Tony Scott: 0:13

Welcome to The Jay Franze Show, a behind-the-curtain look at the entertainment industry, with insights you can't pay for and stories you've never heard. Now here's your host, Jay Franze.

Jay Franze: 0:42

Well, hello, hello, hello and welcome to the show. I am Jay Franze and this is your backstage pass to the music industry. This week we get to talk with a singer, a songwriter and a recording artist. We get to talk with Josie Sal. We'll talk to her about the dare that started it all, what it was like playing with Jelly Roll, and we'll discuss her new single Country, gold. Now, Josie, she is not just a vocal powerhouse, she is an amazing person and I can't wait to talk with her tonight. So if you would like to join in, comment or fire off any questions, please head over to jayfranze. com. Now let's get started. Can you tell us about the dare that started it all?

Josie Sal: 1:26

Yeah, so I started about two and a half years ago. It's coming right around three years now. In December it'll be three years, which is crazy. I feel like these have been the longest three years of my life. I tell people all the time they're like oh, you're 15 now. I'm like, nope, still 12. It's been, I feel, like years.

Jay Franze: 1:45

Are you telling me that this time has not flown by?

Josie Sal: 1:48

Well, it's flying and also the slowest thing at the same time. It's like my days just fly by. I'm like did I miss a birthday? Like am I actually 13 and I don't know it. But yeah, it's been about two and a half years since my dad dared me. We were like getting out of COVID and we had spent most of our time in Florida because we were off school and we were like, what are we doing in Pittsburgh? Like Pittsburgh, it's like all great. But then it's like, yeah, no, it's a great place, but if you live here, you're like I got to get out. So we spent most of our time in Florida. And then my parents. We've always wanted a house in Florida. So my parents, they got a house and we were like, we were so excited. We were like this is going to be the best time we've ever had. So our first trip, we brought the whole family. We had just gotten a dog too, so it was just like the best christmas ever well, well, well, you can't just gloss by it.

Josie Sal: 2:41

What kind of dog okay, it's a, she's a labradoodle and she's like 40 pounds and she's three. My brother took her to college and I'm very sad because I'm like, why did you steal my?

Jay Franze: 2:53

dog. How can you just take a dog to college?

Josie Sal: 2:55

I know, it's like we all say it's art. It's like I say it's my dog. My sister says it's her dog, so you know. But no, apparently it's my brother's dog now. But no, it was so much fun.

Josie Sal: 3:20

All I'm like whoa, what? When? Like, what happened to me? Like, send her back, all right, um, yeah, no, she's the perfect little puppy. Her name's Cartier. She's like, she's, yeah, she's such a little munchkin.

Josie Sal: 3:26

So it was like the best Christmas. We were having the best time and we went out to eat just with my uncle, who used to live here, but he moved. So we kind of followed him over there and we were having the best time and we went out to eat just with my uncle, who used to live here, but he moved. So we kind of followed him over there and we were out to eat and there was this band playing and we didn't actually know I could sing. It wasn't.

Josie Sal: 3:43

My parents weren't like oh my gosh, josie needs to go to all these places. We need to get our vocal lessons. It was just like oh cool, like it's Josie, like I was always dancing, singing, screaming, who knows. I'm like the fourth child, so I'm always trying to get up in like any little spotlight I can. I kind of saying I call it kind of like a party trick, because anytime we'd go to my parents house, my parents friends house, I would do karaoke with them and they would be like she kind of can sing. So my dad, he was like I, I wanted shopping money because you know, of course, of course and um, and he was like no, just sit with the family, like come on, it's like our first time here.

Josie Sal: 4:24

So I was like fine, and and he was like, but I'll give you 20 bucks if you sing with the band. And I was like, hey, 20 bucks is 20 bucks, I'll sing, sing. And I wasn't like this is going to make me a star or anything. I had no plans of doing this.

Jay Franze: 4:39

The rest of my life Were you nervous.

Josie Sal: 4:41

I've been a dancer since I was two, so it doesn't really scare me to be on stage unless I'm in front of my peers, and then it's all downhill from there. Nope.

Jay Franze: 4:51

We discussed this on the show once before. Are you more nervous when you're performing in front of strangers or in front of family and friends?

Josie Sal: 5:00

um, honestly, oh, that's a hard one. So my family and friends I mean my family like I think it's funny my parents raised me and my brothers sisters with, with very tough skin, like we can like the jokes in this family is like people look at my dad and he's like oh my gosh, you can't say that. And we're like no, that's the funniest thing I've ever heard. Unfortunately, I didn't win, but you know, it's okay, I still have many years to go back. And so the whole time he was like oh, josie, you're a double L, do you know what that stands for? And I was like what? And I just randomly I was like what, lucky loser? And he was like yeah, he was like so if you see that written on your door tomorrow morning, I was like you, don't say that to your daughter.

Josie Sal: 5:51

And I was like laughing and I was like that's no, that's hilarious. And so in front of my family, doesn't really bother me, because I know we are both thinking the same thing if I screw up. Oh, we both. I look at my sister, I look at my brother and I'm like that was awful. And everyone knows I've had people come up to me and they're like do you see the faces like your family makes, if you like, do something wrong or if you forget a word, I was like, yeah, it's just a part, it's just, you know, it's just it's all part of it.

Josie Sal: 6:19

It's all, it's all a part of it, it's the stuff. Oh, like my mom fully flinches when I screw up. She's like I'm like, ok, make it a little less obvious. So I would have to say kids my age, that I don't know.

Jay Franze: 6:40

Yeah, I always said that I would be more nervous performing in front of somebody I know than in front of a room full of strangers.

Josie Sal: 6:44

Yeah, no, I think it's just like adult strangers don't really bother me, my family and friends don't really bother me, because we all know the jokes are going to come anyways. Whether or not I'm good or horrible, it's, there's got to be the same jokes.

Jay Franze: 7:02

Somebody's got to keep you in check.

Josie Sal: 7:04

Yeah, oh yeah, my family definitely does. But yeah, probably kids my age, that I don't know.

Jay Franze: 7:10

All right. So your dad gives you $20 to get up on stage. What happens next?

Josie Sal: 7:15

Yeah, so originally the band says no. And I was like, dang it, I was really hoping you'd say yes. And so we sat down, we ate dinner. We watched the band. They were an amazing band, they're called Softbound, they're in Punta Gorda, and my dad? We ate dinner and my dad was like let me just ask again. And I was mortified. My mom was mortified, my sister was like she used to be very shy, now she's come out of her shell. But she was like hiding under the table. She's like there's no way Josie's about to sing when she never sings at all and dad's about to ask a second time. So she was just right off the bat. She was like this is not for me. I was like okay, I was like hey, I'm still in for the money. And they said yes, they were almost done tearing down. So I was like they're not gonna say yes. And they said yes. They were like what song you want to sing?

Josie Sal: 8:10

I had only knew one song. It was Dance Monkey by Tones, and I and I was over here like looking up the lyrics. I was like this I was like, okay, if I'm going to sound really bad, I have to know the lyrics Right. And so I got up and people started coming out from the inside. People came back out on the dance floor and I was like are you just putting like on an act, Cause I'm like 10 or like am I actually? And then I stepped out to like hear myself, cause I couldn't hear. And I heard it and I was like is that coming from me? I was like I can't sing. What is going on?

Josie Sal: 8:46

here, and then at the end you see the person who had originally told my dad no high five my dad and say you didn't tell me she was going to do that. I didn't know I was going to do that. My parents definitely didn't know I was going to do that. But ever since I caught the bug, and then whenever I went to Nashville I was still in school School was like my favorite part. I love school so much, which is everyone thinks I'm so weird, but I'm like school is my favorite. And Everyone thinks I'm so weird, but I'm like school is my favorite.

Josie Sal: 9:13

And I came home I was crying and it was last day of school and my brother was like why are you crying? He was like I hope those are happy tears and I was like I don't want to leave and he was like you're not normal at all. But so I didn't want to go, I didn't want to leave school and I went to Nashville and I was like mom, I'm ready. I was like I got to come down here ASAP. And you know, ever since it's just been crazy.

Jay Franze: 9:38

All right, so I've got so many questions.

Josie Sal: 9:41

It's a crazy story, it's crazy.

Jay Franze: 9:43

All right. So your dad $20 gets you up on stage, you sing. Obviously you love it. They were very impressed. The band, the audience, the audience, your family, everybody's happy. How do you go from that to this amazing connection of people that you have? How do you develop that kind of network?

Josie Sal: 10:04

I mean it's crazy. I a lot of um. I mean my networking is probably still right now. It's my parents. Like I get emails all the time and I'm like how did this person find my email? And I just read one. Yesterday I was at the gym with my friend and I was like, oh, I just got an email and I look and it's like hi, I met your dad on a plane and he played me your music the whole way.

Josie Sal: 10:30

And I'm like I am so sorry, but a lot of the networking was like my parents they well, after that they were like on it immediately. They were like we need to put Josie into some sort of lessons. We need to do so even though we had no knowledge about music or the industry at all. Like I was a dancer, I had plans on being a dancer, and so it was kind of it was kind of crazy how it happened. But like now that I think about it more, I didn't think about this in the beginning because I was like still like what's going on with my life right now? But now that I think of it it was like I mean I know everything was meant to be, but it was so meant to be because my parents we obviously knew nothing about the industry, but somehow it just all fell into place and they just took the right route, and so that's pretty much how most of the networking is. I probably have to give it to.

Josie Sal: 11:20

I have to probably give it all to my parents because I was my dad would just go up to random people still to this day. He's he'll see a group of family and he's like, do you guys like country music? And I'm like let them eat. Like, please, let them, let them sit. Enough family time.

Jay Franze: 11:37

I love how you say it just all comes together. I mean, I worked in nashville for 20 plus years. I worked in the music industry for 35 years and it takes forever for an artist to break. It takes forever for anybody in the music industry to create a career, and here it is. You're so very young and you've done it in just a year or two and it's very, very impressive. I mean you've played some of the most iconic venues there are. You've played Tootsies, you've played Rippies, you've played Dierks Bentley's place, Bon Jovi's place. I mean you've played all of these venues. You've had an opportunity to work with such amazing artists or get up on stage and sing with some of the best, but that's super impressive. Are you aware of just how impressive that is?

Josie Sal: 12:23

It's crazy. It still blows my mind. I still am barely processing any of it, like my friend the other day texted me. It's always my friends too. They're always like do you actually know what's happening to you? I'm like no, I have no idea, I have no idea what is going on. I had my first show at Rippy's and I was like, okay, it's not Tootsies but this is crazy.

Jay Franze: 12:46

Your first show, my first show, was at Rippy's.

Josie Sal: 12:49

Yeah, I know I was like my mind is being blown right now. No, it's crazy Everything that has been going on. But I have a song. I wrote it. It's called God's Driving this Train and I feel like it explains everything because it's like it was. We came straight out of COVID, no idea I could sing at all, and then, all of a sudden, all this started happening. It's only been two and a half years and I'm already. I've already released my third song. I'm like this is crazy.

Josie Sal: 13:17

It's all, it's all. It's going so fast but so slow at the same time. And it's just I yeah, no, I'm not processing it at all I have.

Jay Franze: 13:27

I have three daughters. I have a 14, a 10 and a two. They're all dancers, like yourself, and they take it extremely serious. My 10-year-old she was on the show once before because she auditioned and got into the Cincinnati Ballet and was part of the Nutcracker. So I mean they take it very, very serious, but I don't know that any of them can sing and I would love it if they just came to you one day. Oh, by the way, I can sing. Let's go ahead and get a career going.

Josie Sal: 13:54

Yeah, it's crazy.

Jay Franze: 13:55

But you say my very first gig was at Rippy's. Okay, but it's not Tootsie's. But yeah, you played Tootsie's as well and Tootsie's is probably the most iconic venue down on Broadway and it's specifically known because Hank Williams used to go between the Opry and Tootsies through the back alley, go there to drink in between shows and then go back and play his next show. Did any of that stuff go through your mind? Were you aware of just how iconic of a venue that was?

Josie Sal: 14:27

Yeah, my first time to Nashville, we were waiting in lines. All of the lines are craziness. My first time there was Halloween weekend too, so it was even crazier. And I mean from the start. As soon as I landed, I was like this feels like home, this feels right. I was like what's Pittsburgh? No, I was like this is this is my place.

Jay Franze: 14:48

Don't pay attention right now.

Josie Sal: 14:49

I was like I was like Pittsburgh, I don't know, um, no, but as soon as I got to Nashville I fell in love and we were standing in. Now I was like Pittsburgh, I don't know, no, but as soon as I got to Nashville I fell in love and we were standing in line and I was just kind of looking around I was still not really in line because I was just everywhere and I just kind of looked over and I see Willie Nelson in front and I was like okay. I was like okay.

Jay Franze: 15:13

Now do you kind of get where you are.

Josie Sal: 15:15

I was like, oh, okay, so that's yeah Okay. I was like, so it's all adding up now, because I was like the famous Tootsies I always I mean, I always knew about that, but until I actually got there and like looked at the front of it, I was like, oh my gosh. And that's when I got a little scared for my first time. So I was like I have no idea who's here.

Jay Franze: 15:41

Let's talk about that for a minute. What was going through your mind right before you get on stage?

Josie Sal: 15:47

Um well, I mean, always first thing that goes through my mind is lyrics. I'm like, don't screw this up, but I, I love performing. It's like my favorite thing to do. And so the first thing that was running through my mind it was like this is Nashville and this crowd is gonna be so much fun and they all are country music lovers. But once I got up there and I started having fun, it was just it felt so natural, it felt so right. So I wasn't really nervous, but I was definitely looking around because I was like Flaney Wilson walks through this back door or something, and I see someone. I'm jumping off stage and I'm going to sing with them. I was like I'm gone guys. But yeah, it was crazy. It was so much fun, there was so much running through my mind that I don't even know what was going on that'd be funny if she walked in and cut up and sang with you oh, that would be crazy.

Josie Sal: 16:45

If that ever happens, like my dad, he's always. He's always. Like you know, someone could walk through this door absolutely don't tell me that absolutely I don't know.

Jay Franze: 16:55

I mean, I'm sure you've seen all the videos of people on stage and someone could walk through this door. Absolutely, don't tell me that. Absolutely, I don't know. I mean, I'm sure you've seen all the videos of people on stage. They're singing a cover and the person who sings the song comes in from behind or gets up on stage and any of those types of things happen all the time there.

Josie Sal: 17:08

Yeah, we were just there and I just kind of looked on my Instagram and I see it's live and I'm like that person is so familiar. I zoom in and it's Kid Rock on stage and I was like guys, I'm going to Broadway, I'll see you later. I was like I gotta go catch Kid Rock.

Jay Franze: 17:27

Of course, yeah, right.

Josie Sal: 17:28

Yeah, it's crazy. The amount of celebrities that just walk on the street is like how are you just normally just walking so casual, like they're not famous at all? And I love how respectful the people on Broadway are. They don't act like, oh my gosh. I think it helps that, especially without security. I mean like a while ago I would have thought, oh, they have to have security all times, but in Nashville the people are so respectful they just let them walk and just hang out. I saw Winona Judd just walking on the street and me it was my first time in Nashville. I was like that's not normal. Where's your, where are the bodyguards? I was like, so you're just walking on Broadway? That's totally not normal. She just walked in.

Josie Sal: 18:14

Nate. Yeah, I was like is that a lookalike or?

Jay Franze: 18:17

no, my friend was playing a couple weeks ago or maybe a month at this point, but he was playing in naturally he's playing at losers and Post Malone walked in and got up on stage and sang with him and hung out with him all night long. He's like oh yeah, we're gonna get together and do some songs together and stuff. I mean it is. It is that type of town. I mean. Once you make a connection, it doesn't matter if you're famous or if you're not. If you click with somebody, they want to be your friend.

Josie Sal: 18:44

Yeah, it is a great thing.

Josie Sal: 18:45

You never know who you're going to meet down there and I feel like Nashville makes people realize that stars are normal people and that they just live a normal life. They go home with their family every night and you know it's just normal. And it's it's kind of crazy because at first I was looking and like Riley green and people were like, oh yeah, like he left his meet and greet and I was like, well, I mean, he does do normal people things, like if he was tired, he was tired. I was like he doesn't just have 24 hours just staying awake and I was like I bet you he didn't sleep last night either. So if he's tired, let him go. But yeah, I think Nashville definitely makes people realize that everyone's just a normal person well as we.

Jay Franze: 19:34

As we, as we talk about these normal people, can you tell me what it was like getting up on stage and playing with the normal? You know jelly roll.

Josie Sal: 19:42

Yeah, um, it was very not normal actually. So it all happened off of a sign. There was nothing set up before. He just happened to read my sign and I went backstage.

Jay Franze: 19:55

the first thing before we do that, before we do that, tell us what the sign said the sign said um, laney's on her way to Alabama.

Josie Sal: 20:03

Can I sing save me with you? So? And then there was a picture of me and jelly roll and it said um, josie hearts, jelly. It was really cool how it happened, because my dad had he never has a TV on in the morning and he just randomly had the TV on at like 6am.

Jay Franze: 20:20

How much money did your dad give you for that?

Josie Sal: 20:24

Hey, I'm down for some with no money. I was like no money needed. I was like I'll pay you. I was like whatever works. But yeah, he just the randomly and he had like the news on or something and someone was interviewing jellyroll and they were like we know, you don't need plugged, but where are you next? And he said star lake. And my dad was like oh, my gosh, and my dad, he had just found out who jellyroll was.

Josie Sal: 20:50

Because he was just starting and because laney, I'm laney super fan. It's kind of. At first it was a little creepy and now I'm a normal again. But, um, but he was like. He came into my room and my first response was what are you doing? I'm sleeping, I ain't getting up right now. Um, but he was like do you want to sing with jelly tomorrow? And I was like how do you have that power to do that? What are you talking about? And he walked back into my. He walked back into his room and he told my mom. He was like josie's gonna sing with jelly tomorrow and your dad's making me look bad right now.

Jay Franze: 21:28

I'm just telling you that dad?

Josie Sal: 21:30

no, dad, right off the bat. I don't know, he has some superpowers that I have no idea how, what goes on in his mind, but his mind just works differently. I every time it's like he goes to do something, I'm like that. I would never do that.

Jay Franze: 21:45

But if my kids are listening. It's time for you to go to bed yeah.

Josie Sal: 21:50

So he just, you know, like he went and he got the tickets the day before the show. So obviously we weren't in the pit or anything. We were in like section one and it was off to the side and I was like looking up, I was like dad, there's no way she's gonna see my sign, like he can't probably see this far, also the lights. And he was like yeah, you're right. So he just walks out into the pit and I'm like whoa bud, you don't have a ticket. And he said to security she was like wait, you need a wristband. And he said my daughter has a sign. Is it okay if she just stands here and then we can go back to our seats? And she said yeah. And I was like something's just not, something's not, the math isn't adding up here. And she said yeah, and so I was just I was kind of timid because I didn't want to like make anyone behind me mad. And she was like here, stand on my chair. So already I'm like you let us into the pit. We don't have a ticket. Now you're letting me stand in your chair. That's crazy. So I stood on her chair and she was like Jelly's coming, like put your sign up. So I put my sign up. He came over, he read it and he was like yeah, I got you.

Josie Sal: 23:02

And so everyone in the pit like turned around because they were like who's he talking to? And so everyone in the pit started chanting Josie and everyone thought they were chanting Jelly. So it was like Jelly Josie. And I was like OK, so it was like jelly josie. And I was like okay, and security came around and they said jelly wants you backstage and I was like oh, okay, I was like I'll be there, so I started yeah, I was like that's crazy. So I started walking around and they were like no, we're not ready for you yet. And so I ran all the way back around. I had already made it backstage and they were like no, he's not ready either yet.

Josie Sal: 23:37

And I was like ah, and so I ran back and I went back to my parents and then they were like, okay, he's ready for you. So they took me and they left my parents. So my parents were like, well, obviously my mom knew where I was going, but she was like, wait, did we just like, josie, go security? And then I was like, yeah, no, my dad now, all the time he's telling the story. He's like so we, yeah, there's no explanation for this. So they took me and they were like how old are you? And I was 11 at the time 42 I was like.

Josie Sal: 24:09

I was like I'm 11 and they were like oh yeah, you need your parents. So I walked all the way back around. I was like I really got 11. And they were like, oh yeah, you need your parents. So I walked all the way back around.

Jay Franze: 24:19

I was like I really got my set up. You're going to be out of breath before you sing.

Josie Sal: 24:21

Yeah, I was like if I'm singing, I'm going to be like. So I got my parents, we went backstage and everything from backstage is kind of a blur. But I just remember my dad looking at me. He's like warm up, warm up. And I'm like do you think I was like you think? That's the first thing going through my mind. I was like look, and he looks out and everyone is holding their flashlight in the air and there's 26 plus thousand people and I'm over here like this, about to be the coolest thing ever, and him and my mom are shaking. They're like oh no, what is going to happen?

Jay Franze: 24:53

were you nervous?

Josie Sal: 24:55

I was not. I 26 000 people is so much easier to sing in front of than three people. I think you don't have to look everyone in the eyes I can actually understand that I gotcha yeah so.

Josie Sal: 25:07

And then I see a person coming from like backstage and they're holding a mic and I'm like oh, this is real. Oh, I'm like yikes, so maybe I should actually start preparing now. And I got the mic and they're like this is Jelly's last song. I was like he's sharing the encore with me, okay. So I grabbed the mic and I was like when do I go on? Like what do I do?

Josie Sal: 25:34

I was so nervous at that point because I didn't know what was like going to go on. I didn't know how I was going to walk up. I wasn't nervous about singing, I was just nervous about how everything was going to play out. So they were like Jelly will just wave you on. I was like okay, and so, mid-chorus, I'm like about to start singing. And he, mid-chorus, I'm like about to start singing. And he's like come on. And I walked on and first thing was like I can't hear anything. Nothing, couldn't hear myself couldn't, could barely hear the music. And there was also fire, like the flames going off behind me. I was like I'm gonna catch on fire can't hear myself.

Josie Sal: 26:12

This is gonna sound really bad, and I'm on stage with jelly roll, so this is great and it was. It was so cool couldn't hear myself. If you watch the video, I promise you I've gotten better. It was really bad. It was really bad. I saw it the next morning because I think we got home at like two o'clock in the morning with pittsburgh traffic and everything, and it was like jelly had to postpone his concert like a little bit. He had to push it back because the line no one could get in at all. So we were driving back home and it took probably like an hour and a half to get home. So I got home, I went straight to bed and my mom wakes me up at 545. Okay, I'm like girl, I just fell asleep, what are you doing here? And she was like a radio station just called and said are you Josie's mom and I? So I was like, oh my gosh. So I look at the video and it had went viral and I was like, oh, that's not me. I was like I don't claim her.

Jay Franze: 27:14

So what was it about the performance that you weren't happy with?

Josie Sal: 27:21

I sound okay. The first thing, I mean what I heard from on stage, the first thing that I kind of said it was like I sound really baby right now because I couldn't hear myself so I was singing really slow the tempo. If you, if you watch the video, you see um Jelly Roll pop out his in-ears and start to pace me.

Jay Franze: 27:42

Which was a very cool thing to do.

Josie Sal: 27:44

Yeah, it was. So I was like thank the Lord for you, because this would have been really worse. And it was, yeah, it was. So I was so thankful that he did that because now that I look at it I was like I needed that or else that song would have never been over. It was pretty much just the way I sounded was the only thing. Now that I look at it, I was like I needed that or else that song would have never been over. It was pretty much just the way I sounded, was the only thing. Stage presence wasn't really there, because I was stuck. I thought I was paralyzed on stage because I was like what if I go further? It was kind of crazy. Pretty much just the way I sounded was the worst part.

Jay Franze: 28:22

Well, if that's your worst performance, by God you've got a career.

Tony Scott: 28:27

I mean absolutely Thank you.

Jay Franze: 28:30

I mean, you've got to understand too. That's not only his finale. It's his finale because it's by far his most popular song. I mean, it's a killer song, and the song itself is heart-wrenching.

Josie Sal: 28:42

Yeah, it's a deep song.

Jay Franze: 28:44

When you're up there. Do you make that connection to the song?

Josie Sal: 28:49

So I mean, in that instance I was like somebody save me, because I'm scared. But I mean, the thing about me is I'm a lyric person. I, if I'm going to sing a song, I know every single lyric, I know why the person wrote it and I know what it means to me, which I've always kind of been that way. I've always been somewhat of a writer since I was a kid. I'm still only 12. But since. I was younger.

Jay Franze: 29:17

Since I was yesterday.

Josie Sal: 29:19

Yeah, since I was younger, I've always been a writer. I've always written like my thoughts down, so I've always thought about lyrics and I always know the story behind the song. So, although I couldn't relate to it and I wasn't really sure what it meant to me, I know how he felt and I know what the lyrics meant to a lot of people to me. I know how he felt and I know what the lyrics meant to a lot of people. So that's pretty much how I kind of felt through that song, just like weight in the truck. I sing that song too and I definitely can't relate to that one. So it's I if I can't relate to it. I know what it means to them and I just try to put myself in their shoes.

Jay Franze: 29:56

I mean it's a great song, I mean the first time I heard this song.

Tony Scott: 30:13

I was like whoa, that's deep that that's.

Josie Sal: 30:15

There's a lot of feeling in there. I'm good. I was like actually I'm living my best life now. But yeah, it's definitely a deep song and I don't sing it as often as I used to now, mainly because I'm singing a lot of my own music.

Jay Franze: 30:30

But well, you sang the song in Nashville too, right yes, I did.

Josie Sal: 30:34

I sang it with um Buckwild this past weekend, yeah, but I I feel like there's a time and place for that song. So I mean, in Nashville you can sing it, because it's Nashville first of all, but I feel like there's a time and place for that song. So if I'm going to a family venue I probably won't sing it. But, yeah, I like some fun music, but I like to slow it down, so that's why I love that song.

Jay Franze: 30:59

You also sing a good amount of covers, but you sing some of my favorites. I mean some of my favorite bands growing up were Journey was my favorite band. Van Halen was up there in the top five for sure. You sing both of those. Are there any bands like Journey or Van Halen or any of the others that just challenge you?

Josie Sal: 31:16

So I started singing Van Halen. My first song well, like my second song I've ever learned was Journey. And then after that I was singing Dance the Night Away in Panama and Twisted Sister, yeah, crazy way to start.

Josie Sal: 31:32

Don't know how I got to come up with it, but I mean, I love older music and I also love rock, which is really funny. The other day I told my mom I I was like we were in Lucky Bastards on Broadway. I don't remember what song was playing, but they were getting a lot of rock requests, like hard rock, like heavy metal type rock requests. And my mom and like I was having the time of my life listening to this music and I was like mom, you know, I think I like this, even like as much as country, like maybe even a little more. And she looked at me like what did you say? I was like, no, I love this music. And she's like, yeah, that's probably why you're so like country rock, that's, I love incorporating rock into my music. But yeah, I mean, starting off with Journey and Van Halen definitely taught me some things about voice. Yeah, journey, van Halen.

Jay Franze: 32:27

What's the biggest challenge?

Josie Sal: 32:30

My most challenging song is probably my song honestly, because when we were writing Country Gold it's my newest release that's probably my most challenging song.

Jay Franze: 32:42

Very powerful.

Josie Sal: 32:43

I love to challenge myself on my music. I love to make it the best it can be. When we were in the writing studio, I wrote with Noah Henson, which is also my producer and my guitar player. He's the best. I love him and um getting in the studio with him and Noah West, which is also who I wrote this song with, and then um Presley Tennant, which is she also joined in like the end um of the song how's the connection to Presley?

Josie Sal: 33:18

um, so I found Presley through Noah West, which he also wrote. But I love her she's, I love her music and at first I mean I had never written with a girl writer until her. And then I now I've been writing with girls but I loved it and getting in a room with them was so easy because Noah Henson I don't know, it just felt like he was like he's really, he's so sweet, he's so cool and it just felt right like he was so sweet. He wasn't, it's hard to describe because he was. It just felt right. And then Noah West reminded me a lot of my brother, so it was really easy to write with him. Even as soon as I met him he was like no, I want to give you a brother talk. And I was like all right, give it to me. I was like, okay, presley also reminded me a lot of my sister, which is crazy and she's just super cool.

Josie Sal: 34:15

And she's a powerhouse vocalist, for sure as well yeah, when we were writing Country Gold it, it was Presley singing. It was also. We finished the song at like 1.30 am, so it was a long day, and so Presley was singing and I was like thank the Lord for you, because I could not do a workday break. I was like I was like falling asleep on the couch when we were like done writing it and I was like guys on the couch when we were like done writing it and I was like, guys, we need to go. I was like I'll fall asleep here. But she hit a note that we really, really wanted in the song and they all looked at me and they were like thank you, thank you.

Jay Franze: 34:52

Yeah, I was like great, that's great.

Josie Sal: 34:54

I love that for me. I was like so whenever I have to play this live, I'm going to call you and be like can you do this? And they both looked at me Noah and Noah. They both looked at me and they were like can you hit that note? And I was like I can try. And I hit it. And I was like, yeah, I mean, if I can hit it, I'll put it in the song. And I hit it and ever since been terrified. But we finally got it. We've gotten better, we're slowly. My vocal coach was like second song you write and this is what happens. I'm sorry. I was like, but please help. And we did it and we got through it and now it's definitely easier to sing. But now that note is like somehow I get it in every song and I'm like, why do I do this to myself? But yeah, my music is probably the most challenging music.

Jay Franze: 35:48

So you do this work tape. What comes after the work tape? Are you then going straight to the studio or what's next?

Josie Sal: 35:57

So it's it's a process and it's also a long process because Noah Henson is on tour with Brantley, gilbert and Pillar. So when I first met him he was just about to go on tour with Pillar, so he hadn't he hadn't been on the road with Pillar yet, but he was like, soon I'm gonna be on two tours at once, so we gotta get this rolling. So we start with a work tape and we write into the work tape in the same night we just kind of knock it out there and then after that I like to sit with the song. Personally it's I just love, you know, listening to it, getting to like feel the song more, which is it's kind of confusing because like, yeah, I wrote the song, but also I want to make me feel the song more, which is it's it's kind of confusing. It's like yeah, I wrote the song, but also I want to make me and the song one. So I like to sit with it for a while. I sat with it for a month because Noah was like on the road, so we got back, we, we sat in the studio, he also.

Josie Sal: 36:57

He likes to get a good track down before we do anything else, so he does everything by himself and then later, once vocals are done, then he'll bring in people for instruments. So it kind of it's a big process. So then after work tape, he does what he likes to do. He kind of just does a little drums and a little just mix, and then I throw vocals on it and sometimes I do background vocals, sometimes I don't, and I did vocals and then he brings the instruments in, he gives us like a little mix and once we like the mix, then he masters it and it's a long process but it's so much fun and in the end they're all. I don't know how he does it. Every time I'm like, how do you make them each better? Like this is crazy. But yeah, my first time in the studio with him, me and my parents were like our jaws were on the floor and probably lower because we were just shocked he was just playing guitar, so naturally, like it was practice and I was like, yeah, he just learned this. Guys.

Jay Franze: 38:04

Yep, I always say that Nashville has the most impressive musicians in the world. I mean it's the best musicians in the world, best engineers in the world, best producers. I mean it's truly a team of fascinating and amazing people. The very first time you heard the song, the finished product, how impressed were you? There was the very first time you heard the song, the finished product.

Josie Sal: 38:24

Well, you know how impressed were you. Um, there was just something about it. Whenever I got the tape back and I was like this is different. It was like it gave me a feeling that it was like this might actually people might actually really really like this one on my way. I mean, I love that one and I knew people could relate. Whether you're any age, you can relate and so I really liked that. But there was just a different feeling between Country.

Jay Franze: 38:51

Gold and On my Way I was like All the power to you. It doesn't sound like a 12-year-old singing a song. I mean, it sounds killer. It sounds like any song you'd hear on the radio. Your voice is deep, it's rich, it's got this power to it. But I'm sure you're starting to get feedback. What's the feedback been like?

Josie Sal: 39:09

I am so thankful People ate the song up. When I I started singing at my shows a while before I released it. But at my shows immediate feedback was starting to happen and it was all really good, which is another reason why I right off the bat, was like this is gonna be a good song. But the feedback has been so nice, so kind. Everyone has loved it, which is really cool.

Josie Sal: 39:38

I wrote this song about how, like the music that filled my house and my grandpa's house mainly my grandpa's house. He's the one who loved country music. He passed away probably five years ago but he loved country music. Breakfast country music was playing. He hardly watched TV. It was country music. So it's about the music that filled me and my grandpa's house and what I was raised on, because I know not a lot of kids my age can relate, but I know a lot of people can relate and I think it's really cool because that's how I was raised and I think even if you weren't raised like that, I think you can kind of still vibe to it and I think it's a fun song. I like writing my music how you can dance to it, but you can also just sit in the car and listen to it. So this one just I don't know it hit different and I loved it.

Jay Franze: 40:32

All right, we do this thing here. We call Unsung Heroes, where we take a moment to shine the light on somebody who works behind the scenes or somebody who may have supported you along the way. I might know the answer to this question is there anybody that you would like to shine a little light on?

Josie Sal: 40:45

um, no, I mean other than my parents Ryan McMahon, brad Balsama, noah Henson, noah West, presley, kelly Johnson she's another writer that she emailed me after my show. She'd just seen me and we've written some fun songs. Who else let's think? Oh, oh, hey, we got to think the people from Florida.

Josie Sal: 41:11

Mike Riley he's a part of the boogeyman. He was my first real band that I played with. I look up to him like a mentor. He's the sweetest person ever and it's so funny because I always get these texts.

Josie Sal: 41:23

And at first my mom, my dad's always the one who asked and my mom's the one who, just, you know, sits there and videos and all that stuff, and my dad wasn't there and so I was like, mom, I really want to sing with this band. And she's like, all right, I'll try to ask. And it took her an hour and a half of convincing to let me sing and I got up and ever since then I've sang with the band, I've gone on stage and now we just go. I go to his house, we sing songs, he just sits there and plays guitar, but yeah's so sweet.

Josie Sal: 42:00

And then probably Brian Turner he's the one who gave me the opportunity to open for Riley Green, and then my uncle, my aunt, because we wouldn't have, we wouldn't have gotten a house in Florida if it weren't for them. So you know, he also, he loves, he loves to claim it. So we got a shout out to Uncle Tom. And then, um, also my sound guy, dennis, his Dennis Dees, um, it's Dees Audio and you know I don't know how he does it, I don't know what he does, it's just the amount of knowledge he has on all of this stuff blows my mind. And then, whenever I come here and I'm with a really really good sound guy like Dennis, I don't know what to do. I'm so used to you being here, I don't know. But yeah, those are probably all of the people, but there's so many more people behind the scenes, but those are the people that have really, really stood out and, you know, helped so much.

Jay Franze: 42:59

A big thanks to Josie for taking the time to share her stories with us and thank you for taking the time to hang with me here, as always. I really do appreciate it. If you know anyone that would enjoy this episode, please be sure to share it. You can do that and find the links to everything mentioned over at jayfranze. com/ episode 100. Thanks again for listening and I'll see you next week.

Tony Scott: 43:25

Thanks for listening to The Jay Franze Show. Make sure you visit us at jayfranze. com Follow, connect and say hello.