"I stopped concentrating on anything except what I wanted to create, and it simply became enjoyable." It’s notable that all the contributions to 'Loner' come from that close-knit circle. Séamus, who appears again in the ambient interlude 'Machine Noise For A Quiet Daydream’ after his role in the opening track, is a university friend. “He doesn’t even have a social media presence, but he’s incredibly talented, and I think he’s wonderful. I’ve always wanted to collaborate with him, even back in our university days.” Meanwhile, producer O’Flynn, who co-wrote the meditative standout 'Kimpton', has been a trusted friend since Josh’s first DJ performance. “He’s one of the few producer friends I genuinely consider a mate, and I feel like we can effortlessly inspire each other.” In contrast, high-profile collaborations are notably absent from the album. Given his position at the forefront of a new wave in mainstream dance music, Josh has faced pressure to include bigger names. “Many people from the industry have urged me to collaborate with X, Y, and Z. I won’t mention names, but some have reached out wanting to team up, but I just don’t enjoy doing that. Especially for this album, I wanted to create something truly authentic and a genuine representation of my feelings, and involving big names doesn’t achieve that, even if it might attract more attention.” Additionally, he notes, “I’m most creative when I feel comfortable, so if I’m around people I know, trust, and feel safe with, I’m going to create my best work.” Even the album artwork and visual concept were developed alongside an old friend, Rory Dewar, with whom he has collaborated since his very first self-released single. As with O’Flynn and Séamus, Josh emphasizes, “I’m not just working with him because he’s a friend; he’s incredibly talented too.” That talent is evident in the artwork, which shows Josh seated in a back room next to an unmade bed, gazing at a somewhat monstrous figure covered from head to toe in vibrant rosettes that catch the eye. The uncomfortable contrast at the heart of 'Loner' is clear: on one side is Josh, the introspective, reserved person who merely wishes to create music, while on the other side, we could infer, is Barry, the surreal entity his success has transformed him into, burdened – literally in this context – by the weight of achievement.
For what it's worth, Josh is cautious about offering too many direct interpretations. “I believe it’s more impactful to keep it open-ended,” he remarks, though he acknowledges that it directly relates to his intention for the album – to reconcile the two parts of his newfound split personality. He recalls an early moment in the process where he struggled with this, “feeling the pressure of meeting my own expectations, overthinking everything,” leading him to reach out to O’Flynn, who lives nearby. “I didn’t view it as a way to kick-start an album; it was more about writing music just for enjoyment,” Josh explains. “But then I realized that’s all this has ever been about: expressing something authentically and enjoying the process.”
'Kimpton', the track they created that day, proved to be a revelation, reminding Josh, “that I can only truly pursue what I want, and that’s the most authentic approach. Everything fell into place. I ceased to focus on anything apart from what I wanted to create, and it just became fun.” On the day he finally submitted what he believed to be the finished record, he experienced a sense of liberation. “I went downstairs and composed a song that came together in about two or three hours because I was doing it for myself.” He realized he was suddenly writing with future aspirations in mind, envisioning the grand summer performances, and approached them with ambition rather than detachment. “I had my sights set on All Points East, and I thought, ‘I need some bigger moments.’ Since touring, I’ve been writing more with the intention of making the show even larger.” The high-energy track 'About To Begin' was added to 'Loner' at the last minute, serving as its new euphoric centerpiece.
This addition was the final piece of a creative process that sees Josh entering the festival season not transformed, but at peace with himself. “I think I’ll always have a bit of shyness, that’s just part of who I am,” he shares, “but I don’t feel like I’m erecting any barriers anymore. I feel much more comfortable with this journey I’m on, much more positive and not trying to shy away from it all. I’m trying to acknowledge that all of this is part of me; it’s just as much Josh as it is Barry.”
'Loner' is scheduled for release on 11th July via Ninja
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