 |  Information taken from Idol.ctv.ca Occupation: Musician/Songwriter Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Audition City: Saskatoon, SK Place of Birth: Regina, SK Nickname: "Palmer" Sounds Like: Jeff Buckley Identifies With: Robert Plant Musical Style: Soul/Rock/Folk/Blues Fashion Style: "European but Retro" Motto: "Always do your best." "I love anything that gives people passion about what they do, a chance to bring their dreams to reality just by simply doing the best they can." Josh Palmer was the last person to be seen by the judges in Saskatoon. He auditioned at the last minute after a friend convinced him of what an "amazing opportunity" Canadian Idol provides. The 22-year-old musician/singer/songwriter sang with his father on stage at the age of eight, became a guitarist at the age of 11 and became a professional musician when he was 13. Inspired by artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Buckley, Josh has released a successful independent CD and his band has toured the Blues scene across Western Canada, opening for acts such as Kim Mitchell and Chiliwack. Josh currently works at a music store and sells instruments. "It's a little dangerous for me because it's like being a kid in a candy store!" he says. Josh says the Canadian he admires most is Joni Mitchell. "She's an amazing musician/songwriter who changed the course of pop music," he says. "She's an artist, humanitarian and she's from Saskatoon!" On the walls of Josh's bedroom you'll find posters of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. He likes lasagna, The Family Guy and the Saskatchewan Rough Riders and says his favourite hobby is "sleeping."
Josh's fun facts: Which musical act would you most like to see in concert? Coldplay.
What has been the biggest accomplishment of your life? The moment I realized what is truly important to me. Music has always been a part of my life, to be able to write, perform, and sing is always what I will do, it's who I am. But most importantly, to find that special someone, a beautiful woman to share my life with and to be part of hers and to grow with. What are you the most proud of? Other than my really cool van? Well, the fact that I've even been remotely successful in making a career out of music. It's what I love to do, and to be able to even support myself at it is quite an accomplishment in it self. Which item could you not live without? My guitar!!! What's been the best day of your life? A Christmas when I was 10 years old and my parents bought me my first guitar and it needed a lil' TLC, so my dad and I fixed her up. I think any musician remembers their first instrument. So that's special to me. If you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be and why? Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was the man that made me pick up the guitar. At eight years old I knew I needed to play guitar. What do you think has gotten you this far in the competition? Enjoying being here. I couldn't have survived it if I hadn't enjoyed it. Emotions are on max, tension, nervousness, drama everywhere, but I just loved to see all these amazingly talented people do the BEST they can under the extreme circumstances. What will it take for you to become the Canadian Idol? Focus, hard work, and a real love for being here, being apart of this whole thing. What has been the most challenging part of the competition so far? Seeing friends that you've made, being sent home. Everyone is so talented and its amazing to just be here, and its hard to see very talented people go home. Whose career path would you like to follow and why? I would like to follow the paths of Stevie Ray Vaughan or Jeff Buckley, of course not dying before your time, but what they left was something timeless. Something that is real. They were THEMSELVES. And they spoke from their soul with every note of their guitar and note from their voice. To do something meaningful and timeless like those two artists is a beautiful career path to follow. What part of the Canadian Idol experience has surprised you the most? The amount of talented people that was here!!! Canada has some of the best talent in the world and I'm just blessed to be apart of the whole thing. What did you learn about yourself during the Top 100? I learned how far, mentally I can be pushed. With all this drama, tension , people being sent home everyday and dreams being deflated, the nerves. It's hard to not feel that around you. I learned how to focus on what's really important, just being here surrounded by talented great people. And that goes for the cast and crew. They are truly amazing to organize us and put this on!!! What was your reaction when you made the Top 32? I could take a deep breath again!!! I knew that in my heart I had done my best so if it was my time to leave, I wasn't gonna have any hard feelings. And for this geeky guitar-playing singer, it wasn't my time… but I knew I still had lots of hard work ahead of me. Who has been the greatest inspiration of your life? I can't single one person out. Of course, my parents sent me in the right direction. My dad's a musician and most of his friends are too. Who has helped to make you the singer you are today? My mentors, my friends like Paul Tobin, Doug scarrow, Sherman pearce, John Lisi, all whom I've known since I was a baby, my best friend and band mate Tim Vaughan, of course my parents for nurturing the desire, anyone that has had a word of advice for me that I've taken and it's made me better in believing and being comfortable in myself and my abilities. What song touches you the most? Why does it affect you so much? "What becomes of the broken hearted" by Jimmy Ruffin. The song is sooo real, and there's so much passion, everytime I hear it, it gives me chills!!! What song title best describes you? "I'm just a girl" except change "girl" to "Geek"!!! What do you do to keep your nerves in check during the competition? Breathe… I'm not kidding its soo important. How has this competition changed you? It hasn't changed me. I'm the same person I've always been. It's changed my life… given me focus, strengthened the fact that music is what I will always do and it will always be a part of my life. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Amazing, awesome, Rydonculous, Flux Capacitor Please ask permission before taking anything from this site. Pictures belong to their respective owners. Layout, Design and Content © Jade  |  |