Embark on a Musical Odyssey with the band ‘Troubled Waters’ and Their Enthralling Album ‘Until Now’

Troubled Waters is more than a band; it’s a confluence of musical streams, each member bringing their unique flavor to the ensemble. 

Meet the dynamic quartet of Troubled Waters: Josh Page, whose soul-stirring lead guitar and vocals command the stage; Jack Canaday, the heartbeat of the band with his thunderous drumming; Drew Gossett, whose solid bass lines provide the unshakeable foundation; and Jessica Stephens, an incredible singer whose voice elevates their music to breathtaking heights. 

In July 2023, Troubled Waters made a splash with their debut album, “Until Now.” This collection of 11 original songs, penned mostly by Josh himself—with “July Again” being a collaborative effort with Dustin—offers a mosaic of experiences and tales. Each track is a chapter from Josh’s life or that of a close friend, making “Until Now” not just an album but a diary of melodies and lyrics.

A Tapestry of Tunes

“Until Now” is an eclectic mix that traverses the spectrum of musical genres—from classic and modern country to classic rock, southern rock, psychedelic rock, and a dash of blues. What makes Troubled Waters stand out is their commitment to originality in every chord and verse. Josh’s songwriting is a testament to the band’s ethos: to craft songs that are familiar yet distinctly unique, ensuring that even tunes with resemblances to others have their own special twist.

The songs on “Until Now” are imbued with deep personal meaning, inviting listeners to not just hear the music but feel it. The emotional depth and narrative complexity of their tracks are designed to touch the hearts of listeners, inviting them to find their own stories and emotions reflected in the melodies.

More Than Music: An Invitation to Feel

Troubled Waters aims to connect with their audience on a profound level. The band’s live performances are an extension of their album, with each song introduced by Josh in a manner that adds layers of intimacy and understanding to the experience. It’s this personal touch that transforms their concerts into more than just musical events—they become gatherings where stories are shared, emotions are felt, and the audience is invited to embark on a journey of reflection and discovery.

The band’s dedication to their craft and their audience is evident in every note they play and every word they sing. Troubled Waters is not just offering music; they are offering a part of themselves, encapsulated in sounds and rhythms that speak to the soul. Their goal is simple yet profound: to reach out and touch the heart of every listener, inviting them into a world where music is not just heard but experienced and felt on a deeply personal level.

As Troubled Waters continues to chart their course through the music industry, they invite everyone to join them on this voyage. With their debut album “Until Now” as their sail and their passion for music as their wind, they are set to navigate the vast oceans of sound, leaving a trail of heart-stirring music in their wake. To embark on this musical journey with Troubled Waters, explore their tunes and tales through their Youtube, and prepare to be swept away by the currents of their captivating melodies and stories.

About the Band:

Based out of the Panhandle of Florida, Troubled Waters flowed from many rivers and streams to form into the band they are today. Josh Page, lead guitarist and vocalist, began his journey in the south Alabama town of Andalusia where he started playing in bands at age 16. He studied the blues of Clapton and SRV; and the southern Rock of Skynyrd and the Allman Bros. Later he shifted focus to learning harmony vocal styles from the Stanley Brothers to the Eagles and then was drawn to lead vocal artists such as Joe Cocker. After college, Josh discovered his passion for writing songs. He enjoyed capturing the emotion of any situation (light or heavy) and finding the words to transform that feeling into music. Josh was introduced to an incredible singer, Jessica Stephens, at a show he was playing in 2010. The two hit it off immediately and formed a band that was widely known in the area. Their tight vocal harmony and humorous stage presence really captivated an audience. In 2013, Josh moved to Birmingham, AL where he played in various bands honing his skills in country, classic, and 80s rock. Three years later, Josh moved to Pensacola, FL, and fell in love with the local music scene. Josh met Pat Burns, drummer, while sitting in with his band. The two had an instant musical connection. 

Meanwhile, Josh and Jessica had started performing together again and found that their chemistry was even stronger. Troubled Waters was born. Through many months of searching for the perfect fit, bass, keys, and steel guitar were added to the band, giving Troubled Waters the sound they have today. In December 2022, Troubled Waters recorded their first album, 11 original songs, at the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. The album was released in late July 2023. It’s available on all musical platforms.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Josh Page; here are excerpts from the interview:

Please introduce yourself and share your musical journey.

Hi, I’m Josh Page, guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist. I started off at age five, learning drums from my dad, who is also a musician. This teaching gave me the fundamentals of understanding rhythms and timing at a very young age. Later, I picked up the piano and found that I could learn melodies by ear. My mom sang alto/harmony in church. I would listen to her as a kid and try to understand different harmonies. Although I still couldn’t harmonize at this point, listening engrained the idea of harmony from an early age. At around 12 years of age, my hands were strong enough to make simple chords on a guitar. My parents bought me my first guitar that Christmas. I couldn’t put the guitar down after that, learning songs from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Carlos Santana, and Eric Clapton, to name a few. My dad had an old multi-track tape recorder. I would try to record all the instruments, one at a time, of my favorite songs. This taught me so much about music and the art of production. These experiences are what shaped what I am now.

I would later, in high school, start my first band. My early bands all struggled to find a singer, so I began learning to sing as well. Long trips driving back and forth to college are where I began improving my vocals, including learning harmony. During and after college, I was in several bands. The first band that became somewhat serious was Southbound River, consisting of Dustin Dyess on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and me on backing vocals and lead guitar. Playing over 100 shows a year for the next three years really honed my skills. It was during this time that I began writing songs as well. I focused on true experiences, mainly relationships or significant events.

After Southbound River dissolved, I was introduced to Jessica Stephens, an outstanding singer. We began playing together but never really established a band name. We really drew crowds due to our tight harmony (similar to brother and sister closeness) and our way of talking and joking between songs that seemed to captivate the audience.

I decided to move to Birmingham, AL, a couple of years after Jessica and I started playing together. This put our music endeavors together on hold. While in Birmingham, I played with a few different bands, learning different musical styles and becoming a more versatile musician.

After three years of living in Birmingham, I chose to move to Pensacola, FL. The music scene in Pensacola was very inviting, and soon, I was playing again. One of the bands, Three Days Sober, was very impactful to my journey. Jack Canaday, drums, and Joel Huval, bass, were great mentors to me. They also encouraged me in my songwriting. We recorded four original tunes in Jack’s home studio and were really starting to become a well-known band in the Florida Panhandle.

We, however, suffered a severe loss when Joel became ill and passed away, leaving Jack and I stunned. After several months, I reached out to Jessica. We started playing again as a duo. Later, we brought in Jack and formed the band we are today, Troubled Waters. After a year of gigging, we added a solid bass player, Drew Gossett, to the permanent lineup. We decided to record an album at the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. The album was released in July 2023.

Please tell us about your latest album.

We released our debut album in July 2023. The album is called “Until Now”. The 11 songs are all original, written by me, with the exception of “July Again” which was written by Dustin and me. Each song is about a time in my life or, in a few instances, a story about a close friend’s life. Each song deserves a long introduction, which I give from time to time while performing live. They are all very meaningful songs. The tunes range from old school/classic country, to modern style country, to classic rock, southern rock, psychedelic rock, and a little blues. My goal when writing the music side of a song has always been to create something that isn’t the same as everything else. You will see that even a song that has similarities to other songs will have a wrinkle, a change, or a moment that sets it apart from the others. 

My songwriting style focuses on taking an idea and not simply presenting it straightforward but exposing it from a different angle. I want the listener to be able to interpret the song on their own, perhaps changing the exact meaning to fit their circumstances.

On the technical side, the album was recorded at the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL over a course of 4 days. The core tracks (bass, drums, and rhythm guitar) were recorded live in the first two and a half days. We brought in studio musician Brad Kuhn for piano/keys/organ and Hall of Fame musician Bruce Bouton for steel guitar on five of the songs. The vocals and lead parts were overdubbed on day 3 and 4. Wes Sheffield did an incredible job of engineering, mixing, and mastering. Album art and photography was done by Robert Evers.

What strategies contributed to your success?

I think perseverance might have been the key, so far anyway. I don’t feel like I was just born a decent guitar player, and most definitely not a great singer. I have practiced many hours at each part of music. I’m constantly thinking about music. It’s a major part of my life. It’s a passion. For the songwriting side, music is an escape, a therapy, to help cope with bad experiences as well as celebrate the good times. So, a strategy for the songwriting side has always been to take advantage of the situation I am feeling in the moment. Don’t let the feeling go to waste. Use it to create a magical song that hopefully others can relate to.

Any special message for our readers?

These songs are a part of me. The idea and the emotion are what I’m trying to give back to you. My goal is primarily to touch your heart with the words, melody, and rhythm. In order to achieve this goal, I need to get these songs heard by someone with greater talent than me, that might want to record a version of my songs. I don’t claim to be the best singer, guitar player, songwriter, or producer, but I do think each of these songs has the ability to grow into something very special.

How can people find out more about you?

We have an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) that, when updated, shows our upcoming shows as well as new pictures and videos. The link for the EPK, as well as all of our social media and music streaming services, can be found here: Linktree

 

Thank you so much, Josh, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!

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