Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Puente
Hi Josh, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from Houston, TX.
I graduated Pre-Med from the University of Miami in December of 2020 with a Major in Microbiology & Immunology and a Minor in Chemistry. Why? Because growing up my mother wanted me to be a Neurosurgeon.
I was raised in a single-parent household where only A’s were of interest to my mother. Nothing less. I devoted my childhood to making her proud by performing inside the classroom. I spent countless hours studying to prepare myself for college and when the day came I left to the University of Miami in 2016.
When I was 11 I first crossed paths with my first love (singing) when I selected Choir as an elective in Middle School. That’s where I met the man who taught me how to sing, Jaime Trigo. Mr. Trigo was instrumental in developing my voice and was my vocal coach for three years (2009-2012). It was during this time I learned about time signatures, rhythm, pitch, melody, dynamics and sight reading. He was a fantastic instructor and an even better role-model.
My Freshman year of high school I made the Varsity Choir but stepped away at the beginning of my Sophomore year due to the huge time commitments required. My priority at the time was maintaining a 5.0 GPA to ensure I received a full-ride scholarship to a 4-year school.
During the latter part of high school and all of Undergrad I suppressed my desires of creating my own songs to appease my mother. After graduating in 2020 I had a change of heart. I decided I would no longer shield my true self from the critics of the world. I knew there was more to my life than society’s set standard (School for 18 years –> More School –> Work for the Rest of Your Life). I was free.
I picked up the guitar in the summer of 2021 and spent the rest of the year learning the instrument. I released my first single, ‘Wonder’, in the Spring of 2022. I have released 18 songs since. With every new song I write I learn something new about myself and I add a piece back to my soul. My music is everything to me. Sounds saved my life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. It’s taken a lot of sacrifice to get here. School. Strained Family Relationships. Failure to meet expectations set by those who think they know what’s best for me. Those are my top 3.
Moving to Austin was also a huge struggle for me. Living costs in Austin forced me to devise a plan to support myself financially. It took two years for me to save the money to move here from Houston. But deep down I knew this is where I needed to be to grow as a live performer, a skill I did not possess 10 months ago. If the road were all smooth, it wouldn’t be worth traveling.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an American singer, songwriter, and record producer living in Austin, Texas. I have a varying musical style ranging from Classic Blues to Pop/Soul/RnB. All of my musical projects are produced in-house—recording, mixing, and mastering. I take pride in running all aspects of my business top-to-bottom.
Any big plans?
I plan on releasing 1-2 songs every week for the remainder of 2024 beginning in August. My new singles White Lines, and Soul Touching are streaming now on all Platforms (Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and apps such as Instagram and TikTok). I currently have two new music video projects in the works. I recently submitted my application to SWSW 2025 in preparation for the Festival in the Spring. I have collaborations with international artists in the works. I’m still hammering out the details so I can’t speak much on the topic. But it’s going to be BIG!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://joshpuente.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshpuenteofficial/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshpuente11
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@joshpuenteofficial
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yhjOMh36AfbO3YCCtinAf?si=9r1gToKzQ3KmhkKnVT3kCQ
Image Credits
Kris Amaya
