky ……. (the mad one whom did the banner for you guys at Bradford!)
Live in Cleckheaton
West Yorkshire
Take care x.

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Hi Josh -

We’re Jon & Amanda

I work at Warsaw Community High School, so if you are ever near this area, we’d love to have you come in and speak to students about your life, music, writing, etc…

love to you & your family~ Amanda

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My name is Lisa Young, I live near Sheffield in England. Would be great if you could play sheffield-maybe the Leadmil-saw DumDums there live for the first time. Or even manchester or Nottingham. Just come to England!!
Hope to see you soon!! Lisa

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Josh,

Its Drew the guy you played with at the Barn and Kingston Festial several times.
If your back in the UK, Newquay Cornwall, I can hook you up with the best bar and clubs to play in town.
I really think you would go down well here!

God bless
Drew

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I’ll believe it when i see it! lol i’m in gloucester, mate. Rock out.

dan

———————

Hi Josh,

I live in Bromley, Kent in the UK. Good to hear from you and hope you tour in London, UK soon.

Cheers, Adam

———————

My name is Sarah. I’ve been listening for quite a few years now and I would love to see you live! My hometown is Yardley, PA which is right outside the city of Philadelphia. I also go to school at Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA. So I am requesting either something near the Philadelphia or State College areas! Best of luck with everything! Love your music! Keep it coming!

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Hi Josh,

My name is Andy, and I live near Cardiff (5 miles away) in that musical nation of Wales (though I am English myself!!). My younger daughter – now 21 – is also a fan: she is in Hull, England.

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i’m very well thank you!

I would like to tell you where i live, I live in Northampton! Come visit us here in Northampton like at the Roadmender you’d fit in right at home there… In fact correct me if i’m wrong but  i think you have played there before?!!!!

Glad all is well

Glad the family is well!!!

Lots of love … LauraP x

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Vaneesa, Little Rock, AR.  I wish we could make the Nashville show, but it is a little far for a trip (at least this weekend).  I’d love to hear you live sometime, and we don’t mind traveling some (especially to Memphis or within Arkansas).

Some of the big college towns in Arkansas (and probably more venues—and customers—for concerts) are:  Fayetteville, Conway, Little Rock, and Jonesboro (probably the closest to you).

I have enjoyed your music that I have heard.  Thank you for sharing it.  Nashville is a good place to be, music-wise.  Are you enjoying being state-side?  Best wishes to you and yours,  V

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Amy W
Aliso Viejo, CA, USA

Come and play the Grove in Anaheim!

———————

Hi Josh!!

Thanx for email!! Here’s the details (would be very grateful of a UK visit in south East in future!!!  )

Lisa, East Sussex, England!

———————

Your music is amazing! I can’t wait to hear the new EP when your done with it!

Lauren

Point Pleasant, NJ, USA

———————

Hey Josh,

I think you know, but we are right here at Columbus, OH and we would love it if you came anywhere nearby. Thanks for the update.

Kathy & Matt

———————

hey man, you’re music is awesome, be awesome for you to come back

Lee
Harrow, London

———————

Hey Josh,

I am well thanks, it’s good to hear from you! I would love you to come and tour near me!! So London, Norwich or Cambridge, all in the UK suit me, so you can take your pick!! I’m looking for my job in the music industry, do you have any advice? In the meantime I am slaving my life away as a sales assistant in a shoe shop!

Loz
xxxx

———————

My name is Maggie
I live in Kirksville, Missouri

Have fun at Rocketown, we were visiting a friend in Nashville awhile back and went to a show there. It was really fun and a very cool environment.
Take care and good luck.
Most Sincerely,
Maggie Ann.

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Hey man,
This is Shaun…. I’m in York, England at the moment. If you played anywhere near there that would be rad. I’ve got a bunch of mates in Plymouth too who’d love to see you.
Peace,
Shaun

———————

Hi Josh

We’re in Walsall which you’ll probably want to do Birmingham ( being the nearest city ) or of course there is Wolverhampton ( you will probably remember The Little Civic from your Dum Dums days!! )

You are coming to the UK??? Cos I think you’ll get a crowd of us from Birmingham if you come over here. Plus Birmingham middle of the country is easy to travel.  We did the Dum Dums meet up in Birmingham about 4 years ago and aload turned up for it.

keep well and stay safe, Jo

———————

Hey dude,
Good to hear you’re thinking of touring again!  The first gig I went to was the Dum Dums!  Awesome gig!  I’m in Norwich, UK, if you pop this way it would be cool to see you play again!   Looking forward to new follow up to End of Fear. Take it Easy man, All the Best, Andy

As I write the new EP…

Update from Josh Doyle, UK musician in Nashville, TN

Firstly, yeah it has been a long time again. I work, see, and get sucked into that life of making enough money to live, I’m sure like a lot of you folks do. Meanwhile I lose touch with you and I lose touch with the fire burning inside to make music. But I have been drawn back recently because I have been hearing from people that my stuff means or has meant a lot to, I mean enough to get a tattoo of lyrics from the “End of Fear”, enough to want “Army of Two” as “their song” at their wedding, or even have the EP tracks played at their funeral, which to be honest rocked me and started the whole turn back to writing.

The End Of Fear – The Sequel?

So yeah I am going to release a follow up to “The End Of Fear EP” off my own back like last time, theres a little about what has inspired it at www.joshdoyle.com. That seems to be a way forward right now and the writing is going very well. Nothing like a few years of real life to be able to write about. . . The “big budget” album is still in the works, but I am anxious to get something great out there and thats why I am taking the initiative.

My question, and a freebie for you

This is my question… do you like that “Solarstorms” song I wrote? Firstly you can download it, or just listen to it, free here. If you want me to have a nice chunk of money to finish an EP quickly for you to have new music, sign up as my fan at ourstage – “solarstorms” is doing well in the voting but I am going to need help to get to the finals and the big bucks. Also, if that song doesnt make it there are some secret songs under another name that I cant widely publicise but I may let ourstage fans exclusively hear and vote if they stay as high as they are now in the voting. Join up as an ourstage fan here.

Stuff that has gone up online you may dig:

Search in Youtube for “Concert in four minutes” to check out rough home video from a gig in Nashville.
Search in Facebook “Josh Doyle” to go to my artist page.
Search in Youtube “Dumdums” to hear loads of different rare DDs tracks.

Thats about it for now,
Take care,
Josh

So, how’s the music going, Josh?

So, how is the music going, Josh?

As I am on the slowest comeback trail of all time its only right people should ask how my music is going….

I am an independent solo artist. It used to be I was looking for a deal like everyone else, waiting for my album to be finished to shop to the big labels. I’m not really even looking for a major label deal these days. And as someone governed by no corporate bosses I have a luxury major label artists can’t afford – to put the truth out there. When you have shareholders to impress you have to put the best spin on everything so people dont abandon ship. But you dear reader have stuck through with me through lean times indeed and I feel comfortable with you…

One great thing is that year by year, more people become fans and more people visit this website – in this year month after month the visitors have been doubling from the past month. My goals have changed as well – it used to be to make a whole bunch of money signing a record deal, now it is to build demand for my music up gradually so eventually I can make a fulltime living from it again, this time on my own terms as my own boss. Thats really thrilling for me, but its down to you keeping me in business…

Here are some questions I answered for a friend of a fan’s dissertation, and they answer the question of how the music is going and how things are changing for me… (ctd)

What about major record deals – have you been offered anything?
I have been offered several independent deals, from small independents to large independents with major distribution. I have also had talks with several major labels and had management talk at executive level with the largest of the major labels but I fired my management and didn’t follow up with them. One major label verbally offered me a deal but I did not show any interest and the interest dissipated.

Why did you make the choice not to sign with a label?
I didn’t feel I was ready at the time, didnt have a band together or enough material written, now I am glad because label deals are getting worse and worse and also they offer less and less of what they used to be able to offer. Also I value my own time and decisions rather than being an automaton to produce and tour for a big corporation.

In hindsight did you make the right choice in not signing with a record company?
Not financially and not in terms of ego driven wishes to be a superstar. Neither am I at the place I wish to be yet in terms of fans or finances to be able to make a living doing this and support a band. But if I was signed to a record company I wouldnt have any flexibility – I dont need megabucks to be able to support my family and I am hoping that as long as I continue to make music that connects with people, more and more people will discover it and be willing to tell others about it so I can make a career out of it.

Do you think the whole concept of social networking sites has helped sell any previous recordings, if so how?
I would say 80 percent of the EPs I have sold have been as a result of MySpace. Either my finding new people who liked my music in the beginning or my fans turning other people on to it. It has been huge, and has led to sales without much outlay of expense for marketing. Lately the ease of Facebook’s viral network was a major factor in my distribution, by fans, of 18,000appx free song downloads.

In your opinion how big a part has touring played in selling any previous recordings, and why?
I didn’t tour and hardly played out at all. That’s what makes my situation unique, since most unsigned bands are playing out all the time. I have preferred to do things online first until there is a demand to tour. So my overheads are basically nothing. This is a lot slower and relies on my fans telling other people about my music. Which relies on my music being good.
The touring to one man and his dog around the country is something that only record companies can bankroll and I don’t think it was much good anyway. I couldn’t have possibly afforded to do that with the limited rewards that offers. I have to be more thrifty than that!

Has there been anything else (for example Sponsorship/ Brand endorsement etc) that have made your achievements possible?
With my next EP my studio time is being provided by an internet downloading company who are sponsoring me. I am also talking with independent investors about financing the project. I would find it a huge problem to align myself with a product just for the sake of selling a product. If I would get offered a lot of money to endorse something I would not be interested unless it was in keeping with who I am. It cheapens the music. But if were on a major label and a sponsorship deal came up, I would do the deal, they would take the money. They dont care where it comes from, they need money – they are in trouble.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of not being signed to a label?
Disadvantages include the difficulty with which you can achieve immediate success with radio, TV etc. Due to the connections already established between the record labels and pr companies, they have an infrastructure that is already established where if you have a song that fits the bill, it can find its place in the media and immediate exposure. This leads to a better flow of fans, money etc. When you are unsigned you have to find a way through those doors, usually involving prohibitive sums of money, no matter how good your material is.
An advantage is the freedom to do things on your own terms, and to not need to compromise your integrity. Due to the difficulties record labels have in making money these days, they can force you into sponsorships, concerts, record deals that are poorly aligned with your artistry and it can undermine who you are. When you have an artistic vision in the first place, if you lose that you’ve lost the reason you are in music.

Would you consider signing to a label in the future?
It would depend on the amount of freedom they would give me to do things my way and the amount of freedom I would have to turn things down, be able to decide my schedule.
Record labels tend to be focussed on the bottom line of making money for their investors by any means necessary and that tends to equate to trampling on their employees’ (bands , artists) personal needs. What’s the point being signed if youre miserable?

Into The Wild

“Someone should tell us, right at the start of our lives that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit every minute of every day. Do it. I say, whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows.” Michael Landon, dying from pancreatic cancer.

So I watched “Into the wild” tonight – its one of those life changing works of art that causes you to reignite your spark for however long and here I am tearing apart my website and putting it back with the bare elements, seized by some notion of needing to cut the chaff, just to the truth. I tear my website apart when I am frustrated at being seemingly powerless to move forward with my music. Which is a lie I tell myself.

But I am sucked in to this life now. The suburbs, work, internet. Finding meaningless entertainments to fill my time instead of living in the first person. Like the people with cellphone cameras at gigs, not experiencing the moment but lining up a shot. And people doing that with their kids too. Becoming videographers at the expense of magic.

When you look at us now from the outside it is terrifying what we are becoming. When i had my own running away from everything experience at 18 I came back changed. I was offended by studio laughter. I wanted to hear purely acoustic music. I felt a responsibility to be a better steward of nature. And the concrete world I was re-joining seemed heartless, occupied by fractured people who didnt really commune with eachother,just co-existed.

I want truth. Our musical oracles today for the most part have record companies, sponsors, shareholders to worry about offending. Pearl Jam once stood up against Ticketmaster and took a beating from the industry that has everyone in its pocket – the magazines, the web portals. You get what big business wants you to get and its left to the rest of us to fight for the scraps.

The music is where the fire is and there could be a revolution on the cards, of truth. I am seizing the day in my own small way by getting back into the studio on my own dollar – like End Of Fear – to record a new EP to be released quite soon as well. I cant sit back and wait for the business to accomodate me, I have truth to get out into the world cause life is too short.

“Someone should tell us, right at the start of our lives that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit every minute of every day. Do it. I say, whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows.”

The Wonder Years – this clip just took me somewhere…

I lose touch with who I wanted to be when I was a kid sometimes and a stiff dose of kevin arnold and co swiftly reminds me of when i had it all out before me, what i longed for and who i wanted to become...dont you just love this song too? The clip comes from the season when Winnie has been ignoring him for several episodes because she's part of the cool crowd and he's not...