Joshua Idehen, a mainstay of the UK jazz/electronic scene and chameleonic artist follows on from recent successes, which include being named a 2021 one-to-watch by NME as part of jazz crew Calabashed as well as contributing vocals for two Mercury-nominated albums.
Idehen also worked on the highly praised Sons Of Kemet album ‘Black To The Future’ alongside Kojey Radical and D Double E and it is this experience that Joshua brings to his new incarnation.
What or who inspired you to begin a career in music?
It was watching Dizzee Rascal’s I Love You video on Channel U. It has an extra song clip at the end, for an unreleased track “vexed”. I was transfixed. It spoke to me, about my life in Hackney, in a way no other song had done before. I picked up a pen that night.
What differs you and your sound from other artists in the music industry?
I am an amalgamation of other artists, like Mike Skinner and Maxi Jazz, and there are a lot of people doing interesting stuff with spoken word and dance right now, Like For Those I Love and Real Lies. But spoken word is a weird genre, imo: there’s no real set path, no real genre conventions, and every artist has to follow their nose in a way. Consequently, I – lofi house/garage + spoken word and gospel choirs – don’t really sound like the aforementioned. At least to me.
Your EP ‘Hold Up Your Chin’ is out now. Can you please describe the creative process and inspiration behind the project?
I’d always wanted to make something doing spoken word and dance, having been a big fan of people like Mazi Jazz and Mike Skinner; I always felt spoken word and house were natural bedfellows but wasn’t in the position to make something like that, until now. I reached out to my friend and collaborator Ludvig Parment, and we agreed to try out stuff and “see if we land on anything”. The first song was Don’t You Give Up On Me.” We’ve haven’t stopped making music.
In your own opinion, what is the most meaningful song on the project? What makes you say that one?
It would be I’ve Got You Every Step Of The Way (For Leone). It was for a good friend.
Throughout your musical career, have you experienced any ‘wow’ moments?
I’ve been privileged to share the stage with many amazing artists in my life, but I think a moment that will stick with me would be performing with Sons of Kemet at the Roundhouse this year.
What personal advice would you give to someone wanting to pursue this career?
Practise, make mistakes, grow the thickest skin.
What does the foreseeable future hold for you as an artist?
A Mixtape next year, for sure. After that? We hope for happy days.
Anything else you would like to add?
My 15 month old daughter, Birdsong, sat on my lap as I typed this and would cry every time I deleted anything she wrote, so just to keep her happy: wbefhkabfgfb s`hjfewbuw34t4q35854hochAS’
‘Hold Up Your Chin’ EP is available now via all major platforms.
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