Dear Josiah Queen,
Hey. I’m Ava. You don’t know me, but I kind of feel like I know you. Such is the result of the small world we live in today, made smaller by social media and such. Anyway, the other day my family and I drove several hours to see you in concert. I had received tickets to your show several months before as a birthday gift, and that was by far my most favorite gift. The entire event made me so, so happy. Singing my favorite songs with a bunch of fellow Jesus freaks and Josiah Queen fans and the Josiah Queen himself?? AAHHHH!!
Though I dearly loved the whole thing, my favorite part of the entire show was when you stopped singing. You held out your mic to the crowd, and the look on your face as we sang your song back to you was absolutely priceless. The awe. The wonder. The joy. You looked so happy!! It’s as if you couldn’t believe that a room full of hundreds of people would care enough to pour our hearts back at you in a song you wrote, something that you took a chance on. It can’t be easy to put a part of your soul out in the world to be judged by an all too critical audience, but you do it time after time anyway. You poured out your heart to us, and you seemed in awe when we poured our hearts right back to you. And I loved it.
Josiah, you’re such a light. You love what you’re doing, and it shows. You couldn’t help but grin – and oh, what a grin – as you looked out at all the people who showed up not just to listen to you sing, but also to glorify God. You’re doing what you feel called to do – and it can’t be easy. But hey, you are having the time of your life!! I’m not sure how comfortable you were on a stage, in front of so many eyes, when you started out, but honestly at this point it looks like the middle of your comfort zone. You were having so much fun, and it influenced literally everyone in the audience. And like you said at the end, you didn’t want to leave, didn’t want it to end. Seeing your enthusiasm and joy in life, I couldn’t help but smile.
Speaking of joy. You sang Can’t Steal My Joy. A song that I had grown numb towards since it’s played over and over and o v e r on the radio. And you gave it new life. It was like hearing it for the first time all over again. Thanks for that!! You also played Watch Your Mouth. And that made me soooo happy, since it’s one of my favorites of yours!! 🎶Watch your mouth, boy, don’t you talk like that🎶 Aaahhh!! You sang a life worth dying and made me fall in love with it (just ask my bestie, she got to hear it more than a few times the other day because I listened to it on repeat and got it stuck in my head lol). I had never given it much thought before, but wow it’s so good!! And ofc you sang a lot more than those. And ofc I loved every. single. song. I wanted to go back the next night, since there were still tickets left, but no such luck. Too far to drive again, I suppose.
Your energy is insane though!! It cannot be easy to sing (in your head voice), play the guitar (and ofc you weren’t playing normal chords), and jump around the stage all at once and still give a quality performance. I can’t imagine how sweaty you were after that concert was over. But your energy was contagious. I don’t think the people in the mosh pit ever stopped jumping.
I’m afraid you have but one flaw: You don’t sing in quite the same key I do. And that makes it difficult to sing along with you sometimes, since I have to constantly pop up and down the octave to try and stay on-key. My brother (or dad, not sure rn) commented as we walked back to our car that you couldn’t possibly go any higher though!! I suppose that’s totally valid, but my brother also commented that your head voice is, and I quote, “beautiful.” So bravo there. I don’t hold it against you, fear not!!
I loved getting to “meet” your wife, Trinity!! She seems so nice, and the word she had for us was so timely and real. She’s right. We, now more than ever, need to be lights for Jesus. Our world is so messed up, but we don’t have to fight this battle alone. We desperately need Jesus right now. So, thanks for that reminder, Trinity!!
Josiah. You seem so real. So genuine. So down-to-earth. You’re so popular, and you’re only twenty-two. You’ve done so much, come so far, in only twenty-two years. It kind of makes me wonder: if I stay within God’s plans for me, where will I be by the time I’m twenty-two?? Will I love it as much as you seem to be loving your life??
I have so many questions. Where do you get inspiration?? Is touring hard?? What happens if your voice dies or you get sick right before a show?? Is it hard to stay genuine?? What’s your life like?? Do you ever hear one of your older songs and cringe a little?? (honestly I think I would. some of my older poems are a tad bit cringe) Do you ever get tired, burned out??
All that to say, please don’t ever stop, Josiah. Don’t stop singing. Don’t stop being you.
Always,
Ava 🎶
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21 Responses
I’m a HUGE Josiah Queen fan too! I got to go see him in concert a few weeks ago and it was amazing! He’s so inspiring! I love his energy and his love for God! And his songs have such amazing lyrics, I love them! But I didn’t get to see Trinity 🙁 I was kind of sad about that…lol
Eyy, I knew someone other than me would enjoy this post!! Ain’t he just the best?? ever?? Doesn’t he make you want to learn how to play guitar and beam while saying stuff like “that’s wild man”??
Poor you 😭 I hear she speaks at most of his shows, so you got the short end of the straw there.
He is the best! And yes! I so want to learn how to play guitar now! I think it’d be cool to be able to play regardless of whether or not I play his songs though.
Aw man… I feel cheated now…lol. I wanted to see her…
Yep. The guitar is definitely in our futures. I mean, yeah, but the Josiah Queen capabilities are a big draw. There is also immense Rend Collective potential with a guitar. And…umm…*frantically thinking of another guitar-oriented artist but all the ones I can remember are like primarily synth-y* *not helping that I’m currently listening to Owl City lol* Y’know what idk. Insert guitar-ish artist of your choice here. *nods*
I have never heard of this fellow, but I like him immensely now nonetheless. It is most inspiring to see young people doing what they love! I’m so glad you got to go see him!!!!! That must have been such fun!
You’ve…never?? ever?? heard of Josiah Queen?!?!? I’m astonished. Please go look him up. Listen to his music. I beg you. He’s just the best. Glad to have given you a favorable first impression tho 😉 and YES IT WAS THE MOST FUN!!!! I’m just a little tiny bit obsessed 😂
Well I have now!! And I listened to some of his songs! He is most talented!!! And passionate!!! And I approve! Thank you for the recommendation.
This is good. One must have much to obsess over. 😁
Yay!!! He’s my favorite!! He’s so on fire for God and I love it so bloomin’ much. Not to mention his music is really good 😉 Makes me want to learn how to play the guitar…
aww, this is so wholesome. I haven’t heard of Josiah Queen, but now that ive read this post, I think I should listen to his music asap!
I’m so glad to have brought him to your attention!! My original comment to Journey also applies to you 😉 Honestly I thought more people would have known about him, but apparently not *shrugs*
I must second (third?) the comment that I haven’t ever heard of Josiah Queen, but that this is such a lovely post! Isn’t it wonderful when someone we’ve never even spoken to can bring so much joy and brightness and goodness into our lives?
And speaking of music, I’ve tagged you for the Music Tag: https://starlightandsaucepans.org/the-music-tag/
No pressure, of course; only if/when you feel like it 😀
Alas. I think he’s most talented and I adore his music. Highly recommend 😉
It really is. On this side of Heaven Josiah will never truly know how many people he’s touched.
Yay!! I look forward to filling out this tag!!
Oh I LOVE Josiah Queen’s music! Great post!!!!
YAY!!! Way too many of the people who commented had never heard of him. I was astonished. Imagine not knowing about Josiah Queen!! What a sad existence…fortunately, they have now been enlightened 😉
Love Josiah Queen’s music and heart too…and also can I just say this is such a creative post, not like “why I love Josiah Queen” but so readable and inspiring actually! Awesome job, Ava! 😀
How have all these people in the comments not heard of Josiah Queen…?!
I adore his music!!!!! And this was a beautiful post! ^^ I loved reading it! And aaaaaahhhhh as for him not singing in the same key as you do…. I relate to this too much. 😭😭😭 I’m literally listening to Dusty Bibles rn, and I could NEVER reach the notes in the chorus…… (And this, my dear, is why I play the Irish whistle instead of singing. I don’t play guitar, but I do play the ukulele though!)
Right?? I was astonished. I thought everyone adored him. Apparently not??
Thank you!! While writing it, I was like, this sounds so awkward and stilted…it sounds like I have a crush on him 😭 should I really post it?? But then my audience needed to hear about him, and you enjoyed it, so it was definitely worth it.
Why can’t he sing just a little higher…or a little lower, and then I could sing up the octave…alas. Only one flaw is pretty good, right?? My little sister loves Two Wooden Beams, but can never find the right notes for the chorus because she has to switch octaves. ‘Tis truly tragic. You may have the right idea there with the whistle…hmm…
Ikr?!?!?!!! He is an amazing singer!! And I ALWAYS ALWAYS have the same problem with singing along with songs!!!!! Not just Josiah Queen’s songs…. T.T Apparently I have a rather limited vocal range. And yessss the tin whistle is a wonderful instrument!!! You should try playing it!! And I don’t think the post is awkward at all! (Or that it sounds like you have a crush on him lol.) I love this post!! Aaand now I kind of want to write a post/letter to one of my own favorite singers… (Aimee Carty!! She’s a wonderful singer!)
I think I have approximately two octaves, stretching up from middle C. Too high most of the time, but also not high enough. *shrugs* I’m so glad you liked it!! It was originally going to be a mere journal post, but I wanted y’all to know I went to a concert and had the time of my life. You should definitely write a post/letter to Aimee Carty!! I feel like I should investigate this individual now 🙃 I’ve toyed with the idea of unsent letters before, but this was the first one I actually wrote.