Generally, the university bar scene fronts as a breeding ground for those pursuing more than the standard higher education (read: the rockstar calling). Every once in a while, amongst the rhythm of the beer taps and unsuccessful mating rituals emerges a musical force to be reckoned with. In the early part of this decade, University of Mississippi college student Josh Kelley was that force. And, while the often over-saturated music industry was charting its course, Kelley was preparing to deliver tracks that were reminiscent of modern rock intertwined with the staying power of classic rock. His top ten hit "Amazing" established Kelley as an overnight sensation, while guiding him in transcending musical boundaries.

     When notoriety materializes rapidly for an artist, both authenticity and longevity are rigorously tested. The sophomore slump is an undesired curse that separates the has-beens from the will-bes. Luckily for Kelley, his latest release "Almost Honest" was met with rave reviews and rabid fanfare. "I just think it's an incredible album," Kelley expressed while he readied for a soundcheck on his tour with Welsh-songstress Jem, "It goes through every different style of emotion." And, with power producers The Matrix backing the first single "Only You," Kelley can say goodbye to bar-stage oblivion and hello to pop culture stature.

     And, don't be fooled by the album title; Kelley's track listing exudes intense sincerity, all while showcasing songwriting prowess that is symbolic of his influences. In this exclusive gt magazine interview, he reveals about his chance meeting with the Godfather of Soul, how his instrumental talent exceeds double digits, and what "Grey's Anatomy" star he finds "Amazing"...

gt.com: we understand the album name "Almost Honest" comes from one of the tracks, but what made you ultimately decide to choose that song to represent your sophomore release?

JOSH: After we were done with the record, I realized that all the songs sort of had a common theme and were about a common thing, which was my relationships with a few different women over the first two and a half years of my professional career. I always send my mom my songs to bounce them off of her and see what she thinks. When "Almost Honest" came around, she just came back raving about that song. And, she thought that it should be the title of my album. It's perfect, it represents me -- it's what I've been going through.

gt.com: the first single "Only You" is such a catchy, destined hit. did you write that about anyone specific, or is it just a general love song?

JOSH: I wrote "Only You" about this girl that I was seeing in Australia. She was actually my opening act on my first headlining tour in Australia, and we really hit it off. I ended up writing the song about her, because she was just playing these crazy, crazy mind games with me. And, I realized, it doesn't matter what country you are in, girls are going to play mind games with guys, regardless.

gt.com: speaking of girls...your girlfriend, "Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl, makes a guest appearance in the music video for "Only You." was she handpicked for the role?

JOSH: It's something that came up, I didn't handpick anyone for the video. I just bought a new house in Nashville, and I didn't even know who was going to be in the video. And then, the day I got there, they were like "Hey, we got Katherine Heigl." I was like, "Oh cool, who is that?" They told me she was in this, and this, and this, and I was like, that is so cool, that's awesome! So, we really hit it off! I mean, I'm not even an actor by any means, and it looks like I am and the chemistry was so tight. I guess it was almost like fate!

gt.com: like love at first sight! is it difficult to continue a relationship, especially with another celebrity, while on the road promoting each other's projects?

JOSH: It is tough. When we see each other, we have such a great time and we have grown really close now, so it's gotten harder to leave every time. But, it guess it just comes with the territory. In life, you make time for the things that you really want. If you really want it to work, you'll make time for it, and we make time for each other.

gt.com: definitely! now, you've been on the road supporting Jem for about a week now. how has the tour been going?

JOSH: This is actually the second show that we've played, because the first group of shows got cancelled. This is like the beginning of it, right now, we're just doing soundcheck right now! It's all good!

gt.com: a show not to miss, that's for sure. some of the tracks take on a real bluesy-folk feel. who were you inspired by musically while growing as an artist?

JOSH: I grew up in Augusta, GA, so I was inspired a lot by James Brown. I guess I just grew up with everything, depending on whose car I was in! If I was in my older brother's car, I'd be listening to Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, and Black Sabbath. When I was with my mom, it was like Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder. You just get shaped by having a diverse family.

gt.com: absolutely. speaking of driving in the car...what do you listen to while on the road?

JOSH: I listen to my little brother's new album that we're making right now, his name is Charles Kelley. I'm listening to his stuff, I'm listening to Josh Rouse, "The Garden State" soundtrack is killer. What else is really, really great? Joseph Arthur, I really like him.

gt.com: do you listen to your own CD, or do you find that to be too weird?

JOSH: No, no, I listen to it every now and then. Like, I haven't listened to it in awhile. I've written about fifteen or sixteen new songs since I made the album, so I listen to those every now and then and see how they hold up!

gt.com: as you've learned, writing can be a deeply personal task. what have you learned about yourself through this process?

JOSH: Writing is a form of venting. You take your emotions, and instead of bottling them up, you pour them into your art. And that's a great advantage that artists have over other people, if there is such an advantage. That you can pour all of your emotions and form a release, and in that release you do learn about yourself. You're actually getting what's inside, what's in your subconscious, you're getting it all out. I can't name one thing out of the five thousand things I've learned about myself. You just figure out who you are and what you want to stand for, and even spiritually who you are.

gt.com: wow, great answer. now, is the music industry all you thought it would be, or is it surprising you more every day?

JOSH: It surprises me every day. It takes its turns and flips every now and then. It is definitely one of those things where it is nice to have a label and all the money, but there are a lot of decisions that sometimes you feel like you could make better. Or, maybe it's all like a hit. But it's even more of a task to inspire everybody and keep them all on board.

gt.com: we can see that. you seem to be both creative and business-savvy. have you ever considered establishing your own record label?

JOSH: Eventually, that's exactly what the goal is. I'm totally going to do that, it just takes a little time!

gt.com: perfect! take us back to when you first decided that being a musician was the path you wanted to travel. what was the first thing you did to start your career?

JOSH: I don't really know when the beginning was, I just started playing. I think the first thing I ever did was make a drum set out of pots and pans when I was a kid. From then on, I think the goal was pretty clear ::laughs:: I never really just flipped a switch or anything like that.

gt.com: haha, on that note, is it true that you know how to play fourteen instruments?

JOSH: Yes, that is true!

gt.com: what have you found to be the most difficult instrumental skill to acquire?

JOSH: The banjo was the hardest one to figure out. There are so many chords, and it's so different from the guitar. I don't know why, it was just a bit of a hard one to learn. None of them are brain surgery, though!

gt.com: interesting! you come from a long line of successful musicians who cite the Dave Matthews Band as an influence. what is it about their music that has inspired you?

JOSH: I don't know, I think it was a main inspiration for when I was little. It didn't become a main inspiration when I was writing songs, but I think it shaped me when I was younger. He actually pulled in so many different styles of music, and somehow had pop sensibility, that was actually a very important factor. How, it can be five different styles of sound yet still be a pop hit. It's very hard to do, and I think somehow that shaped me subconsciously, as well. I just really like the music, I don't know why, I never really dissected it.

gt.com: another hot topic in the industry is the file-sharing controversy. what is your stance on that, and would it be any different had you not been a successful musician?

JOSH: No, it wouldn't have been very different. File sharing is what it is. I used it to get myself out there. There's always ways to get yourself out in that medium, and I luckily found one that was easy to use. The idea of stealing songs is pretty shitty. I never actually stole songs; at the time I was using it, it was primarily made up of independent artists. I was looking for people I had never heard of. I think file sharing has definitely opened people's minds up musically -- people are listening to more diverse music now. We just have to figure out a way for musicians to be paid for their art, because obviously, you can't download a Picasso and get his brush strokes, but you can download my song and get all of the guitar tones for free. And, that doesn't make any sense.

gt.com: definitely valid points. what is this we hear about you having a second love, for golf?

JOSH: No, no, no. That was just something I learned so that I could hang out with my older brother. It was never a big passion of mine. It was just something that I happened to be good at. Music and painting are the only real passions I have.

gt.com: multi-talented, we see! you almost had your college degree before you were discovered. any plans to go back to school and complete the program?

JOSH: Nah, I don't think it's really necessary. College, to me, I realized that it was a source of growing with your people skills and figuring out what you want to do with yourself. But as far as school, it was not very hard. I barely even studied, and I hardly remember any of it! I think the most valuable things you can get from college is just learning how to live in the world.

gt.com: another project you had the opportunity to work on was recording "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" for a Queen Tribute album. why did you decide to take on that project and that song in particular?

JOSH: It's one of my favorite songs. Because it was going to be the easiest one to morph; I did it totally different than the original. I'm the only dude on that record that did it different than the original. And, I knew that one would be fun to do that way. I've always played around with it that way anyhow, and the opportunity came up and sounded perfect, and I thought, "I'd love to do this."

gt.com: well, we loved it, but have you heard from any of the members of Queen about it?

JOSH: Actually, I got an e-mail from Brian May of Queen, saying that it was his favorite track on the record.

gt.com: wow, what an honor! what about your interesting encounter with James Brown in your teenage years -- can you tell us more about that?

JOSH: My little brother Charles and I had an opportunity to sign with James Brown when I was about fourteen, and my dad wouldn't sign the papers. For one, he didn't trust James Brown, and second of all, we were too young. And, he was right. I think if he would have signed us then, I wouldn't have learned near this much about myself and I don't think I would have been the songwriter and musician that I am now. My dad definitely knows what he is talking about!

gt.com: what else would people be surprised to learn about you?

JOSH: I don't know! I guess a lot of people are surprised to hear that I am a painter, also. Also, that I play fourteen instruments. And, everybody says that I don't look like I sound. I guess that comes from the soul influence! But, I think that the main things that surprise people are being a painter and playing fourteen instruments.

gt.com: okay, here's your chance -- sell your album to our readers.

JOSH: [In an announcer's voice] Well, if you wanna buy the best album of all time, the album that's going to give you the biggest bang for your buck... ::laughs:: If people want to listen to something that's easily relatable to their lives, I have no doubt that the best one to give them is "Almost Honest."

gt.com: we're sold! thanks for being completely honest with us, Josh!

He's just as "Amazing" as the lucky girl he croons
about! Check out his website at: www.joshkelley.com!