Meet Josh Schicker | Founding member of A Stranger and a Friend

We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh Schicker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Community is the most important factor that determines our success us as a band. Our band started as the three of us came to be in community with each other. We were all at totally different places in life and somehow, we ended up connecting over music. As we have come to be friends, business partners, and as life keeps changes coming, we know the importance of genuinely engaging each other and others around us with vulnerability.
Song-writing is communal for us as well which can be challenging but extremely rewarding. We share the writing and arranging of music responsibilities and feel that our songs are better for it.
Our live shows are also a place of collaboration with our musical community. We love to feature our creative friends as part of A Stranger and a Friend.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We are always looking for ways to support each other and our fellow artists. We are most proud of the sense of community we have been able to carry as we have grown as a band in the Atlanta area. We try not to say “no” to opportunities that are offered to us. Each experience performing or writing has been encouraging and enriching in ways we couldn’t have known in advance.

Our momentum took a big hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were set to release an EP in May of 2020 and that was postponed indefinitely. We are now looking for the best way to get that music out there and to reestablish our live shows as a part of our life as a band.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We are all big foodies and love to frequent the cultural establishments along Buford Highway. If guests wanted a really unique experience, we might hit up some OTP gas station food as well. There are some great BBQ and Mexican cuisine in spots you’d never expect. We think the small places often offer the best experience of what it’s like to live somewhere too. Small venues, small restaurants.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We recorded our forthcoming release with Atlanta-based producer, Will Robertson. Our songs benefitted from Will’s expertise as an audio engineer and the fact that he is a highly trained musician. He is such a generous person that we consider him an honorary member of the band and hope to work with him again someday.

Website: www.astrangerandafriend.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrangerandafriend/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AStrangerandaFriendband

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61Ru4q_KjQKeD0Rj_vN21w

Image Credits
Whitney Meadows, Deb Working