INTERVIEW – JOSHUA SCARRATT

In this exclusive interview, we dive deep with Joshua Scarratt, the talented new artist who has captivated audiences with his debut single “Can’t Get You Out of My Mind.”

We learn how a chance encounter led to collaborations with renowned artists like Nick Hinman (Fast Money Music), as well as musicians Gamaliel Rendle Traynor on cello (Fat Dog, Fat White Family, Crack Cloud) and Callum Brown on drums (Ulrika Spacek) and how these connections have shaped the sound and soul of Scarratt’s music. We’ll also hear about the challenges and triumphs of being an independently released artist, the vital role of music in addressing mental health, and the delicate balance between maintaining an online presence and staying true to one’s artistic vision. Get ready for an intimate and inspiring conversation that sheds light on the artist’s creative process, the impact of sobriety on their journey, and the powerful messages they hope to share through their music.

Hello Joshua, thank you for taking the time to chat with Northern Exposure today, it’s a pleasure to have you. Can you start by telling us about the inspiration behind your debut single “Can’t Get You Out of My Mind”?

Hello, and thank you. The single is about an infatuation with someone during a journey of self-discovery – learning to find clarity around myself and the world – as well as figuring what an honest existence could look like, through up a lot for me. I couldn’t seem to get her out of my head, but I started to realise how this did not serve me. The low-level addiction to social media we all seem to have was unnecessarily leading to narratives based on thoughts, and others’ performance, rather than truths. I wanted to exist in reality, whilst also accepting my desires and human connection exist within this too. Having written the song exactly a year ago, I don’t think anyone did anything wrong, but I wanted to know what my part in it all was.

How did you come to collaborate with Nick Hinman, Gamaliel Rendle Traynor, and Callum Brown on this track?

I met Nick just over 2 years ago. His studio is in the same building in Dalston as my office. For some months before we’d even spoken we’d see each other at opposite ends of the courtyard smoking. It was very much like the Spider-Man meme, minus recognition. Gamaliel came highly recommended to me through various friends after I posted an Instagram story requesting cellist recommendations – his credentials spoke volumes! I went to university with Callum, so we’ve known each other for more than a decade now and I’ve always been a fan of Ulrika Spacek and him as a human.

The song explores deep fears, heartbreak, and loneliness. How do these themes resonate with your personal experiences?

I have always felt like an outsider and a non-conformist, yet I’d always struggled with that and wanted to just conform. Let me fit in, but don’t let me fit in. An awful mental state to navigate the world in, really. I’ve learnt a lot this year about myself through getting sober, and when I think about previous heartbreak and deep fears, I’ve ultimately chosen those and held on to them tightly (the narratives, etc) – no one else made me do it! Yet I didn’t realise it…Now I do. I think taking ownership of all this stuff, really peeling back the layers of the onion, and letting go has been pretty monumental for the inside of my head. 

What message do you hope listeners take away from “Can’t Get You Out of My Mind”?

I hope they gain an equal appreciation for Autumnal golden hues as much as I do.

How has the process of creating your debut single influenced your musical journey?

Well, it’s one big fear ticked off the list. The next one will be easier, hopefully. It’s confirmed to me it’s something I need to keep exploring. The image research and creative process in collaboration with Matt de Jong was very satisfying. As an independently released artist, going from the demo stage to the finished song being out there is a lot of work, but I feel a more complete person for doing it.

Can you share a bit about your creative process when writing and recording music?

For this song, it was birthed by both myself and Nick. I had the lyrics and a rough melody which I took into Nick’s studio and he built up some chords on the piano around them. I came up with the solo and then me and Nick bounced ideas back and forth for the other lead lines. We took the demo into Joe Lyons studio where I got the other instrumentalists to throw down their ideas based on the demo. It was very collaborative and open, something I’ve enjoyed experiencing and observing. 

What role do you believe music plays in addressing and expressing mental health themes?

Having started playing the guitar at age 10, being in bands until my mid-twenties, then stopping for almost 10 years and returning to it, I can safely say writing and recording music plays a vital role in my mental health. I remember when I was in and out of bands in my twenties, I’d feel lost, then I’d experience that first rehearsal and boom, there it was, that feeling where all seemed right in my inner world. No drugs or alcohol will do that – this is authenticity. My mind would like me to quickly forget that though and a part of it doesn’t want me there. That voice wants me to feel small and isolated. But I have the tools to deal with that now and sobriety has been crucial.

You have a debut show in London on Nov 18th. What can fans expect from your live performance?

A preview of my 2025 EP ‘Riding through the desert of my dreams’. I’ve got an amazing band behind me. Some very talented men who I feel incredibly comfortable around to perform and be myself. Nick Hinman is on keys and vocals, Steffan Halperin is on drums, Joe Lyons on bass, and finally Daniel Vildosola on guitar. 

How do you balance online presence and the themes of being “too online” with your music?

It comes down to only doing what feels right to my musical output and my brain. Just because an artist is doing one thing, or doing this and that, it most certainly does not mean I need to be. I want to create a visual and sonic world I feel comfortable in and also think looks good. Recording lots of content – face-to-camera video, etc –  doesn’t feel authentic to me. Whilst I consider myself a performer, it’s not for that. By no means am I throwing shade or insulting artists who choose to do that, it takes a lot on a daily basis to do that and there is admiration for those hard-working artists who do. But, it doesn’t seem to make sense to me, especially in this infantile stage.

What are your plans for future releases, and can you give us a sneak peek into your debut EP arriving in spring 2025?

I will release my second single in early 2025, which will be followed by another single and the debut EP ‘Riding through the desert of my dreams’. It’s a four-track release on what I’d describe as how it was. 

Ahead of further new material slated for early 2025, Joshua Scarratt’s ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Mind’ is out now and available on all digital platforms.

Joshua Scarratt Online

Instagram

Live Dates

18th November, Amazing Grace, London

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