Josiah Queen on Chart-Topping 'Mt. Zion' and His Folk-Rock Vision: Breaking Down Walls

A New Chapter for Josiah Queen

Known for his rustic, acoustic-folk sound, contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Josiah Queen has a troubadour's knack for translating keen observations into evocative songs. His breakthroughs include "Fishes and Loaves" and "The Prodigal," as well as his most recent radio single release, "Dusty Bibles." With his new album Mt. Zion, the 22-year-old Florida native's reach expands beyond the Top Christian Albums chart, where it debuted at No. 1. The album also marks his debut on the all-genre Billboard 200 (No. 57), while also debuting at No. 4 on the Americana/Folk albums chart and No. 12 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart.

"It's crazy, especially the rock chart. I'm like, 'Man, I didn't know I made rock music, but let's go,'" Queen shared shortly after the album's debut.

Queen has six songs proliferating the Hot Christian Songs chart, including "Dusty Bibles" at No. 3, as well as his Brandon Lake collaboration, "Can't Steal My Joy," and other songs from the new album, "Cloud and Fire" and "Watch Your Mouth."

Mt. Zion also marks Queen's first album after signing with Capitol CMG (in conjunction with F&L Music Group) earlier this year. "Josiah has had an exceptional year," said Capitol CMG president Brad O'Donnell in a statement. "He's had his biggest shows ever and now has released an incredible new album. Its success across multiple genres is a testament to the quality and depth of his music. Not only did he top the Christian charts, he also had strong showings at rock and folk, proving that his music is reaching a universal audience."

Expanding Horizons

Queen is also gearing up for a potential torrent of awards wins next month at the GMA Dove Awards, thanks to his debut The Prodigal, which also reached No. 1 on Top Christian Albums. Queen is in the running for artist of the year at the Oct. 7 GMA Dove Awards, while "The Prodigal" is up for song of the year, and the deluxe version of The Prodigal is up for pop/contemporary album of the year.

"I'm truly blessed. Just the fact that I can even say I have two albums, it's amazing," Queen said.

When asked about Mt. Zion, his new label home, and the success of songs including "Dusty Bibles" and "Can't Steal My Joy," Queen reflected on the inspiration behind "Dusty Bibles." He explained that the song was inspired by a conversation with Chris Martin of Coldplay about how some of his biggest songs were written quickly. Queen wanted to write about practical things in life that keep people away from God, such as the song "Slow Down, Please," which reflects a season of life where he felt overwhelmed.

"Dusty Bibles" is at No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart and climbing on the Christian Airplay chart. Queen wrote it with Zac Lawson, Dylan Thomas, and John Michael Howell. "We almost didn't release it. We thought we'd just throw it on the album, but listening back to it, it just felt very relatable," he said.

The Meaning Behind the Title

When asked how he decided on Mt. Zion as the title of the album, Queen explained that he wanted to write an album about the things in our lives that we try to keep away from God. The song “Mount Zion” talks about realizing we don't deserve God's love, yet we're still invited into it. It's about breaking down the walls.

Queen's previous album, The Prodigal, was released independently, while Mt. Zion was released with Capitol CMG. Working with a label versus being independent has been a different experience. "The last album, I didn't even have CDs or vinyls for people to buy. That's a really big thing. Also, I like to give singles a moment and not do too many. It felt like they didn't want me to change how I wanted to do things. But they came beside me and helped me on a lot of the other fronts," he said.

Collaborations and Fan Connections

Queen also has a top 10 Christian Airplay hit with his Brandon Lake collaboration, "Can't Steal My Joy." The song was born from a chance meeting at a radio conference. "He kept saying, 'You're a joy, man.' He kept calling me joy and joyful, and said, 'Let's write a song about joy.' He gave me his number, and later I was at my parents' house, and I wrote that chorus and sent it to him. We wrote it over text message, he was on a tractor cutting his lawn," Queen shared.

The line that really hit him during the writing process was, "What the world couldn't give me, it can't take away." He added that having Brandon on the track was a big compliment.

When asked about other songs from the new project that have connected with fans, Queen highlighted "Meaning of Life." "That one I did not expect for fans to relate, but when I ask, 'What's your favorite song on the album?' that one comes up," he said. The song draws from Ecclesiastes, where King Solomon reflects on the futility of worldly pursuits. "I don't want to live just to die and miss the meaning of this life," he said, noting that fans seem to relate to the message.