About
Josh Karlen is a Wisconsin-based musician with the dream of becoming a Professional Christian Drummer and Songwriter. He has been playing drums and percussion for over thirteen years in many different settings. Now, he has been composing his own music for a chance to be noticed. Find his Music Experience below.
Bio
Josh is from a small town in northern Wisconsin. He has moved around a bit in his life, but has had the same passion for drums since he started at nine years old. In this time, Josh fell in love with playing Christian music at worship practices, youth group, and nearly everyday during his free time. At seventeen, he attended his first Christian music festival where he saw the Newsboys play a song that changed his life. To this day, his passion for God and Christian music continues to grow. He is currently a student studying Music and Percussion Performance, and he hopes to tour some day with a band.
“It’s a roaring passion running wild.”
- Ice On Fire, Josh Karlen.
Click to View Josh’s Music Experience
It’s Always Been You is probably my favorite song by Phil Wickham. Since the song came out in the Summer of 2021, I knew I wanted to do something with it. It just seemed so special, I felt a connection. In February 2023, I was up late one night and was listening to It’s Always Been You on repeat. Like a lightbulb moment, the idea to do a marimba solo instantly came to mind. I began to arrange the part, and then I transcribed the drumset part with the multiple swells. I had a project that I felt passionate about. My favorite part of the song is the piano part. Putting this together, I noticed that the piano part echoes the vocal line “Always Been You” in sixteenth notes throughout the choruses. I just found that really cool. This song also really showcases why I like Phil Wickham’s music so much. His use of polyrhythms of syncopated sixteenth notes slipping into triplets. That’s something I get really excited about.
