Josie Sal

BLOG CABIN - JOSIE SAL

A DARE FOR JOSIE SAL TURNS INTO A PROMISING MUSIC CAREER

By David C. Lannan

Her musical journey started on a dare from her father when she was 10. He wasn’t sure she would do it but he was trying to distract her from wanting to shop at the nearby stores. He lost the dare and the $20 he offered if she would go up and sing with the band. It almost didn’t happen - because the band first told him it wasn’t karaoke night but later they gave her the opportunity to perform and a rising star was born.

Josie Salvitti, professionally known as Josie Sal, got her first taste of performing live on stage and she’s been singing wherever she can find the opportunity ever since - including at many venues along Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway.

Josie Sal, 13, splits her time between Pennsylvania and Florida, with performances in Tennessee and other states in between.

It is so cool to hear my music on the radio! I love to check my Spotify and see the numbers go up, it gives me this happy feeling.  - Josie

Q&A WITH JOSIE SAL

DL: Can you describe your inspiration for your newest songs for the readers? You've released Fake Friends and Two Cents and I believe you are working on other originals.

JS: FAKE FRIENDS is about moments when trust is broken and true colors are revealed. It’s about recognizing the difference between a true friendship and the relationship that simply doesn’t exist when you need it the most.

     Have you ever had someone try to tell you how to live your life even though they don’t know anything about you?  That’s exactly what inspired TWO CENTS.  It’s all about blocking out the noise and staying true to who you are. 

DL: Can you tell us anything about upcoming songs or projects?

JS: My next single REDNECK WEEKEND was inspired by summer weekends when our family and friends camped, hung out, and made great memories during what became the notorious redneck weekend. I’m really excited about the video we are planning but the video is going to have a creative twist to the story behind the lyrics to hopefully make it entertaining. Truth be told, we can’t create a video based on the true redneck weekends, because NDAs were signed. I’m so excited for this next release because there were so many great memories and laughs while writing the song and planning highlights for a fun video.  

DL: Was Country Gold your first music video? How involved were you in setting the creative tone for the video? Did you have input into the scenes used?

JS: Yes, Country Gold is my first music video! The creative tone was established by me as it was like a dream of mine and a mental visual of me heading to Nashville. Beyond that tone, it was a total team effort to bring out so many different elements of Nashville and my videographer did a great job story boarding the different ideas and bringing it to life. A funny thing is that the pick up truck in the video was originally supposed to be the same truck used in Lainey Wilson’s video, but there was a scheduling conflict and then weather postponements, so we had to find another truck. 

DL: You recently had some major news for fans and followers. How does it feel to be sharing the stage with and opening for Justin Moore and Mitchell Tenpenny?

JS: I’m so excited to open up for Justin Moore and Mitchell Tenpenny. I have many songs from both of them on my playlists and to now think that I will share the stage with these guys that are on the radio everyday makes me feel like this is all a dream. I also saw Mitchell at the Grand Ole Opry, and singing at the Opry is a dream of mine, so I’ll have to ask him for some tips on how to get there some day.

DL: Are there plans to release a complete album in the future?

JS: Yes, I do have a plan to release an EP or album soon! I have written over 50 songs and confident that we will have a good selection for the first EP or album.

DL: Are you still taking lessons to learn more about playing guitar? 

JS: Yes, I love guitar. It is taking me a bit longer to learn because I am so focused on writing, recording, and vocals but I’m making the time and it’s a goal to be able to be able to do an acoustic gig with all my originals in 2025! I’m already playing a few songs at my gigs now. 

DL: How important is playing an instrument to the creative process for writing songs?

JS: Right now I don’t really need an instrument to write, but I know as I get better it will be a great tool to have, especially when I write alone. In my co-writes, there is usually an instrument or computer used in the session. 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

     “On My Way” was the first of many originals Josie has co-written with many different songwriters. She joined Noah West and her producer Noah Henson in writing her first song.

      The daughter of John and Michaela Salvitti of Venetia, PA, Josie has been nominated in the past for a Josie Music Award, received a stage during CMA Fest Week and has been contacted by American Idol, receiving a VIP pass to go straight through to LA when she is 15. She got to share a mic with Lainey Wilson at a stadium show in Tampa and met her at the CMAs. She also had the opportunity to sing Lainey's part of the duet ‘Save Me’ with Jelly Roll after he sent security out to bring her on stage.

WHERE CAN I FIND JOSIE SAL?

Website: www.josiesal.com

Social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok

Streaming platforms: Spotify and most major streaming platforms, YouTube

HAVE A LISTEN

Fake Friends

Two Cents

UPCOMING SHOWS & ACTIVITIES

BOOKING JOSIE SAL

Contact Michaela Salvitti | Manager michaela@salvitti.net

In addition to writing this blog for KICR, David C. Lannan is a freelance writer with feature stories published across the country. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors for The Branson Opry. If you would like to be considered for a future blog, send your contact info and links to your music to dlannan@LFE.design.