BURBANK, CA -- 06/30/08 --
Tennessee-born singer and songwriter Josiah
Leming has signed a publishing and recording deal with Warner Bros.
Records. The 19-year-old newcomer is currently in London with
producer/musician David Kosten (Bat For Lashes, Faultline) recording tracks
for his debut album, which Warner Bros. Records will release this fall.
Many fans will recognize Leming from his appearance on Season 7 of
"American Idol." His electrifying performances and moving story struck a
chord with viewers who turned up in droves on Leming's MySpace page to send
messages of support and listen to the original songs he had posted. Since
then, the page has racked up nearly three million views, while Leming's
songs have been listened to more than two million times collectively, a
number that surpasses that of many established bands.
Not only did fans begin to post videos of themselves covering Leming's
songs on YouTube, but people flocked to his MySpace page and played his
songs by the millions proving that the young artist's songwriting skill,
powerfully expressive voice, and passionate performance style could capture
a wide audience.
"Josiah's talent as a lyricist is one of the main reasons I signed him,"
says Warner Bros. Records' Senior Vice President of A&R Perry
Watts-Russell. "All of his emotions go into his songs. He has an
extraordinary gift for turning his experiences into art."
Leming left his home in Morristown, TN, at age 17 to make it as a musician,
leaving behind eight siblings (six of whom are adopted), an out-of-work
stepfather, and a mother with terminal illness. As Leming traveled around
the Southeast playing open-mic nights in any club or coffeehouse that would
have him, he slept in his car and took odd jobs to pay for food and gas,
all the while dreaming about the album he would make one day.
"No matter what I have gone through, I have the same feelings every kid has,"
Leming says. "And I think I can put those feelings in such a way that they
connect with people and help them get through their hard times. If my music
can give others something they can express their emotions through, that's
the whole point."
For more on Josiah Leming, please visit his MySpace page,
www.myspace.com/josiahleming.
For more information please contact:
Warner Bros. Records Publicity
Rick Gershon
(818) 953-3473
rick.gershon@wbr.com
