“You know it’s actually not that bad. I’ve tried it a few times and I think it’s growing on me…”
England born, with a Nigerian-Irish heritage, John Osho is sitting in his South London studio, laying down tracks for a new project, building up to his show for Arthur’s Day, and discussing the finer points of the black stuff with us at Goldenplec. There is even talk of a ‘stout-scorecard’. It’s fair to say that Josh really giving the whole Arthurs Day thing his all.
Josh’s Arthurs Day show, at the Market Bar, came in among a whole host of surprise artists that took to a huge number of venues across the country. A great opportunity for the Irish punters, but for Josh, it was a long-overdue opportunity for him to return to his roots. “My grandmother is from Belfast and I have some family in Portadown too so this is definitely a chance for me to get back and see them. I’ll be busy around the shows, but I haven’t seen my Gran in ages so I’m hoping to make a visit.“
Unfortunately, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the Irish connection isn’t something that comes through in Osho’s music. “I’m influenced by so much, man. I just have to be open, give myself up,” he said. And seeing as how Josh has collaborated with a diverse range of hip-hop artists from Ghostface Killah to Childish Gambino, you can hardly blame him for his approach. And he’s feels vindicated by it: “I don’t think you can shy away from your influences. You have to make an honest connection with your music and progress with it.”
Josh has really been climbing up the ranks in the last year. He’s just off the back of a string of support dates with The Script in the UK and Ireland, has some more exciting collaborations in the pipeline; none of which he is happy to disclose just yet. He has a new EP in the works too. He’s had a slew of summer festivals to boot too. “It’s just been crazy. The Script were great to have me on board and the European festivals were fantastic. But I really have to just step back and look at where I am now, you know?”
So it seems like Josh Osho, without a doubt, is on the up and up. All he needs now is a good solid knowledge of stout, and he’ll be ready to take on the world.