Can’t talk to a psycho like normal human being

Dear Diary,

SO...it's fourth of July and Pride weekend in Atlanta. I have been working on new Otter stuff all week and just trying to stay on top of everything. Yeah, I am a little overwhelmed, but I can hang. This is the fun stuff I have been racing to get to all this time.

I have Duffy's new cd which is like Lulu meeting Amywinehouse so I am all over it and through the middle. Yesterday, Karma and I had some errands to do. She didn't have as many as me, but as poodles go, she is a mover and a shaker. It's hard to keep up with her. Anyway, back to me. I was starving to perform so I just rolled the windows down and blasted Duff's "Mercy" and fumbled my way through the words because I haven't bothered to learn those. If you were driving anywhere within the vicinity of midtown yesterday around 7pm...sorry. And to the black lady who rolled up along side me and gave me props...thank you, I needed that.

Today, I am picking up our new Otter tee "Big in England". It is a little sexually suggestive, but what good tee isn't? And the new Otter caps are done. They look good on the mannequin but wait until I rock 'em.

My Genre man interview came out and I have to say it wasn't my intention to sound like a whore, but the questions were very sexually oriented. I banned the mag from the house because Mike would have shook his head in disbelief. Actually he did that anyway. You know I can't keep a secret and I confessed what I said in the interview. He would have played it so much cooler. As cool points go, he is up there. Whereas I am merely a psycho trying to be human or godly....it depends on the day.

Mama's in the basement going through old memories in the boxes cluttering the basement. She came across a certificate of merit my grandfather was awarded in highschool. The funny thing is that it was an achievement for his "manliness". Someone needs to award that to me. I mean I dropped the an bag for a wallet. I mean seriously!

Got lots to do this weekend. Picnic at the Anderson's today and Dougie is in from D.C. for the gay weekend. It should be fun.

Until the rainbow burns the stars out of the sky...

I'll Love You Always,

Joshua

3:05 PM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Hiya

I have been super busy but I wanted to share some news with you guys.

1. Genre made me Genre Man for Atlanta in June. The interview was a little revealing, but that's Genre for you. It is very cool that I was asked to do it. Thanks Erik!

2. We finally open our UK office for Otter this week. There's been lots of details to iron out, but we will be live tomorrow. I love the UK and I love all the supporters I have over there. Now we will be closer.

3. My skincare line has officially opened at groomingsimplified.com. As you know, I have been in the beauty business for a very long time so it is nice to finally be bringing my own product to the world. Let me know if you want to talk about your skin. Ha!

4. I think I said this earlier, but I started a a web community called OtterNation. at OtterNation.com. If you get a chance to stop by and create a profile there, we would welcome you with open arms. I am very appreciative for all my friends that have joined up. But we need lots more people to keep it lively.

Well that's it for now. Summer is nearly here. I am headed to Florida for my cousin's wedding. And I get to be one of the groomsmen, which is totally bizarre. And then I head back to Philly for some more at the Q and THEN I go to Tahoe for some vacation time. I will probably go crazy in the woods. My friend, Leslie told me I had better now my way back from the trails in the wilderness or I will get lost. Which has me totally curious as to what kind of wilderness I am going to come in contact with.

Anyway, I hope you are better than good.

Lots of Love,

J

7:37 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Joshua’s Live Interview on WHFB’s bloomingOUT show - Tomorrow!!!
Current mood: ecstatic
Category: Music

Hey everyone.  I will be doing a live radio interview on WHFB's bloomingOUT show.  Hosted by Helen Harrell and Sean Lemieux, bloomingOUT airs from Bloomington, Indiana every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 pm EST on WFHB.

My interview will be Thursday, April 24 at about 6:15 PM EST.  Be sure to tune-in and show your support for my latest album, "Brighter Day" and of course to support bloomingOUT's program dedicated to bringing listeners great queer news and artists and others.

I hope you will join us on WFHB 91.3 FM, 98.1 FM, 100.7 FM & 106.3 FM. or on the web at: http://www.wfhb.org/new/listen. 

Missed the interview?  bloomingOUT podcasts their interviews at: http://news.wfhb.org/news/newstopics.php?tid=1

Thanks for your support!

Joshua

12:13 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

My Video was Added to the Q Tube

I don’t know how it happened, but my video was added to The Q Tube which houses lots of gay artists. You can leave comments and they track how many times a video is viewed. Since I am no longer on Logo ;-( I would love it if you would visit this site and play the video to help build up some views. Here’s the link: TheQTube

Thanks always for your support. I cannot tell you how mind-blowing it was to see my video on TV and you guys put it there.

Always,

Joshua

8:59 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Pre-Boarding

I'm at the airport as I am writing this. I just had to jot down what was running through my mind at this moment. I am weird and I know this. Everyone tells me that all time. Just a touch of crazy keeps me sane. And don't be surprised if I put that line in a song. Anyway, I am listening to some fantastic dance song that I adore. I see the video for the song whenever I listen to it – white background, diva girl on the hood of a red sports car with sunglasses and attitude. Oh man I love it. So when I am in this world, meaning surrounded by music and diva thoughts, I float above myself and become in touch with my surroundings. I'm sure I am mouthing the words to this song and doing one of the things I know I do best and that's singing a song with my eyes. My eyes tell you everything about me - even when my mouth and actions don't match up. You can tell when I'm hurting, disinterested, intrigued and all that. Sometimes I am afraid to look at people because if I lock my eyes with someone, anyone, they can connect with me in such a way it can lift me up just as easy as it can tear me down. I am way-too vulnerable sometimes and that is scary, BUT in this instance I know I am putting on a quite a show. There is an old lady about five seats away fidgeting in her purse, crossing her legs, uncrossing here legs, sitting up, slouching over. Chill out woman you are making me nervous. There's a child opposite me reading a book next to her mom doing the same thing. I hope they have a great life. She has the world in front of her. There's a married couple next to them who I think lost their passion many years ago. They probably fought the entire time they were getting here stressing about this and that only to know what an hour and a half to board. I hate people that don't travel regularly. They get so hyper when they are going to the airport or going through security. It wears me out. There is a sassy bitch that loves her dark lipstick and blond hair dye out of the box. I wish she would go to a professional stylist just to clean up that color a bit. She looks like she does well for herself. There's a heavy woman way across the way eating a doughnut with "the South Beach Diet book closed in the seat next to her. I wish I could just take that plate away and give her some amazing fruit that she could love just as much. There are so many fruits that I am sure we could find one to satisfy her sweet tooth. It would probably give her gas, but she would thank me later. This man keeps pacing back and forth. He's wearing all red even down to his duffle bag. But his brown shoes with white socks make me think he is European having to fly to Atlanta from Philly just so he can fly home. That sucks and will add several unnecessary hours to his flight. OOH girl. She just ran off the jet way worried. I wonder what happened. That husband from the married couple just put his arm round his wife- I guess they do care about each other. That was sweet. I bet that just meant the world to her. It would me too. By the way my boyfriend won't answer my calls while I am away. That makes me very sad. My play list just changed to some jungle music. I feel like I want to break out in the Josephine baker banana dance. This Indian woman behind me on her cell phone getting very bothered while she is on the phone. I hope it's not her child. She just has a different way to show interest. Her husband is smiling while he is reading the New York Times. I hope it's the stock pages. Fidgety woman just put her coat on and grabbed her stuff. Press on baby. I would say crack whore if I was anywhere else. Maybe she is. Maybe she lives in a suburban neighborhood just like mine where she grows pot under lamps in her garage with aluminum foil on the windows. If her husband would just get a job and her son would call. This old black lady is sitting against the wall. All in black with a big coat and miserable look on her face with glasses, but the one redeeming quality is the patent leather bag she's clutching with black and white stripes and big ass flowers adorning it. She made that her accessory this morning and she's working it. There's an Asian lady sitting on the other side of this whacking great concrete post next to me. She's also facing the window overlooking the tarmac. She's got her earpiece in her ear talking on her cell phone just laughing and talking. Very business like. She did her hair all from one perspective. Very 2D. I want to scrunch up the back to give her some volume. I bet she looks good from the front, but when she walks away from you, you're let down. Straight guys who travel together fascinate me. What do they talk about? It would drive me crazy. I don't travel well with others anyway. There's a short girl working the counter. She just got her extensions, you can tell. It looks good, but volume is definitely not her issue. If she got contacts she would look like a supermodel. She could only do print because she is too short. That's what Tyra would say. I just know it. Two businessmen sat behind me. Its Sunday, why are they in suits. Oh they're gay. I bet they thought they wanted to keep the gay energy centrally located so we could radiate and illuminate the room. Unfortunately they are a little too logical in their conversation and observation. Our energies are too different. I'm more Vegas showgirl and they are more Rick Moranis in honey I shrunk the kids…the flight is boarding. I'm in the last zone because my medallion level is just too low. I miss travel as much as I used to. I'd better power down. Cheers!

1:31 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Old Friends

I wanted to share a brief story with you. A long time ago my best friend Kevin and I would run around the city together. We were inseperable. I think we enjoyed just letting each other be who we are. I didn't discover until much later in life that so many people don't want to let you be you. Anyway, thats another story. He was from Alabama and had a good friend named April who wanted to move to Atlanta after she graduated highschool. Well that time came and she moved in with Kevin and of course, became part of the posse. I can't even describe to you how much time we all spent together. It was like time didn't matter and the good times just rolled on and on. Well it eventually stopped. New people came into our lives and the growing up began. Kevin and I went on the outs, then were friends again. The same happened with him and April, but at the time he and I reconnected she had done been moved back to Alabama never to be heard from again.

Well that was many, many years ago and in gay years a freaking lifetime. Kevin and I rarely speak...he's back in Alabama too- If you are anywhere near Gadsden, Alabama, I am sure you will find him working at one of his Taco Bell stores there. (He never stops working.) When I get nostalgic, which happens when I am writing, I think back to those days. When I thought I knew everything and felt invinveable. When my biggest accomplishment would be to learn the steps to the new Janet video. Other people were getting high and I was high on me. I am falling off topic here...forgive me.

Anyway, so as I said in my last blog. I have been in a funk. Happy, but discontent. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it is what it is. So i go to CVS (the local drug store) to buy dog biscuits for my bad dogs and guess who rang me up in the photo department. Miss April. Shorter diva hair, but same ole April. Now what are the chances of that and at this particular time in my life.

I guess people don't really go away. I guess you kinda block people out at different periods in your life. I used to say when I would be working at my desk and people would pop in to talk to me, "I'm so busy, you can't see me". Like that was my magical spell that made me invisible so don't even try to interupt me. Maybe that is what we all do in our own way, but to people in our lives.
Well I am glad to see April again and I hope we can become good friends again, We obviously have both grown a lot since the old days. But I imagine deep down we our still those same kids putting on shows in the back of my jeep with the top down riding through the gayborhood.

J

1:26 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

It’sbeen a long time...I shouldn’t have left you....

without a dope beat to step to.

Ok, I got that out of my system. It has been so long since I have written anything in my blog. I am making myself do it or else it will never happen.

Anyone who knows me knows that my little Otter has been overwhelming over the holidays. I went from pop singer to picker, packer, puller...I just like saying that. It has been great. Who knew there were so many Otter fans out there. Thank you guys that have shopped with us because it has made everyone over here extremely happy. We even discovered someone who had put a whole album of pictures of himself in Otter. I love it.

Let's see...updates...I had to hold off on working on the album...I got so depressed and I am not sure why. I've been traveling a lot so I guess the time alone has been getting to me or maybe its just a part of the creative process. I just kept writing love gone wrong types of songs. I need to get perky.

I've been reading a lot too. Everything frm Depak Chopra to Kimora Lee Simmons and Lance Bass. Of course, I am reading them all at the same time which adds to my disfunction.

I just released some new jewelry pieces from my new line, Brighter Day Jewelry, that will be out in February. (I put a picture up of two of the pieces in my pic album- check it out) I am excited about it because I have been so into jewelry lately. Oh and a little secret, my new cologne should be out around then too. I can't wait.

I am trying to put together a band for some festivals this year. I just played guitar hero 3 over Christmas so now I want my band to look just like that! You have to play it to know what i am talking about. I want a girl with purple hair and a back pack and a big winged scary guy - just kidding.

Anyway, those are some of my thoughts right now. All over the place. That's how it has been lately. I'll have to write when my mind isn't racing around.

I hope all is well in your world.

J

2:49 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Firsts

Who/What/When was your first??

1. Who was your first prom date?
Nancy, I don't remember her last name and I was an absolute shit to her.

2. Who was your first roommate?
I've never had a roommate, just boyfriends.

3. What was your first alcoholic drink?
Champagne, dahling!

4. What was your first job?
Six Flags Over Georgia...I worked in a shop.

5. What was your first car?
Izuzu P'up

6. Who was the first person you texted today?
I don't text anymore...it is an obsession I can no longer participate in.

7. Who is the first person you thought of this morning?
My dog Karma...she was sleeping along my back and made me too hot. I had to move her.

8. Who was your first grade teacher?
Mrs. Taravella.

9. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?
L.A.

10. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was with you?
I didn't have to sneak out. I lived alone since I was 14.

11. Who was your first best friend and are you still friends with them?
Kevin and no, we aren't friends anymore or at least we don't speak much anymore.

12. Where was your first sleep over?
My cousin's house.

14. Whose wedding were you in the first time?
I have never been in a wedding, but I just got invited to be in y cousin's wedding whihc I am very excited about. It is going to be on a beach so I don't have to wear shoes.

15. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Take ear plugs out of my ears.

17. First tattoo or piercing?
I have a moon within a sun on my left shoulder. It came from a necklace I didn't want to wear anymore so I had it tatooed on me.

18. First foreign country you went to?
England

19. First Crush?
Evonne Lindow in Kindergarden

20. When was your first detention?
PE in Middle School. Apparently I wasn't a good wrestler.

21. What was the first state you lived in?
Florida

22. Who was the first person to break your heart?
It hasn't ever been broken. Just bruised a bit.

1:31 PM - 0 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Dakine Hawaii Article on Joshua Harrell

Music - Joshua Harrell Brighter Day

DaKine (Hawaii) September 2007

Never in my wildest ethno-musicological dreams would I expect the mix of disco, soul and electronica that is Joshua Harrell to come out of Atlanta, Georgia...the state of Georgia did produce the phenomenon known as R.E.M. And Atlanta, colloquially known as Hotlanta, has given us Harrell, who offers some evidence of urbanity on his latest studio release, Brighter Day. While the album cover features him decked out in a silver velvet jacket, recalling Southern acts of yesteryear, Brighter Day is much more European swish in its production. The beats are good and juicy, making it hearty dance floor material, and harrell's voice is sunny and playful. He's at his best when the songs are upbeat with a touch of sass, as on "Touch My Body." On "Enemy", a track that would be perfectly at home in the Ricky Martin catalog...Harrell is well on his way to bringing a brighter day to the South.
- Kai K. Andersen

7:59 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Quest for Life Radio

Hey guys. Quest For Life (WRPI Troy, NY) has played my music and I am sure you could get them to play some more. Shoot them a message when you can to ask them to play some more.

Quest For Life MySpace

Thanks for supporting me.

Joshua

7:19 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment