Meet Josh Bedlion

 

We recently connected with Josh Bedlion and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I’ve always enjoyed the cheesy yet classic football movie Rudy as an example of never giving up regardless the circumstances. Like Rudy, my resilience has been a journey from childhood until my music career today. The cliche, “money never grows on trees”, was a real part of my growing up years. Those high school years were pivotal in my growth. Freshman year, my parents divorced and money was very limited. I was the oldest of five kids, which added pressure and specific challenges during that time and throughout high school, undergraduate, and graduate schools. In high school, I was not able to afford voice lessons, however; my choir director gave me the ultimate courage and support to study music in college. I had some voice lessons in college, but nothing ever clicked until my voice coach in LA.

Moving to Los Angeles in 2011 felt like starting over. I believed that I had to prove to myself that I had what it takes to make this life goal happen. I transferred from Oregon to California with my Starbucks job. Within the first week living in LA, the shared studio space was abruptly halted from a very unhealthy dynamic that caused me to unexpectedly live my first few weeks in my SUV that I parked outside of Starbucks. “Welcome to LA”, I would tell myself feeling completely uncertain about this new chapter.

Throughout this challenge and during moments of low self-esteem and loneliness, I knew I had to give myself a couple of years to become established and make it into the music industry in LA. My first friend from LA, Chris Thomas, opened my eyes to what was possible as he shared with me the excitement of what could be in this musical world. His passion and love for music and this world really resonated with me. He encouraged me to find real authentic connections. I consistently reminded myself to stay true to who I am, where I came from, and what set me apart to others. Comparison is the thief of joy, and I knew I wanted to embrace those challenges. I intentionally worked to be an active listener in conversation and during networking as I listened to listen instead of listening to think of what I would say next during the conversation. This skill allowed for authentic connections that lead to some opportunities and life long friendships.

With the mindset of creating true foundational friendships that are rooted in real connection, I continued to grow my confidence. After many failed auditions and challenging musical projects, I finally had my small “Rudy” moment as I became a professional session singer. Being taft hartley’d for a few movies like “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and “Jurassic World” was the start of that journey finally becoming a reality. My first Vocal Contractor, took a chance on me after listening to my humbling demo reel and then proving my professionalism and skill in the studio. I was given opportunities to sing on some of my favorite franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek, bringing an exciting vocal pressure of sight-reading on the spot. There’s nothing like that type of joy and gratitude keeping me longing to always want to improve my craft. Singing in sessions like this with new friends with the sole purpose of bringing the music to life was a dream. Despite growing up in a very different world, I knew I had to keep trying to pursue what is and has always been my love for music. Throughout struggles in life, I use whatever motivates me and love the process, love what I do and why I do it, and love how music unites people.
Music is an escape used to heal, to laugh, to cry, to grieve, to find joy. Music provides a space that as humans we all need, it is universal and that is the “job”. I am and will always be so grateful for the many musical experiences I have had in the music industry.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I currently reside in Seattle, Washington where I still perform professionally with a choral group called Choral Arts Northwest (CANW), and I am a ringer singing for several ensembles from Seattle up to Bellingham. I still travel to LA for different sessions through out the year. Since moving to Seattle, I have had the opportunity to connect more with family, many of whom live in Washington and Oregon. Shortly after moving, my dad was diagnosed with cancer, and the timing of my move was a blessing in disguise as I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with him. I also have had the beautiful fortune of meeting my now wife months after moving to Washington. While being immersed in a wall of emotions, I am confident this has been the right move in order to be closer to family while also being able to still pursue music with those dear to me.

I am so grateful for my time living in LA as I had many opportunities to sing for movies like Rogue One and Dr Strange 2, TV shows like the Simpsons, backing up many contestants on The Voice, and singing for Sir Paul McCartney’s album Egypt Station. The rush and joy of making music with my colleagues is the most priceless experience. Singing with friends who also love music is the best feeling in the world. Although I live in Washington, I still travel to LA and keep myself current and available for projects in LA or anywhere else.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Great question! Three things quickly come to mind. First- Embrace your journey. Be ok with not having tomorrow figured out. Work on being present in the moment that is in front of you. Tomorrow will be there soon enough. Second- Do your best at trying not to compare yourself to others in your field. There will always be someone that will have a competitive talent in your field, but you are YOU. There is no one like you. Embrace your quirks, your talents that brought you this far, and your version of your favorite song – we can always be inspired but your version and what it means to you will always be more impactful. Third- Being empathetic. We never know what kind of battle someone else is going through in this world, and we are all going to need a friend especially in this business that can be so focused on the task at hand with checking off your goals. Make real connections and love the journey in front of you. The minute you let your journey surprise you, the more beautiful and grateful you will be.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

One of the challenges that I’m currently facing is a double-edged sword. I have recently married my best friend, which was such an incredible celebration with all of those we both love, while my father has been battling stage 4 esophageal cancer. The silver lining is that he was able to attend my wedding, and we have been recording songs together the last several months. One of the origins of my love for music comes from my dad, who has always shared the same connection with music and singing. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions, and I find myself more thankful every day with the time that I get to share with him. I’m also working on slowing down and mindfully taking in the time I spend with others. The journey that we are on in the industry can feel daunting and isolating. It’s important to remember that you are never alone in this adventure no matter how lonely you might feel. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed and embrace the small wins!

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