Paul Josephs is a born songwriter, world creator, and wordsmith. A New York native, he opened for comedy shows at the New York Improv at age fifteen with his own blues band, and separately played with a group of older blues musicians, Moose and the Bulletproof Blues Band, who dubbed him Young Blood. By seventeen he was deep into the MPC, chopping samples and recording his own demos. He has toured extensively throughout Europe and the US, releasing two full length albums independently. Focus Fire is a hard driving hip hop album merging beats originally made on the MPC two thousand XL, transformed into a massive live band sound. Strong World, his latest, is a multi world soul reggae rock journey with horns, which charted in the top five on college radio ahead of groups like Cat Power upon release. Paul wrote, arranged, and produced all music on both albums. He has had the opportunity to perform with some of his heroes, including Dr. Lani Smith, Idris Muhammad, Rodney Jones, Arthur Blythe, Pharoahe Monch, Jean Grae, The Roots, and Maceo Parker. He is also the founder of MetroSonics Arts, a music education project that brings full studio programs into schools and community centers across NYC, helping hundreds of students transform their experiences into original music. He has just launched a residency at Shrine in Harlem, New York beginning May first, performing every first Friday through the fall. Paul Josephs has a huge backlog of new songs to release, including his anticipated single "Bird's Eye View," and is in the process of finishing three new music videos.
“ Soulful and smart music, bouncing along on bluesy guitar and a rock/reggae beat, Strong World would be at home in any record collection that stretches from Santana to the Clash to Arcade Fire. Paul Josephs and MetroSonics pack a small world into each tune.”
“Psychedelic blue-eyed soul that rocks.”
“If there’s one thing Paul Josephs and the Metrosonics’ Strong World isn’t, it’s your average background music self released indie album. Several tracks stand out from this fresh and contemporary—yet at the same time still beholden to classic sounds—record. From the smooth, bluesy “Mystics” to the reggae and brass laden “Heal Me,” Josephs makes his way from genre to genre establishing the eclectic nature of his writing and composition. In one of the louder and in your face songs of the record, “Upstream,” Josephs blends a groovy rock feel and guitar solo with big band horns while weaving rap vocals in and out for a unique, catchy track you’ll want to play over and over. An album easily appreciated by both casual listeners and musicians alike, Strong World demands the listener’s attention, curiosity and most of all, enjoyment.”
“Rootical Lyricism”