Exclusive Interview with 'JOSHUA LLOYD'

Let me introduce you to Joshua Lloyd, a singer-songwriter from London who just put out his first Pop Punk EP called “Sick When I Wake Up.” He has been producing and writing his own music for many years, so being named the Best Unsigned Artist 2020 by Electric Music Magazine made him happy. His fans in the JLARMY are eagerly anticipating what will happen next as he currently works on a full-length album with several singles to come. Check out the single and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how you got started?
JOSHUA LLOYD: Yeah sure, I’m based in London UK.

I got started years and years ago writing music , even before that as a child I was In regular competitions and such, but really I didn’t start pursuing music until I was in my 20s.

I mean sure I had put music out before that and made a little fanbase by then, but wasn’t really giving it my absolute everything until a few years ago, when I finally decided I was good enough to do so and to stop holding myself back.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
JOSHUA LLOYD: Self taught. Everything I do is everything I have learned along the way and taught myself.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘JOSHUA LLOYD’?

JOSHUA LLOYD: My love for music started with Eminem, MJ and older music my parents played all the time. Very wide ranged. But my actual first ever influences were Greenday, Avril, Blink 182. The name Joshua Lloyd is comprised of my first and middle name. Thought it had a nice ring to it.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
JOSHUA LLOYD: I would say a lot of realness. Everything I talk about has either happened to me in the past or is happening to me now. Sure I write songs and features that are based around a certain subject and I can write about anything, but really I draw from experience and my mental health a lot of the time.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as ROCK?
JOSHUA LLOYD:
I certainly don’t emulate anyone.
I have my own style and put loads, if not all of myself, into every song and I am actually very cautious as to not sound like anyone else.
I want people to know me when they hear me and resonate with what I sing about. I dont want people to ever say “ oh did you hear that track by erm you know, the guy who sounds like…” yeah that’s a fear for me lol

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?

JOSHUA LLOYD:

I mean as a human being I have my own views on things and my own thoughts certainly and I do bring these into my music. As for politics I stay away from it in my music because sometimes I feel certainly in this country, its a losing battle. I do believe in fairness and I believe in love. I believe people should be who they want to be and identify as who they want to. Be free to love who they want to and shouldn’t be torn down for it in any form. I wouldn’t rule out a political song as I wouldn’t rule out anything else, its the same as everything when inspiration hits or I feel a certain type of way about something i’ll take to my note pad and write through it.

So yes creative expression and therapy I would say. But also as I mentioned before very very personal.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfilment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
JOSHUA LLOYD:

I get so much love from my music. From people who love what i’m doing with my music and that’s all you can ask for. There’s nothing more important.

If someday I write a track that really blows up, so be it. But really I do this for the people who message me at night telling me my song made them feel better or feel like they can carry on. Music should be a safe space for everyone and its always proved universally to bring people together. Yeah, there’s nothing better than that.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

JOSHUA LLOYD: Usually a narrative in my head. One of the many voices I hear will tell me what about this…So to speak, but I can also throw down some chords or a beat and just write.

I dont like to be pinned into one box which I think comes across in my music. Collaborations are always fun to me, I love sitting on FaceTime with other artists from around the world and just coming together with ideas to really make a song that hits.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
JOSHUA LLOYD: Erm… As most people know I suffer with mental health issues and depression. That’s always been a tough fight. There’s defo some trauma there too from various chapters in the book that is life.

Musically I went through a real shitty time with a label that didn’t understand me and while they weren’t bad people or weren’t trying to hurt me in any way, they just didn’t get me or see the vision. I had to put a nail in the coffin and start fresh and that was tough.

I learned from it, I’m thankful for it and to those who gave me the chance. Lifes about learning from your mistakes and seeing the good in them and just trying not to make them a second time.

In my opinion its good to fall down because it feels so much better to get up sometimes.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

JOSHUA LLOYD: Performing at a festival was great, so was winning Unsigned Artist of the year, the year after the label thing went to sh*t.

Really the most important thing to me and my biggest achievement is always helping people who go through hard times. Because I do too and I know it sucks royally.

So yeah, helping others by doing something I love so so much, is very meaningful to me.