Super-talented Dutch-born artist from the half Caribbean, half West African descent, and producer Joshua J is back with a hot new track. The fresh tune ‘Call Me’ continues his impressive body of work as the first record from his upcoming ‘Better Times’ EP.
‘Call Me’ rocks a golden summer vibe with its hazy electric piano chords and languid guitar licks. A melancholy intro cuts against Joshua’s uplifting voice, soon dropping into the lush harmonies of the chorus and deep grooving hip-hop beat that recalls J. Dilla at his finest. His mellifluous, melodic delivery weaves throughout the track, the short and sharp verses never overstaying their welcome as the sweet production keeps things moving.
The official music video of ‘Call Me’ will follow on February 19th along with the second single ‘No Reply’. The ‘Better Times’ EP is comprised of six tracks that were written in 2019 right after the release of his debut album ‘1998’.
Joshua J: “These two records came about right after I went through my first break up. On ‘Call Me’ I’m basically saying that the person who I used to date can always call me if she needs a hand to hold. On ‘No Reply’ I explain that I’m not settling for anything less than what I’m envisioning. Everything that doesn’t meet the expectations will receive ‘no-reply’.”
Joshua J: “‘1998’ was about my youth growing up in foster care, away from all biological family members except for my younger sister. On the ‘1998’ release day I moved away from a village to live in Amsterdam. After making that decision I started making notable developments on both musical and personal levels. I became surrounded by more like-minded individuals and got some really great opportunities because of the album’s release. For the first time it felt like I could leave behind the hardships I went through and focus more on the now. The ‘Better Times.”
Joshua J’s previous music has received praise from the likes of Dr. Dre, Complex, EARMILK, Julie Adenuga, and Noisey, and he has supported leading artists including Anderson.Paak, Boyz II Men, and Saba in the live arena. Making a big impression in the US and the UK, he is one of only a few Dutch singers making waves in the international arena.
