Josh Levi (singer) explained

Josh Levi
Birth Name:Joshua Levi Bolden
Birth Date:7 October 1998
Birth Place:Houston, Texas
Known For:Friday Night Lights, The X Factor USA

Joshua Levi Bolden (born October 7, 1998) is an American singer, actor, and dancer from Houston, Texas.[1] [2] He first gained attention for his role in the NBC television series Friday Night Lights. He then attained further prominence as a finalist on the third season of The X Factor USA. Afterwards he made guest appearances on the Nickelodeon television shows The Thundermans and Game Shakers.

In 2021, he signed to Issa Rae's Raedio and Atlantic Records. In March 2022, Levi voiced the character of Aaron Z from the fictional boy band 4*Town in the Pixar animated film Turning Red. In April 2022, he earned his first Billboard Hot 100 charting hit with the Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell co-written "Nobody Like U" from the film's soundtrack, which peaked at number 49.

Career

2009-2019: Acting, The X Factor and Citizen Four

Levi started his career with in 2009, when he landed the role of Darius Merriweather on the television series Friday Night Lights, which he starred in for two seasons.[3]

In 2013, he was a finalist on season 3[4] of the television series The X Factor USA.[5] [6] After he was eliminated, Levi returned to the show to participate with the top 12 of the competition.[7] [8] [9] Levi then advanced to the final eight slots before he was eliminated for a second time.[10] In February 2014, Levi released his debut single "Trying to Find You".[11] In June 2014, he appeared at a DigiTour show in Dallas, Texas, in June.[12] He also performed at the outlets at Anthem tree lighting ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona,[13] and the Citadel Outlets in Los Angeles in November 2014.[14] [15] In 2015, Levi toured with Aaron Carter;[16] and released an official cover of Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney's single, "FourFiveSeconds".[17] In 2016, Levi collaborated with American singers Niki and Gabi on a cover of "Work From Home" by Fifth Harmony.

In early 2017, he formed a group named Citizen Four alongside Carson Boatman, Connor Boatman, and fellow The X Factor contestant, Austin Percario for Island Records.[18] In August 2017, it was announced that Levi had left the band.[19] That same year, he made a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon series The Thundermans.[20] In 2018, Levi made another Nickelodeon guest appearance on the television series Game Shakers.

2019-present: Solo music career, college education and record deal

Following his exit from the group Citizen Four, Levi shifted his full attention towards his education and solo ventures. In July 2019, he earned a Bachelor's degree of science in business and finance from Full Sail University. In July 2020, he released he first extended play DISC ONE.[21] In October 2020, he released the music video for his song "Don't They", which included a cameo by his childhood friend singer Normani. Celebrity photographer Blair Caldwell directed the music video in his directorial debut.[22] [23]

In September 2021, Levi signed to Issa Rae's Raedio and Atlantic Records. He also released the song "NASA" and its music video.[24] In 2022, Levi voiced the character of Aaron Z from the fictional boy band 4*Town in the Pixar animated film Turning Red. In April 2022, he earned his first Billboard Hot 100 charting hit with the Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell co-written "Nobody Like U" from the film's soundtrack, which peaked at number 49.[25] In June 2022, Levi released the remix to his song "Don't They" featuring Normani, from his second extended play DISC TWO.[26] In May 12, 2023, Levi released the deluxe to his second extended play called DISC TWO (SCRATCHED UP) which features the viral hit single, "Birthday Dance". Levi also announced that he was working on his debut studio album.[27] [28]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009—11Darius Merriweather8 episodes
2016DJEpisode: "#1.12833"
Jordan6 episodes
MitchellTelevision short
2017DrakeEpisode: "Date of Emergency"
2017WaiterEpisode: "Keke Gets Bad Press"
2018Game ShakersRickEpisode: "Babe & the Boys"[29]

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009LennyShort film
2010Kid B (voice)Direct-to-video
2014Young TristianDirect-to-video
2017Mickey
2022Aaron Z. (4*Town) (voice)[30]

Discography

EPs

!Title!Details
DISC ONE
DISC TWO
DISC TWO (SCRATCHED UP)

Singles

Notes and References

  1. News: Houston's own Josh Levi sings, dances, acts and impresses 'X Factor' judges. Joey Guerra. October 1, 2013. Houston Chronicle. July 28, 2015.
  2. News: The Daily Quarterly. My Motto is to Stay Odd, And Run Your Own Race: A TDQ Q&A With Entertainer Josh Levi. Brian DiMaio. February 17, 2014.
  3. Web site: Josh Levi - Filmography . June 6, 2022 . The Movies Made Me Do It.
  4. News: International Business Times. X Factor USA 2013 Top 12 Recap: Wild Card Twist Gets Josh Levi Return on Fox Show. November 7, 2013.
  5. Web site: He's Got the Moves Like MJ: Music Sensation Josh Levi Opens-Up!. January 24, 2014. The Levity Ball. July 28, 2015.
  6. Web site: January 7, 2021 . Josh Levi Talks Creating His Own Creative Vision For His Debut Project . June 6, 2022 . Wonderland . en-GB.
  7. X-Factor Recap: Paulina Rubio Brings Back Josh Levi in Surprise Move. Katy Kroll. November 7, 2013. Rolling Stone. July 28, 2015.
  8. Web site: X Factor 2013: Josh Levi Brought Back as a Wildcard!. Elisabeth Kramer. November 6, 2013. Wet Paint. July 28, 2015.
  9. Web site: The X Factor: Josh Levi Is 'Straight Up' the Star of the Night. Wade Rouse. November 14, 2013. People. July 28, 2015.
  10. News: 'The X Factor': Josh Levi Impresses With Strong Take On Bruno Mars, Dedicates It To His Grandma. Jason Hughes. November 28, 2013. The Huffington Post. July 28, 2015.
  11. Web site: OK! Exclusive: Listen to The X Factor's Josh Levi's Romantic Debut Single!. Haley Longman. February 14, 2014. OK Magazine. July 28, 2015.
  12. News: The New York Times. Stars of YouTube Take to the Stage. June 8, 2014. Brandon Thibodeaux.
  13. Web site: Before You Exit, Josh Levi, Christina Grimmie perform at Anthem tree lighting ceremony. November 12, 2014. Your West Valley. July 28, 2015.
  14. Web site: The 13th Annual Citadel Tree Lighting Concert. November 5, 2014. KTTV. July 28, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20141113011718/http://www.myfoxla.com/story/27286648/the-13th-annual-citadel-tree-lighting-concert. November 13, 2014. dead.
  15. Web site: The Brightest Nights of the Year. November 6, 2014. Scarlett Zhiqi Chen. Los Angeles Magazine. July 28, 2015.
  16. Web site: Josh Levi comes to UK with Aaron Carter. January 4, 2015. Music News. July 28, 2015.
  17. Web site: Mike Sanford . X-Factor star Josh Levi covers Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney's "Four Five Seconds" . July 28, 2015 . Heed Magazine.
  18. Web site: Milazzo . Crissy . Meet Citizen Four, Your Next Favorite Boy Band . June 6, 2022 . Teen Vogue . May 19, 2017 . en-US.
  19. Rising Boy Band Citizen Four Talks Destiny's Child-Sampling Single 'My Name (Say It)' & Getting Approval From Beyonce. Billboard. October 12, 2018.
  20. Web site: Josh Levi . June 6, 2022 . IMDb . en.
  21. Web site: July 1, 2020 . 'The X Factor' Alum Josh Levi Drops New EP & Reveals How He Plans To 'Make Waves' In Music & Beyond . June 6, 2022 . Hollywood Life.
  22. Web site: Trey . Mangum . October 2, 2020 . Josh Levi Debuts 'Don't They' Video Starring Normani and Directed by Blair Caldwell . June 6, 2022 . Showbiz Cheat Sheet . en-US.
  23. Web site: October 2, 2020 . Exclusive: Normani Stars In Josh Levi's Sultry Music Video "Don't They" . June 6, 2022 . Wonderland . en-GB.
  24. Web site: September 7, 2021 . Josh Levi Signs to Issa Rae's Raedio, Shares New Song 'NASA' . June 6, 2022 . Rated R&B . en-US.
  25. Lee . Cydney . Rouhani . Neena . April 20, 2022 . R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Rico Nasty, Josh Levi, Kay Flock & More . June 6, 2022 . Billboard.
  26. Web site: June 6, 2022 . Josh Levi Talks Normani Collaboration, 'Disc Two' EP: Interview . June 6, 2022 . Rated R&B . en-US.
  27. Web site: Samuels . Keithan . 2023-05-13 . Josh Levi Releases 'Disc Two (Scratched Up)' EP . 2024-01-02 . Rated R&B . en-US.
  28. Web site: Baker . Josh . 2023-12-29 . Josh Levi On Viral Moments and Working On His Debut Album . 2024-01-02 . EBONY . en-US.
  29. Web site: Benjamin Flores Jr. & Thomas Kuc's Epic Episode Recap Fail Game Shakers Nickelodeon . 2024-08-07.
  30. Web site: 2022-03-11 . INTERVIEW - The Voices of 4*Town in 'Turning Red' Jordan Fisher, Grayson Villanueva, Josh Levi & Topher Ngo POC Culture . 2024-08-07 . en-US.