Music Q&A with Josh Gluck
Photo courtesy of Josh Gluck
Today, alternative/soul singer-songwriter, Josh Gluck, has released his EP, Welcome Home! In this Q&A, Josh talked about the EP, his favorite live band, and more! Welcome Home is out now!
Congratulations on the release of Welcome Home! What does the EP mean to you?
Thank you so much and thanks for having me! It centers around the idea that Home isn't just a physical place, but can be found as a feeling, in another person, even a song or a good book. Not only does this EP mean so much to me, being my first project, but writing it came directly from my personal experiences with finding Home.
What is your favorite song off the EP?
This is like asking a mother who they're favorite child is haha. But "To The Light" if I'm tryna get hyped up and "Home" if I'm contemplating life and the great beyond.
You take inspiration from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Anderson .Paak, Frank Ocean, Coldplay, and John Mayer. Out of the bunch, who was the first artist you listened to? What do you remember about that moment?
Jimi was the first. I was really young, somewhere around 7 years old, and I just remember it being like I was finally, just then at 7 years old, opening my eyes to see the world for the first time.
What was the first instrument you learned how to play?
Guitar. First thing I learned was “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and the first full song was “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance.
Who is your favorite band to see live?
Hands down, Coldplay. They absolutely blew me away when I saw them. That show to this day still sparks inspiration for things I implement into my live performances.
What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
I met Anderson Paak once (I know, holy shit right) and he told me "if you love it, keep going. as long as the love is there you're doing it right." I'll never forget that interaction.
We all have our days where it may not be going as well as we’d like. People deal with their worst days in different ways. What helps you get through the bad days? How do you stay positive?
First thing I try to do is remind myself that I'd have no idea what "good" felt like if I never experienced the "bad". Those ebbs and flows are all about being human. From there (even though this is sometimes easier said than done) I try to consciously become aware of the thing.
BONUS: Here are 10 albums that inspired Welcome Home. Josh breaks them down.
Parachutes by Coldplay.
This record is probably the most influential on me personally/musically than any record out there. I could talk about this album for days and days. Pure auditory gold from top to bottom.
Continuum by John Mayer.
The live band. The incorporation of Mayer's infectious creations with his guitar. This is easily number 2, pushing number 1.
Blonde by Frank Ocean.
Didn't necessarily influence anything stylistically for my EP but more so his careful attention to every single detail on his project.
Axis: Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix.
Just everything here man. If anyone hasn't listened to this in full, right here is your sign to do so. Jimi is where everything started for me.
Malibu by Anderson Paak.
As smooth as smooth could be. Inspired me to explore outside of what I had already written for the record and experiment.
Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock.
Herbie's decision making is so admirable here. Inspired me to take risks.
Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote.
This album is such a gem to me. Main piece of inspo I pulled from this record is to think wayyyyyy outside of the box even if the box is comfortable.
blkswn by Smino.
One of my favorite albums that push and break so many barriers. Smino's musicality and ability to position himself within the beat really inspired a lot of subconscious decisions I made during the recording process.
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd.
The masterpiece that this legendary record is, it taught me to really let go musically and allow myself to fall into the music.
Men Amongst Mountains by The Revivalists.
Killlller alternative record. Pushed me to dive into the 2nd song "To The Light" and really dig deep to give it the energy I felt it deserved.
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