Project Description
Interview with
JOSH NEEDS
Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs
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Photo – George Fetting
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JOSH NEEDS Info
Josh Needs is a singer/songwriter and guitarist from the coastal town of South West Rocks, NSW.
Josh recently performed at the Sydney Kings game at Qudos Bank Arena on Feb 1st.
Josh has shared the stage with the likes of Diesel, Russell Morris, Jon Stevens, Tommy & Phil Emmanuel, Kevin Borich, Joe Camilleri, The Bushwhackers and recently supported Ian Moss and The Animals (UK).
Throughout June and August 2018, Josh spent time in the studio recording new music working with some top musicians including Glenn Sarangapany from Birds Of Tokyo on keys and producer Nathan Sheehy.
“The Desired” is the second single from a new 6 track EP expected for release later this year.
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Have you always been interested in song writing and being a musician? When did it become a serious concern?
I started learning guitar at age 11 but it wasn’t until I was around 14 that I knew I wanted to pursue it as a career. This was the time when I was playing my first gigs for $50 and a carbonara at a local Italian restaurant. The first song I wrote at age 14 was an instrumental, and I remember I would take my dog for walks and take my guitar with me, by the time I returned I had the song. That was my first memory of song writing. Throughout my later teens I had a lot more going on with relationships for me to write about. This is when the lyrics kicked in.
What music did you listen to growing up that still influences or inspires you today?
My earliest memories of music when I was growing up was in the backseat of a Toyota Land-cruiser with mum in the drivers seat playing Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles and Bob Segar on the way to and from pre-school. That music has always resonated with me even today. My dad listens to classical music, so whenever he was driving the musical company was Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach.
What artists inspired you and which do you still look to now for ideas?
I’m a “late-to-the-party” John Mayer fan. Around 2017 I first tuned in to Mayer and it completely blew mind. I love the way each album has a certain unique musical exploration from the next, yet it’s still Mayer. A genre crossing guitar master that I definitely look to for inspiration. Kacey Musgraves is my country music crush. I love her voice and songwriting. I was travelling in Europe at the time I discovered the Golden Hour album and if streams could wear like vinyl, it would be unplayable. Mayer & Musgraves are my go-to artists at the moment.
You release your new single “The Desired” on Friday, 22nd February. Can you share the origins or inspiration behind the song?
The Desired came about from what I like to call a “First thing in the morning home studio sesh”. Where I make my morning coffee, switch on my little recording setup in my apartment and just start playing and messing around. It started off as the drum beat on a loop, then plugging in random guitar pedals to create a cool sound and jam along to it. Once I built the instrumental I put the guitar down, switched everything off and went about my day. Gym, admin stuff and the usual independant muso hustle. Later that night when my lyrical creative side switched on I listened back to what I recorded earlier in the day and opened a blank page in my book and started writing. This was early days of moving to Sydney after leaving school and I wanted to write about the grind and my journey of playing gigs all across the city and other parts of the country. In a way it’s a motivational letter to myself to keep working and be yourself.
What can fans expect from your upcoming EP?
I’d call this EP a mixtape of musical discovery. Each song shares a common thread of guitar heavy elements yet each track has a unique sound to the rest. There’s even a few fade outs in the EP which means theres a total jam on the last track. The EP is a footprint into my unset slab of cement that is my sound. I discover what works for me both lyrically and musically in the EP and I can’t wait for them to hear it.
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You recently performed at the Sydney Kings game at Qudos Bank Arena on Feb 3rd. What was that like?
It was amazing! I’d never done anything like it before, let alone sing the National Anthem for a crowd. It was certainly out of my comfort zone because there was no guitar to fall back on for the anthem. All voice, A naked Josh in the arena but I loved it. It’s a good thing to feel nerves because that means you care about it and that gives you motivation to just do the best you can and embrace it.
You have supported some amazing artists. Can you share any live experiences you have had that will always stick with you?
I will never forget performing at the Sydney Opera House. The first time was with Tommy Emmanuel, I was 15. The second time was just myself up on the stage in the ENCORE showcase for HSC music students. A rush of so many emotions comes on when you hear a crowd at that capacity cheering after you play your song is incredible. I’ve also been honoured to share the stage, many times, with the late great Phil Emmanuel. He taught me so much about stage presence, commanding a guitar neck and playing with others, all without saying a word, just my observation from playing alongside him.
If you could perform live with any music artist, (Dead or Alive), who would they be? And why?
I would love to have met and performed live with Stevie Ray Vaughn. I probably wouldn’t even try to play anything fancy, just watch in awe, take it all in and savour the moment. Then we would become friends and thats when I’d show him the all fancy guitar stuff. Whenever I have a long night drive in between shows, I put on SRV and let those 10 min songs full of guitar solos eat away at the time.
What are your plans for the next year in your music career?
I’m writing towards an album at the moment which I’m so excited about. Once the EP has run its course I’ll hit the studio again and work with a lot of the same people I did on the EP and really hone in on creating something special.
Do you have any longer-term goals or aspirations?
I’d love to be in the lineup for one of the big festivals, I’m not much of a “festival go-er” as such but if I was playing I would have the best time up there. For the long term, I just want to keep creating music and write songs that mean a lot to me so that can transcend to my fans and my songs can connect with them. As long as I’m doing that, then I’m happy.
Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery. Really corny, but for the fans, can you tell me your favorite album, artist, movie, place, drink, meal and person (living or dead) and some brief reasons why? Answer some or all please?
Favourite album right now Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
All time favourite Album – Born & Raised – John Mayer
I see a lot of movies so I don’t have a favourite. You’ll catch me at an Event cinemas every Monday.
I can name my favourite actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Hemsworth, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence, Margot Robbie. Oh, and The Rock, Dwayne is a demigod.
Italian Food is my Fave, close second is Satay Chicken.
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Photo – George Fetting
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