After receiving huge amounts of radio play from the likes of Rinse FM and triple J, as well as support from Pilerats, Gilles Peterson and Stoney Roads under his Droptail alias, Australian singer and songwriter Daniel Joshua has now returned to deliver his captivating new single 'Hivemind'.
Channelling the broad and diverse direction of Radiohead, 'Hivemind' makes for a beautifully tranquil and euphoric listen. With his wonderfully rich and soaring voice layered amongst an eclectic array of instrumentation throughout, it certainly feels like a bold step in the right direction for this emerging artist.
So with the new single available now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you learned to play?
The first instrument I learned to play was piano – I played my first concert when I was just three years old, playing “Froggy Froggy Jump Jump”. It’s still a mainstay in the setlist today.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I think it might have been that 1981 Queen Greatest Hits record on CD. However, I think I most vividly remember getting Daft Punk’s ‘Homework’ bundled with the DJ Hero game for free. I very distinctly remember putting it on and it blowing my mind as a 13-year-old kid.
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
I was never cool enough for that. Throughout most of my school years I was playing violin, I always felt outcast. The closest I got to that was playing in a bunch of quartets and ensembles. We sometimes played contemporary tunes but I don’t remember the arrangements we were given being all that good.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
‘Heroin’ by the Velvet Underground & Nico. It’s an unbelievable song, one you can sit on your bed with headphones on and get sucked into. The ebb and flow of it makes you feel the immense highs and lows of being on Heroin. The genius about the whole song is that it makes you feel these emotions with very minimal instrumentation and only two chords.
What has been the most thrilling moment about creating your own music?
The initial adrenaline rush of piecing things together that shouldn’t work but end up creating something completely different from the original idea is unparalleled. It’s like looking for food or water and stumbling on a gold mine.
And what about the most frustrating part?
Comparisons in what it sounds like. I want the music to be able to stand on its own and be of its own ilk – not to sound like anyone else. I understand why people compare; I think a lot of it is down to a desire to connect with the music and relate to it. When I’m writing though, I’m not trying to make it sound like someone else though, and I want my own personality to shine through in the songs I write. I’d prefer knowing how the music makes someone else feel.
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
Björk or David Byrne maybe? Not really put much thought into that before. Right now, I’m really trying to focus on making my own live show the best it can be.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Still having fun making the music that I want to make if all goes well.
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Daniel Joshua's new single 'Hivemind' is available to stream now. Check it out below.
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