A Quick Chat with Earth to Josh

Can you describe the sound of this album to someone who hasn’t heard it before?
‘Josh to Earth’ blends classic pop songwriting with 2010s alternative rock vibes, sprinkled with the sonic candy of psychedelic rock and the nostalgic acoustic influence of 1960’s folk rock. I’ve been influenced by so many artists growing up such as Tame Impala, Mac Demarco, Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Sticky Fingers, Moses Gunn Collective, - and the old gold such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Crosby Stills Nash and Young.

You've single-handedly written, recorded, and mixed your music from your bedroom    studio in Lismore. How has this DIY approach shaped your sound and artistic identity?
I’d say it’s a really big part of how my sound has developed so I’m probably not going to change that. Most of my favourite artists record DIY and I think it really adds a certain authenticity and character to everything that feels genuine. I generally record as I’m writing, although I try my best to not let the computer influence what I hear in my head before sitting down to record it.

This year, you've taken your music on the road with a four-piece band. How has performing live influenced your music, and what has the response been like from audiences?
It’s actually been such a wonderful experience bringing songs that I’ve been hearing for the last 3-4 years to fresh ears, and people are digging them which is awesome! The cool thing too is that I don’t think there’s any clear winners either, I think every person has their own favourite tune from the record which is really interesting.

How do you stay creatively inspired and motivated, especially during periods of confinement or stress?
It’s funny because stressful times where I don’t feel secure in my life, or when the reality I knew gets distorted, I’m usually the most creative since it’s my outlet. It’s like a journal entry for me, I talk sanity back into myself by pouring it out into a physical medium. Obviously sometimes I’m drained and need me time and social time, but those times where I feel strung out, it’s how ground myself.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced regarding your musical journey?
A challenge that I had to overcome was when I was first starting, I didn’t really have anyone around to play music with, which is why I set out to teach myself everything, from guitar, song and lyric writing, to the biggest and most time consuming challenge – recording and mixing. Learning how to properly record and mix is a career in itself which is why the record has taken so long to finish because I needed it to be my best work.