Josiah Mann is a singer-songwriter from Springfield, Missouri, currently living in Brooklyn, NY. His songs come out of a long walk away from the certainties he grew up with, and what he found on the other side.
His first album, Grace, was a self-produced story album with an accompanying ten-song film project. The Awakening EP is its darker, more mature follow-up. It began as the start of a new full-length album with producer Jeff Smith, but an accident wiped out the masters, so the EP was released as the raw daily mixes.
Official site: https://www.josiahmann.com · Contact: music@josiahmann.com · Instagram · YouTube · Facebook
Produced by: Jeff Smith; Strings: David Wilson; Recorded: Springfield, Missouri, 2023
I begin experiencing a series of dreams that seemed to foretell of a dark and ominous future. I find myself waking up in a cold sweat, terrified by visions of cities in ashes, planets roaring by the earth as meteors fell from the sky, and people screaming in fear. It's the end of the age and I sense that I have some terrible role to play. I arrive late to a wedding. A friend points out that I'm not dressed for the occasion. I look down at my clothes and see that I'm wearing shorts and have forgotten my suit. I wake up devastated and can't hold back tears. A man grabs me violently and suddenly I'm over come with the spirit. I watch myself as the voice of a lion speaks through me, "Touch not a prophet of God!" it roars through me. I begin to look outwardly for a signs of change. God is calling me, I think. I have a special purpose. But nothing changes. I wake up every day and struggle to juxtapose the growing richness of my inner life with the deafening meaninglessness of my menial 9 to 5 job. I quietly hope for the end of the age to come so that I can finally be who I was meant to be.
https://www.josiahmann.com/music/awakening/echoes-of-our-future
This song came to me as I sat next to my dad in the sound booth at the back of my childhood church. As the pastor led us all in prayer for a couple of "lost" boys, teenage friends of mine who had recently lost their father, I was more interested in the way this man who I had accepted as my spiritual leader seemed to relish the spotlight of it all. Was he really concerned about their souls? I asked myself. Or was all of this really about his own need for significance? It might not seem this way, but I wasn't actually watching with judgement…. at least not the kind of judgement I was used to seeing. Over the past months, a newfound awareness had begun to change the way I viewed everything around me, but it had really started with the way I viewed myself. Previously, it had been all too easy to believe that all of my motives were generally pure. But my failure to adhere to my own standards when things really got tough had shaken that belief to the core. I had been so shocked by my ability to violate my own conscience that I began to question my motives with great judiciousness. My uncle, who my pastor warned me to be cautious of (because, while he did have an unquestionable prophetic gift he was currently out of God's will since he was estranged from his wife), had nonetheless been instrumental in encouraging me to examine my own motives. He taught me about the three basic emotional needs that drive all human decisions - the need for love and acceptance, the need for significance and power, and the need for purpose. The most fundamental, in his mind, was the need for purpose, but sometimes the other two became so powerful that they choked out the primary need and dominated the person's decisions. I didn't really care much for pie in the sky theories about things like that myself, but as I started to pay more attention to my own motives, I did find that an unconscious need to be validated by others that was silently driving far too many actions in my life. Further, it was as if it completely controlled me. I began to ask myself how anyone could become spiritually pure when their heart was constantly fighting against their better judgement? I was simultaneously disheartened and encouraged. I knew that if I could see why I was making decisions that didn't align with my faith and values; I had the power to change them. Maybe it really was possible to "Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect". Not that we would never make mistakes of course, but if we could purify these selfish motives then we would be able to act out of pure love; not just because we wanted something from someone else. But I was surprised to hear that my Christian friends didn't share my excitement and zeal. That's man's wisdom, not God's wisdom, they told me. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked," they quoted. That's dangerous ground you're treading on. You need to be careful of your uncle; he may be a wolf in sheep's clothing, they warned. Luckily, while I was confused and hurt at all the backlash from my friends and family at me just asking some simple questions, my newfound insight was not so lightly diminished. And as I began to see how these fundamental needs within myself silently hijacked my life's agenda, I couldn't help but see it in others too. So while I watched my pastor pray for these two prodigal sons, I could see the same thing I had often been seeing in myself. Not a pure, selfless desire to help someone in need; but a desire tainted with another, deeper need to feel significant and powerful. And on that day I finally realized that I couldn't possibly follow someone toward a goal they had never achieved themselves.
https://www.josiahmann.com/music/awakening/beneath-the-surface
Leaving church was really difficult for me. Because for me it was more than a thoughtless Sunday affair. It was a group of like minded people making our way through life together. I had known the pastor's kids since grade school and our families were always very close. Ryan, a year younger than me, had become like a brother to me. During my senior year I even convinced my parents to let me homeschool so I could play on the same basketball team as him (along with all of my guy friends from church). I had been on the worship team for years (with Ryan and I occasionally alternating worship leader responsibilities) and planned on becoming a worship leader one day. And, most importantly, I took my faith seriously. I was devoutly sincere in my effort to be a man of God. And while I felt absolutely certain about my decision to leave church for good, the decision also left me feeling a bit unsteady. I felt that God was calling me to leave the church in order to build a closer relationship with him, but that also meant venturing out into unknown waters. This song came to me as I reflected on the enormity of the forces that swept me away from my comfortable life and everything I once knew and into an uncertain future that held for me wonderful, but terrifying promises.
"Grace - A Story Album" is a short film that tells the story of a young man's journey through love and heartbreak through a series of 10 original music videos. The film follows the protagonist as he falls in love with a woman and begins a romantic relationship, only to make a mistake that leads to their eventual breakup. Each music video in the film represents a different stage in the protagonist's emotional journey, as he struggles to come to terms with his loss and find a way to move forward. Some videos are joyful and full of hope, while others are melancholic and introspective, exploring the depths of his pain and heartache. As the film progresses, we see the protagonist learn important lessons about love and his own need for validation and acceptance. Ultimately, he finds a sense of peace and closure, and is able to look back on his relationship with gratitude for the time they shared together. "Grace - A Story Album" is a powerful and emotional exploration of the human heart, told through a beautiful and moving collection of original music videos. It is a story of love and loss, growth and acceptance, and the power of introspection to help us heal and find our way forward.
Experience it at https://www.josiahmann.com/music/grace (also gracestoryalbum.com).
A young man falls in love after meeting the woman of his dreams, Grace. He confesses his love to her the following Valentine's day with a romantic gesture.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Madelynne Myers, Dakota Shanes; Filmed at: L&L Farm, Nashville Tn
After hearing about his daughter's new boyfriend, Grace's father invites Josiah out for coffee to get to know him a little better.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Viva La Strings Nashville; Filmed at: Historic Eastland, Nashville Tn
Things seem to be going well for Josiah and Grace, but their first fight causes the relationship to take an unexpected turn.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Kelsea Eskew, Dakota Shanes; Filmed at: Blackbox Studio, Nashville Tn
After spending a couple of weeks apart, Grace asks to meet Josiah at a coffee shop to discuss the future of their relationship.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Madelynne Myers, Dakota Shanes; Filmed at: L & L Farm, Nashville Tn
Josiah struggles to come to terms with the consequences of his actions.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Madelynne Myers, Dakota Shanes; Filmed at: L & L Farm, Nashville Tn
Josiah runs into Grace at a concert and can't understand how she is so happy.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Madelynne Myers, Dakota Shanes; Filmed at: L & L Farm, Nashville Tn
Grace is dating someone new. Josiah wonders if what they had was ever real to begin with.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Madelynne Myers, Dakota Shanes; Filmed at: L & L Farm, Nashville Tn
Grace's mom calls at Christmas time to check in on Josiah and confides in him.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Madelynne Myers, Dakota Shanes; Filmed at: L & L Farm, Nashville Tn
Just as Josiah starts to accept his new reality, Grace re-appears in his life and stirs up old feelings.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Madelynne Myers, Dakota Shanes; Filmed at: L & L Farm, Nashville Tn
Josiah crystallizes the lessons from his loss and starts looking at the world through a new lens.
Director: Jason Johnston; Producers: Josiah & Ashley Mann; Starring: Josiah Mann, Madelynne Myers, Dakota Shanes; Filmed at: L & L Farm, Nashville Tn
The songs of Grace, performed live at Hilson Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Where the Grace films tell the story on screen, these sessions strip it back to the songs: the band, the strings, and one take in the room.
Spotify · Apple Music · Watch on josiahmann.com
A young man falls in love after meeting the woman of his dreams, Grace. He confesses his love to her the following Valentine's day with a romantic gesture.
Electric Guitar: Brian Thomas; Cajon: Luke Thomas; Background Vocals: Logan Gentry; Recorded at: Hilson Studio, Nashville, TN; Recorded & mixed by: Music City Content Kings
After hearing about his daughter's new boyfriend, Grace's father invites Josiah out for coffee to get to know him a little better.
Violin: Anthony Parce, Tawny Williams; Viola: Jake Tudor; Cello: Grace Parce; Recorded at: Hilson Studio, Nashville, TN; Recorded & mixed by: Music City Content Kings
Things seem to be going well for Josiah and Grace, but their first fight causes the relationship to take an unexpected turn.
Electric Guitar: Brian Thomas; Drums: Luke Thomas; Background Vocals: Logan Gentry; Recorded at: Hilson Studio, Nashville, TN; Recorded & mixed by: Music City Content Kings
After spending a couple of weeks apart, Grace asks to meet Josiah at a coffee shop to discuss the future of their relationship.
Violin: Anthony Parce, Tawny Williams; Viola: Jake Tudor; Cello: Grace Parce; Recorded at: Hilson Studio, Nashville, TN; Recorded & mixed by: Music City Content Kings
Josiah struggles to come to terms with the consequences of his actions.
Violin: Anthony Parce, Tawny Williams; Viola: Jake Tudor; Cello: Grace Parce; Recorded at: Hilson Studio, Nashville, TN; Recorded & mixed by: Music City Content Kings
Josiah runs into Grace at a concert and can't understand how she is so happy.
Electric Guitar: Brian Thomas; Drums: Luke Thomas; Background Vocals: Logan Gentry; Recorded at: Hilson Studio, Nashville, TN; Recorded & mixed by: Music City Content Kings
Grace is dating someone new. Josiah wonders if what they had was ever real to begin with.
Electric Guitar: Brian Thomas; Drums: Luke Thomas; Background Vocals: Logan Gentry; Recorded at: Hilson Studio, Nashville, TN; Recorded & mixed by: Music City Content Kings
Just as Josiah starts to accept his new reality, Grace re-appears in his life and stirs up old feelings.
Electric Guitar: Brian Thomas; Drums: Luke Thomas; Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar: Logan Gentry; Recorded at: Hilson Studio, Nashville, TN; Recorded & mixed by: Music City Content Kings
Josiah crystallizes the lessons from his loss and starts looking at the world through a new lens.
Electric Guitar: Brian Thomas; Drums: Luke Thomas; Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar: Logan Gentry; Recorded at: Hilson Studio, Nashville, TN; Recorded & mixed by: Music City Content Kings
This is the text-only version of josiahmann.com for automated readers. Music, words and site design © Josiah Mann.