Joshua Cain
Encyclopedia
Joshua Allen Cain is a guitarist
and record producer
from Saint Paul, Minnesota
. He is the co-founder and lead guitarist of American
pop punk
band Motion City Soundtrack
. Cain is also a music producer
with multiple past projects; comprising an EP
for Epitaph-signed band Sing it Loud and two songs including the lead single from Metro Station's
debut album.
in 1997. Cain took on a lot of managerial responsibilities when the band first began, including booking the band's first shows. He is lead guitar
in the band, playing a 1965 Gibson SG Junior
through a Vox AC-30 Custom Classic. Cain also sings many of the band's backup vocals, including a notable solo in the song "Capital H" from the band's debut studio album
, I Am the Movie
. Cain and longtime girlfriend Jill Lipski married on September 8, 2007, during a ceremony at the Gale Mansion in his hometown of Minneapolis. In 2010, the couple welcomed their first child, Dot Cain.
, he produced two tracks for the pop rock
band Metro Station
. "Kelsey" and "Seventeen Forever" both featured on the band's self-titled debut album, Metro Station
, after "Seventeen Forever" had gained the band exposure on Myspace
. "Kelsey" was the first single to be released from the album, ahead of the chart hit "Shake It
", which peaked at #3 on Hot Digital Songs
, #9 in the Pop 100
and #10 in the Billboard Hot 100
. In 2008, the album went on to peak at #43 in the Billboard 200
, #1 Top Electronic Albums
and #2 in the Top Heatseekers
.
In 2007, Cain was appointed to produce the second EP
for Motion City Soundtrack's fellow hometown band from Minneapolis, Sing it Loud
. He produced all five songs for the band's 2008 release, coinciding with their signing to Epitaph Records
.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
from Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. He is the co-founder and lead guitarist of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack is an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1997. The band consists of founding members Justin Pierre and Joshua Cain , along with keyboardist and moog synthesist Jesse Johnson, bassist and backing vocalist Matthew Taylor, and drummer, percussionist and...
. Cain is also a music producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
with multiple past projects; comprising an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
for Epitaph-signed band Sing it Loud and two songs including the lead single from Metro Station's
Metro Station (band)
Metro Station is an American pop rock band that formed in Los Angeles by Mason Musso and Trace Cyrus. In late 2006, the band signed a recording contract with Columbia/Red Ink. They are best known for their Top 10 Billboard hit single "Shake It" from their self-titled debut album...
debut album.
History
Joshua Cain played in numerous bands before joining the much more successful Motion City Soundtrack. Prior to Motion City he had roles in bands Superette, Saddest Girl Story, and Boxcar. He then co-founded Motion City Soundtrack with guitarist and lead vocalist Justin PierreJustin Pierre
Justin Courtney Pierre is a singer, songwriter and guitarist originally from Mahtomedi, Minnesota, United States. He is the co-founder and lead vocalist of the pop punk band Motion City Soundtrack, and is known for his interests and pursuits in film making and production of music.-Early...
in 1997. Cain took on a lot of managerial responsibilities when the band first began, including booking the band's first shows. He is lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
in the band, playing a 1965 Gibson SG Junior
Gibson SG Junior
The Gibson SG Junior was a solid-bodied electric guitar manufactured by Gibson from the early 1960s to the late 60s. Like its earlier sister, the Gibson Les Paul Junior, it had been created for sale to anyone who wanted Gibson quality for a cheap price. It is known for its single P-90 treble...
through a Vox AC-30 Custom Classic. Cain also sings many of the band's backup vocals, including a notable solo in the song "Capital H" from the band's debut studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, I Am the Movie
I Am the Movie
I Am the Movie is the first full-length album of American power pop band Motion City Soundtrack. It was released independently in 2002, and was remastered and re-released with four new tracks by Epitaph Records in June 2003.-Unsigned release:...
. Cain and longtime girlfriend Jill Lipski married on September 8, 2007, during a ceremony at the Gale Mansion in his hometown of Minneapolis. In 2010, the couple welcomed their first child, Dot Cain.
Production
Cain took up his first production job outside of any Motion City Soundtrack project in 2006. Along side fellow band member Justin PierreJustin Pierre
Justin Courtney Pierre is a singer, songwriter and guitarist originally from Mahtomedi, Minnesota, United States. He is the co-founder and lead vocalist of the pop punk band Motion City Soundtrack, and is known for his interests and pursuits in film making and production of music.-Early...
, he produced two tracks for the pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band Metro Station
Metro Station (band)
Metro Station is an American pop rock band that formed in Los Angeles by Mason Musso and Trace Cyrus. In late 2006, the band signed a recording contract with Columbia/Red Ink. They are best known for their Top 10 Billboard hit single "Shake It" from their self-titled debut album...
. "Kelsey" and "Seventeen Forever" both featured on the band's self-titled debut album, Metro Station
Metro Station (album)
Metro Station is the self-titled, first and only full length album by scene pop band Metro Station. The album was released on September 18, 2007, via Columbia/Red Ink. It is highly regarded as one of the key albums in the scene pop genre. Four singles were released; "Shake It" and "Seventeen...
, after "Seventeen Forever" had gained the band exposure on Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. "Kelsey" was the first single to be released from the album, ahead of the chart hit "Shake It
Shake It (Metro Station song)
"Shake It" is a song by American pop group Metro Station released as the third single from their self-titled debut album. It is their first charting single, reaching #10 in the United States. Internationally, it charted in the top ten in ten countries outside the U.S...
", which peaked at #3 on Hot Digital Songs
Hot Digital Songs
The Hot Digital Songs chart ranks the best-selling digital singles in the United States, according to Billboard.Beginning in February 2005, digital sales have been incorporated into many of Billboards music single charts. It was decided to do so mainly because of the dramatic rise in popularity of...
, #9 in the Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
and #10 in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. In 2008, the album went on to peak at #43 in the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, #1 Top Electronic Albums
Top Electronic Albums
Dance/Electronic Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top-selling electronic music albums in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated June 30, 2001. It originally began as a fifteen-position chart and has since expanded to twenty-five...
and #2 in the Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
.
In 2007, Cain was appointed to produce the second EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
for Motion City Soundtrack's fellow hometown band from Minneapolis, Sing it Loud
Sing it Loud
-History:Sing it Loud grew out of a friendship between cousins vocalist Pat Brown and guitarist Kieren Smith, who founded the group together and added members whom they met locally in the Minneapolis music scene. Brown officially brought the group together after his previous band called it quits....
. He produced all five songs for the band's 2008 release, coinciding with their signing to Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
.
External links
- MotionCitySoundtrack.com his band's official website.