Take 5 With JOSHUA

Sydney-based Dark Pop songweaver JOSHUA recently released his new single and lyrics video ‘Ghost’, which we had the joy of premiering. Today, JOSHUA shares with us his 5 favourite artists of the minute and why.

“Hurt My Feelings” – Tate McRae
This entire album is a masterpiece and every song is so so good but there’s something about this one that sent me over the edge. It’s such a pure example of the perfect pop song. The lyrics are simple and straight to the point, the melodies are just one hook after the other, and the production is, quite simply, delicious.

“Chloe Enough” – CXLOE
CXLOE is one of my forever artists and there’s just something about the way she writes that feels like just reading your own thoughts and feelings, putting song form by someone else. I personally have been waiting for this track since she shared the demo a few years ago on social media and the level it’s been elevated to is god tier.

“Kissing Strangers” – Usher
I’m absolutely loving the ‘00s RnB/pop resurgence and it’s been so fun to dive back into all the songs I grew up with, and Usher’s “Confessions” album was one of the first ones that really impacted me and has stayed with me my whole life. This new album is something else altogether. It feels nostalgic but brand new at the same time and it’s such a cool direction for Usher to be going in. The word play in the lyrics of this track though super interesting.

“Replay” – Zendaya
Speaking of throwbacks: Zendaya. The fact that people don’t know this incredible song exists, let alone a whole album, is outrageous. The vocals, the flow, the production; they’re so perfectly matched it’s almost insane. I love Zendaya’s work as an actor but in all honesty, the fact that she wasn’t able to pursue a music career is criminal. I hope she comes back to it one day.

“wear your heart out” – Nightly
Nightly have quickly become one of my favourite bands over the last year. I grew up on a healthy diet of 80s movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Goonies and Footloose and this band just feels like the soundtracks to those films. There’s a timelessness to this song that just makes you want to dance and it feels so cathartic!

JOSHUA’s latest single, Ghost, is available now everywhere.