Joseph (band from Portland, OR)

Joseph is an American folk band from Portland, Oregon made up of three sisters: Natalie Closner, and twins Allison Closner and Meegan Closner. Their first album, Native Dreamer Kin, was self-released in early 2014. Their second album I'm Alone, No You're Not was produced by Mike Mogis and was released on August 26, 2016, by ATO Records. Joseph was formed when Natalie Closner, who had been pursuing a solo singer-songwriter career, recruited her younger twin sisters Meegan and Allison to join her on vocals for a new project. They chose their name as a tribute to the town of Joseph, Oregon and their grandfather Jo. Originally performing under a different name, a label representative said the name did not match the gravitas of their songwriting; they had just been camping in Joseph, a regular activity for them, and decided on the name. They self-released their debut album Native Dreamer Kin in 2014, and built a following playing intimate house shows as a trio accompanied by acoustic guitar and foot drum. Joseph were signed to ATO Records in 2015, releasing an acoustic two-song digital ATO Sessions EP and accompanying video series. In 2015, they recorded I'm Alone, No You're Not with producer Mike Mogis. The album was released on August 26, 2016. It debuted at #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart and remained at the top of the chart for two weeks. They released their first single, "White Flag", on May 24, 2016, with a premiere on NPR's Songs We Love. "White Flag" reached No. 1 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart in October 2016, and charted on Spotify's US Viral Top Ten days after its release. In Fall 2016, Joseph launched an a cappella covers contest, which included submissions from fans, amateur musicians, and college a cappella groups. The band made their television debut performing "White Flag" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, followed by appearances on Later... with Jools Holland, Ellen, CONAN, CBS This Morning, and NBC's TODAY. Prior to the album's release, the band was named a Spotify Spotlight Artist and toured with James Bay. The band re-joined Bay as support on a sold-out arena tour in Fall 2016. Joseph has performed both as an acoustic trio and a full band at music festivals across the globe including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Sasquatch Festival, Glastonbury, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, Pilgrimage Music Festival and more. They released a seven track EP, Stay Awake, on September 15, 2017. On July 9, 2019, the band announced on social media and their website their new album Good Luck, Kid would be released September 13, 2019. The first single, Fighter, was described on Twitter by Meegan as "a song looking you in the eye and asking you to come alive and fight. It’s asking you to wake up and make a choice to have presence for what and who is in front of you." The title track, Good Luck Kid, was released as a single on August 13, 2019. On January 25, 2023, the band announced their new album The Sun would be released April 28, 2023. The first single, titled Nervous System, was released alongside the announcement. This was followed by the title track, The Sun, as a single on March 17, 2023, and then a third single, Fireworks, on April 25, 2023. On August 2, 2024, the band announced that Allison would be stepping away from the band "for the foreseeable future" after completing their then-current tour, and that a new album had already been in the works by the two remaining sisters. Five days later the band released Starting Over At The End, their first song as a duo. Closer to Happy was released on January 30, 2026, through Nettwerk Music Group. It marked the band's first full-length release as a duo, following the 2024 departure of co-founder Allison Closner. The album was co-produced by Natalie and Meegan Closner alongside Luke Niccoli, and consists of twelve tracks exploring themes of heartbreak, loss, and self-reclamation. To support the album, the band embarked on the Closer to Happy Tour across the United States and Canada. Good Luck, Kid did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number four on the Top Heatseekers Albums Chart. Christensen, David (May 24, 2016). "Songs We Love: Joseph, 'White Flag'". NPR. Retrieved June 1, 2016. "I'm Alone, No You're Not by Joseph". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016. "Natalie Closner Schepman". Response. Seattle Pacific University. 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016. "Sibling Trio Joseph Conjure Vocal Alchemy On ATO Records Debut 'I'm Alone, No You're Not' Out August". Shore Fire Media. May 24, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016. "Joseph • The Kate". The Kate (As shared on the TV special.). Retrieved May 17, 2020. Guido, Emma (June 3, 2015). "Interview: Joseph". Mind Equals Blown. Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2016. "Joseph signs to ATO – watch their ATO Session now!". ATO Records. September 16, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2016. "Heatseekers Albums – 2016 Archive". Billboard Charts Archive. Retrieved September 15, 2016. "Alternative Music: Top Alternative Songs Chart". Billboard. November 28, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2016. "Joseph Unveil Music Video For "White Flag" Following Fallon Performance and Spotify Viral Success". Shore Fire Media. July 7, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016. Closner, Natalie (September 20, 2016). "It's an a cappella contest!!". Joseph. Retrieved July 21, 2017. "Joseph A Cappella". YouTube. Retrieved July 21, 2017. NBC.com (June 24, 2016), Joseph: White Flag – The Tonight Show, archived from the original on June 27, 2016, retrieved June 27, 2016 "Mesmerizing Sibling Trio Joseph Perform Live With NY Times From Electric Lady Studios At Noon ET Tod". August 26, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016. TheEllenShow (October 25, 2016), "Joseph Performs 'White Flag'!", YouTube, retrieved September 9, 2018 "Joseph will be appearing on CONAN Thursday, September 1st, 2016". TeamCoco. Retrieved September 9, 2018. "Sibling Trio Joseph Conjure Vocal Alchemy On ATO Records Debut 'I'm Alone, No You're Not' Out August 26". Red Light Management. May 24, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2018. Hartling, B. (October 8, 2016). "James Bay with Joseph live at the Fillmore – Detroit, Michigan – October 4, 2016". Music Life Magazine. Retrieved September 9, 2018. "Shows". Joseph. Retrieved July 21, 2017. Morales, Roger (2017). "Video: Joseph is having more fun than anyone at Lollapalooza 2017". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2018. Horn, Rachel (August 11, 2017). "Joseph, Live In Concert: Newport Folk 2017". NPR. Retrieved September 9, 2018. "Stay Awake by Joseph", ATO RECORDS, September 15, 2017, retrieved May 1, 2023 "Here's who is appearing on the Jools Holland Hootenanny on New Year's Eve". inews.co.uk. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020. "Sister trio Joseph have announced their new studio album The Sun, and have released "Nervous System" as the lead outing". www.thelineofbestfit.com. January 25, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023. "EXCLUSIVE: JOSEPH Unveil New Single "Fireworks"". Paste Magazine. Retrieved June 1, 2023. @thebandjoseph; (August 2, 2024). "a friend of ours said "no one can leave a family band"..." – via Instagram. @thebandjoseph; (August 7, 2024). "Our new song Starting Over At The End..." – via Instagram. "JOSEPH Announces New Album 'Closer To Happy'". Nettwerk Music Group. Retrieved May 9, 2026. "Joseph Announces New Album Closer to Happy Out January 30, 2026". Red Light Management. Retrieved May 9, 2026. "JOSEPH Announces New Album 'Closer To Happy'". Nettwerk Music Group. Retrieved May 9, 2026. "Joseph Announces New Album Closer to Happy Out January 30, 2026". Red Light Management. Retrieved May 9, 2026. "Joseph Chart History". billboard.com. Retrieved September 16, 2019. "Joseph – Chart History: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2021. "Joseph – Chart History: Americana/Folk Albums". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved January