Antiguan indie-folk artist Joshu creates introspective music that bridges his transatlantic roots, blending tender folk melodies with subtle island rhythms. His latest EP, way back home, is an exploration of belonging, identity, and connection; shaped by a transformative ocean crossing and a journey of self-discovery. Following this new release, we caught up with the talented singer to learn more about his influences, artistry and upcoming plans.
– You were raised in Antigua & Barbuda but born in southern England. How have these contrasting cultural influences shaped your music and identity as an artist?
Growing up between cultures, I never felt like I fully belonged to either of them. To this day I’m constantly asked “where are you really from?” when I introduce myself as a white Antiguan. I think this created a confusion and shame around my identity. It was in writing and creating “way back home” that i really began to grapple with and build a deeper understanding of my self and place in this land.
– Your music blends indie-folk with subtle island grooves. How do the calypso rhythms of your childhood inform your sound and how do you weave them into your songwriting?
My parents grew up in the 60s and 70s, so as a child I used to hear lots of the classic singer/songwriters: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen. But at school and when I went out I was surrounded by Caribbean music: calypso, soca, reggae, dancehall. So I’m totally in love with British/American folk music but draw a lot of the underlying tempo and feel in my music from the pace of island life.
– From John Martyn to King Short Shirt, your influences are incredibly diverse. Who else has inspired your music and how do these inspirations manifest in your new EP?
Some more direct influences on this EP would be Nick Mulvey, Jose Gonzalez, and Adrianne Lenker. I get really obsessed with listening to my favourite guitarists and figuring out exactly how they communicate through their playing It’s particularly the subtlety of guitar and vocal performances that I’ve tried to dial in with this record.
– Your EP, way back home, was written during a transformative Atlantic Ocean crossing. How did the journey help you process personal experiences like heartbreak and grief?
Just before we set sail from Southampton in the south of England, my long term girlfriend broke up with me. This totally collapsed my entire worldview, I thought we were going to be together “forever” and was devastated. Being on the ocean and in the vastness of the Atlantic, there’s a frightening amount of space for your mind to drift.
Space to process and dig into things without the weight of the world, just the goal of getting from A to B, alive. It’s an incredibly exciting and scary journey to cross an ocean, but i poured much of my time into laying and writing, including the title track “way back home”.
– Your work has earned accolades like winning the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. How has recognition like this influenced your career and creative process?
Not at all. It’s really satisfying and gratifying to be recognised for your work, but I try not to write for critics or even for listeners. I write for the song itself. I try to tune into whatever it wants. Your taste is the only thing that matters as a songwriter, especially now in the era of AI.
– You self-produced way back home in Antigua. What challenges or joys did you experience in taking on production responsibilities for this deeply personal record?
It was the most lonely and frustrating record I’ve ever produced. I’ve always been a very collaborative person so to be alone with no-one to bounce off was a desperately difficult position It often meant I had to take a lot more time to understand whether a idea was good or not, by stepping away and coming back with fresh ears. Whereas with a co-producer you can make those decisions on the fly. But this lengthy process also made it very cathartic to complete, it really feels like a piece of work that is 100%
me.
– If you could pick one place—land or sea—for someone to listen to way back home for the first time, where would it be and why?
In a place you remember playing as a child: a beach down the road, the park behind your school, a forest you used to drive to in the summer. There’s something so emotive in the memories of places. They held us and now we hold them. I really like the idea of someone hearing the record for the first time in a deeply nostalgic place, it would speak directly to the emotional resonance of the record.
– Your music reflects themes of connection to nature. If way back home were natural element—like wind, water, or earth—which would it be and why?
Water, wind, and wood. All the things it takes to cross an ocean.
– If you could collaborate with any artist, living or past, to reimagine one of the tracks on way back home, who would it be and what would that collaboration sound like?
Oooooh probably Adrianne Lenker on “honey in the dark”. I was deeply influenced by her songwriting and guitar playing on this one and would love to hear her take on it.
– What’s coming next for you?
I have a couple of albums worth of material, so I’m planning to be releasing singles throughout 2025, leading up to a record (EP?) at the end of the year. Consistency is my main goal as I’ve been so distracted for years in my music career. 2025 is the year!
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
