November 12 – Editor’s Note: Venue Plus continues In Case You Didn’t Know, a weekly feature of fun tidbits about New Mexicans and their projects.
Josh Grider always has a pen on paper when he is writing songs.
He continued to write and hang out with his family during the pandemic.
Many of the songs written during this period are part of Grider’s latest album “Long Way From Las Cruces” which will be released on Friday November 12th.
The Las Cruces native now lives in Texas, but the land of enchantment is always with him.
He says the album is a celebration of life’s silver lining as well as an ode to all of the ups and downs that have marked his 20-year career.
“Despite all the turmoil we face every day, you can find peace and contentment anywhere if you look for it,” says Grider. “I think I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
Grider took the time to finish working on the songs and think about what was really important.
“I started reading a lot of stoic philosophy and thinking about the things that were really important to me in my life,” he says. “When you turn 40 you already do that, and then there’s a global pandemic and all the political turmoil and you just want to spend more time with the people you love and who you love.”
When it came time to record the album, Grider didn’t travel to Nashville, Tennessee as usual. Instead, he wanted to stay in Texas and record with his band. There they put together the eight songs that made the album. “Boots on My Feet” is the first single on the album.
“I’ve been playing with these guys for almost 20 years,” he says. “I wanted the album to show them too. We spent four days in Wimberley and worked with Adam Odor, who directed my debut album. “
Grider also wanted to produce the album himself because it is so personal and a snapshot of where he is in life.
The story goes on
“Without everything that has happened to me, the good and the bad, I wouldn’t be who I am,” says Grider. “I don’t want to sound complacent, but I’ve been to many places and done many things in my life, and I’ve never felt more comfortable on my journey than I am now. There are still a lot I would like to achieve, but this Tempo of everything feels really good to me. “
Grider hopes to return to New Mexico for some gigs. In the meantime, here are a few things you probably didn’t know about the Las Cruces natives:
Here are a few things you probably didn’t know about the Las Cruces natives:
1 “I love to surf and I love to cook.”
2 “I recorded the album at Yellow Dog Studios in Wimberley, Texas. The yellow dog’s real name is Lucy.”
3 “In the song ‘Long Way From Las Cruces’ I put a lot of names into it. Listen to it and see what you recognize.”
4 “I learned to ski in Ruidoso.”
5 “I graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1998 and attended New Mexico Boys State.”
On-line
Josh Grider from Las Cruces will release his new album “Long Way From Las Cruces” on Friday November 12th. Check it out on joshgrider.com or Spotify.
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