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Through The Looking Glass
Article by R.J. Williams
Listen to the full version of Sum Without from the album Mama’s Boy Goes Digital.
The LOOKING GLASS is a term better known for its usage in the context of the sequel to the famous nonsensical literature piece ALICE IN WONDERLAND written in 1885 by Charles Ludwig Dodgson, known by his penname Lewis Carroll. In the original story, as you already know, his heroin Alice falls through a rabbit hole and begins her adventures in a world populated by peculiar beings exhibiting human characteristics, (anthropomorphic) but who in the end remain the same: non-human creatures.
So, the LOOKING GLASS seems a good fit in referring to the world of celebrities and the likes as I wrote this article. The term well illustrates the sometimes plastic and unreal lifestyle of those in the limelight, a world lacking true substance.
Through that very glass I peered and became permanently transfixed by Josh Wald. It was peculiar, not to mention a most perplexing event for me, considering that my conclusive assessment of those living beyond the GLASS had seldom warranted more than a hurried, uninterested glance.
“I’m a hard working, hard playing, skateboard riding music making, singing, dancing, running, jumping, and laughing, hugging, loving badass dude from Cape Cod!” went his profile. An interesting statement I thought, from the most aesthetically pleasing man I had ever seen! A year later we finally met and I asked him to elaborate.
“I’m a bad-ass, because I’m a rebel. I skateboarded through an airport terminal,” he laughs, “You know, we artists are pretty badass; anything but mediocre.” His skating escapades are a “thing of beauty” I’m told by a source within the skater community. The skater part of him is what had seemed elusive, I thought as I examined his runway photographs. He was present before the camera, but something unexplainable screamed at me that he would rather be somewhere else. I began to follow his recorded movements through the printed page and fan-based blogs...
That Josh Wald preferred a more casual, out of the limelight lifestyle was clearly noted, not only from his candid shots (which I’d begun collecting from the internet), but also the dearth of anything related to ‘occupation’ on his profile. One needed only to visit the web pages of other models to understand that Josh Wald was different. “I don’t want to look like I’m posing in the picture. I might as well be a dumb model,” he declared when I asked for his photograph to be used for this interview. Dumb model... Had I ever though of him as such? It’s hard to say, but one thing for sure, when you get to know Josh Wald, it’s easy to accept the role modeling plays in the life of this writer, composer, producer and musical engineer. To him, his physical attributes are only a “platform” from which to launch his creativity. “I just think that I have more to offer the world; there’s so much more I want to do.”
“If it’s music, I’m listening.”
By 2003 Josh had grown increasingly dissatisfied with what mainstream R&B and Hip Hop had to offer. As a result he began expanding his personal interest in making his own music. During a commercial casting, he and Camille Gaston, a Haitian actor/rapper, met. “I don’t know how it happened, but we started talking about music, I recited some rhymes to him and later we hooked up,” says Camille. Their shared love for music was to cement a great friendship and give birth to ‘Mama’s Boy Goes Digital’.
With the availability of audio compression technology today, many artists are venturing into the realm of self-production. Once this phase is accomplished they have only to “rip” their digitally converted audio tracks into MP3 format. Surprisingly, many of these artists have acknowledged through trial and error that supervising all aspects of the recording process can at times be daunting, and more than a little challenging. However that aspect of the music process fits Josh Wald like a glove. “I come up with the music, give Camille the hook, and he does all the rhyming. We help each other. I usually get an inspiration for a song anywhere and at anytime, I then have to get out from wherever. We go through ideas, we write and rewrite. The major part of the song is the sketch, you know, the pattern of the rap. I give him the pace for it. That's a producer’s job, but we do it together.” Josh Wald clearly possesses a great depth of musical, acoustical and technical understanding—therein lays his success as a producer. “Josh is a perfectionist,” continues, Camille, “He pushed me a lot to sound different; I’m glad he did. I appreciate his push—because of this we came up with a better sound.”
Under his direction, Wald Productions crafted an album that is flawless. Josh Wald and Camille Gaston had written some great songs, driving tunes, as well as the addition of digitally engineered beats, served as a backdrop to lyrical rhymes that are nothing short of poetic symphony. Fast forward to the supporting vocals performed at intervals by himself, Kerry Beach, Empress, and Rachel Platten, and the bands first album is a masterpiece.
What do they sound like? Like nothing you’ve ever heard. The album stands quite unmatched, unequaled, in its sound. Of Hearts is an unforgettable musical trip! My personal favorites: Sum Without, Good Times, Singing Again, and last but not least, a movie to all your senses? FLOOR EHT (Based on a true story).
Kerry Beach sings backup vocals to most of Gaston’s poetic rap. I want to ask if she is something more to Josh than a friend, but I don’t; I listen instead. “I went to homecoming with her; a friend of mine was interested in dating her. We lost touch for a while and met again on Myspace. She’s a very cool chick,” he offers. “Empress used to live in my building.” Her voice immediately reminds me of Macy Gray, I told him. “Yeah and a little Erica Baddue,” he adds, “I saw her once and recognized her—she’s also in another band called—Thursday Night All Stars—She’s done backup for other big hip hop artists. I asked her to join in one day, and she did.” But of course I mused, for who in their right mind, could possibly say NO to Josh Wald? I certainly couldn’t. “She is crazy,” he laughs, “but her voice... is magic.” Next there is Rachel Platten. “She’s not a permanent member of our band; I met her through a friend—she plays the piano, and she’s good. Things worked out, and she did ‘Love’ with us, but in the future, she’ll not tour with the band. She’s doing her own thing.”
The name ‘Mama’s Boy Goes Digital’ leaves me wondering as to its origin, so I ask. “During dinner one night with a friend, we were brainstorming on a name and came up with it (MBGD). It’s sort of a metaphor for innocence and magic gone analytical, the difference between believing in Santa Claus and not believing. Our world is at war. People aren’t as nice as they used to be; so we went digital, but the whole album is coming from a sensitive and caring place. I’ve been handing the CDs to people I care about.” His future plans are to get the band touring as soon as possible, but already the CD has hit the MYSPACE airwaves and the individual tracks are being purchased for download on iTUNES.
With audio compression technology (MPEG) so readily available, the question of copyright infringement is always an issue for every artist. “The industry is what it is; it’s our first production. I love doing what I do... money or no money I’m going to do it. We’ll probably make our money through live performances. I need to get them out there playing live. I’m looking for someone to help with the marketing aspect of it. We’re growing.” In the mean time Wald productions is busy working on producing new artists.
Josh is very passionate about his family, “My dad is excited that I’ve finished this project.” The perfectionist that he is at times does not allow him to finish everything he starts. “They are supportive.” He remains a bachelor, to the chagrin of many, but I’m more than sure he isn’t at all lonely. I’ve known Josh for only a short time, but for the second that I have, I find him a likeable, genuine, funny man, who recently made a move from Manhattan to Brooklyn. “Yeah, I live in Williamsburg. It is much quieter, and I have more space for my music equipment.” When I asked how he stays so fit, he replies “Ha! I’m always eating. My favorite(dish) is sushi and I love Mexican food!” Tough termed by many as a workaholic, (there may be some truth to this) since his schedule keeps him frequently on airplanes, over our heads, Josh has always been gracious enough to respond to my emails and phone calls.
It makes me think that sometimes, when you peer through the looking glass that, something of unusual brilliance might capture your attention. Its hue may even beckon a pause, to see if your mind has contrived some trickery before your eyes. But, if you’re patient, if you keep looking, you might just meet JOSH WALD.