Joshua Idehen is a spoken word artist and musician. A British-born Nigerian, Joshua lives in Stockholm, Sweden where he collaborates with producer Ludvig Parment. Together they create, well, really good music. Subtle house beats. Powerful poetry. It’s heart music you can sometimes dance to, sometimes cry to.
Having delved into Joshua’s extensive music discography and realising I’d heard quite a bit of his work and collaborations before makes my “discovery” via Spotify Release Radar seem a little embarrassing. Look, I took a step back from music journalism a long time ago. My days of writing down names of artists that piqued my interest faded when my email inbox became an overwhelming daily cacophony of PR companies trying to convince me their latest release was the shit, and I stopped enjoying writing about music. These days, it takes a lot to move me, so when the track ‘Mum Does the Washing’ introduced itself to my ears, I felt a rumble of excitement grow in my chest. This was the shit, and judging by how the track has exploded, a lot of fellow listeners are in agreement.
I feel very grateful to have discovered Joshua’s work now. It turned up at the right time. I’ve walked down the street, headphones in, listening to ‘Learn To Swim’ and ‘All You Can Do Is Try’ with tears running down my cheeks. I’d say it's the good “I don’t feel quite so alone” kind of crying. I love it when music does that.
With the Mum Does the Washing EP now released, live dates seemingly popping up all over the place and a brilliant book of collected poetry and verses called Songbook already getting a second print run after selling out almost instantly, Joshua is a busy man. Even so, he kindly took some time out of his schedule to answer my (somewhat rambling) questions via email…
Alfie Whitby: As I write this, it’s 10pm on a quiet Monday evening in November. I’m on my laptop in bed with a cup of lukewarm tea chilling next to me on my bedside table because I keep forgetting to drink it. I wanted to ask you “where are you and what are you up to right now?” but at 10pm it feels a bit sleazy? So, imagine I’ve asked this question at 10am and there’s no “bow-chicka-wow-wow” music playing.
Joshua Idehen: I am at an airport. It is 3am. I am on my way to Madrid for a show, 6am flight. Yes, I am one of those people who likes to arrive ridiculously early to the airport. Yes, I missed a flight and yes, I swore never again. I even raised my fist to the sky when I swore. I did the whole scene.
AW: The response to the title track of your upcoming Mum Does The Washing EP has been phenomenal, and I’ve really enjoyed witnessing the much deserved buzz around it grow louder and louder. It seems the track is going on quite a journey. How has the ride been so far?
Joshua: Surreal. The appreciation and the trolling and the acknowledgment has been… honestly I’m not used to it. I’m glad. Taking it a day at a time.
AW: I notice that there’s an unedited version of the text for ‘Mum Does The Washing’ in your new book of collected works (which we’ll talk about later) - but you also added one to the track which, as I understand, the BBC edited out (hah!). What was your thought process regarding the lines you decided to include/exclude?
Joshua: You know, with the book, it was a question to printing schedules: I had written the line when Ludvig - my music partner - and I decided to turn it into a song and added it after doomscrolling a bit too much one day. By then the book was already good to go. As for other lines, it really is in conversation with my editor, Amy Acre. Some lines are better live than on the page and it’s in the editing process that we discover what sings and what stays
AW: The music video for ‘Mum Does The Washing’ is ace, props to director Iman Omar. Who came up with the concept? What was it like to shoot?
Joshua: A pleasure, especially as it was two days. Zero egos, loads of jokes and just people throwing ideas into a pot to make something the best it can. She is a real gem.
AW: You mentioned working with producer Ludvig Parment. How did you both begin working together? What does your collaborative process look like when you’re creating music?
Joshua: We’ve known each other a long time but things only started going when I moved to Sweden. We’re both at the point of our careers and lives where the ego has mellowed a bit, so we’re both good at letting the other get on with what they do best. I write, he makes beats. We feedback until we have a song.
AW: Your new book Songbook: Collected Works has been set free, and, in epic style, the first print run has completely sold out. Massive congratulations! It’s a really beautiful publication, and I particularly love how you note where the reader can listen to each song. How and why did this collection come about?
Joshua: Honestly, just out of necessity than anything else: I’d been doing this for long enough (spoken word) it felt overdue to write a book. I am writing my debut collection now, but felt like all the one-off poems I’d written deserved a home, and the people at Bad Betty were keen on the idea. Initially, I was only going to give twelve, but I kept adding more, and here we are.
AW: You come across as very open-hearted and honest in your words - that’s obviously going to resonate with a lot of people. There’s also a wonderful uplifting element to much of your recent work too. Is connection with your listeners/audience something you strive for or is it more of a positive byproduct?
Joshua: Well, I would say the former. Music helps me and when I started writing Don’t You Give Up On Me, I wanted to spin my grief into joy. I had made a lot of depressing, angry music prior. Nothing wrong with that, but I reached a point where I felt I didn’t really want that to be my only legacy. And if I wanted to change all the sadness in the world, well…
AW: I entered my 40s last year, and there’s been all sorts of “you should’ve achieved these societal imposed goals by now” brain gremlins festering away, so when I watched a recent story you posted on instagram about how challenging your creative career has been despite receiving critical acclaim, it was a “hard relate” moment. Do you have a “keep going” mantra or anything you say to yourself when you might be wondering “why am I still doing this”?
Joshua: I get intrusive thoughts as well, oh yes. I’m 44 trying to make it as a poet/musician in 2024. The coping depends. Sometimes I write a good song and then I’m like well, I have to put this out or perform it. Sometimes the universe throws me a bone. Sometimes I say, just see how you feel by the end of the year. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I see someone I think is worse than me doing better. Yes, I can also be motivated by spite. I am only human.
AW: Thank you so much for letting me ramble at you. Please, can you tell our readers about any upcoming cool things you’ve got going on in the near future?
Joshua: A UK tour in April. And more music.
AW: Finally, one of your verses mentions the top tier game Tekken. Tekken bowling is legendary. Only the classiest people play Tekken.
Joshua: ONLY THE CLASSIEST PEOPLE.
Words and interview: Alfie Whitby (they/them)
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