by abby crabill
photo courtesy of josh fudge
Josh Fudge is a singer-songwriter from Oklahoma City that is making strides in the bedroom-pop genre of the music world. At a young age, he became a street performer for neighborhood block parties and local fairs, in order to begin his musical career. Josh recently released his single "FEEL LIKE," along with its music video. It is clear that he has grand goals for himself and his music, and there is no doubt that Josh will continue to perfect his art every step of the way. Follow along as he continues to invite us into the "Josh Fudge universe" that he is creating.
What drew your interest to performing from a young age?
Josh: “Ever since I was small, performing felt like a very natural thing. I was always enthralled by music’s ability to bring people together. Live music always lit up a room for me, whenever I was somewhere where it was playing I would instantly be drawn to whatever was making the noise. It was something I never really gave much thought to, it was just inherently captivating.”
What is the importance for you of penning, performing, and co-producing each track yourself?
Josh: “For me, having creative control over my project is very important. It allows me to express myself exactly as I intend to, and make sure that every facet of my project is the best that it can be. I have a very clear idea in my head of what my music should sound like, so it is just easiest to retain control over those parts of my process. I want to keep my art as true to me as possible.”
When you aren't creating music, what can you be found doing in your free time?
Josh: “I spend a lot of my free time with my friends, rock climbing, playing Smash Bros., and spending time in nature. Music is such an integral part of my life though, I am mostly playing, writing, producing, or doing something related to music.”
If you were born in a different era, which one do you think you would fit best in? Why?
Josh: “The 70s. Easily. I’d grow an afro and play funk bass. No further comment.”
How would you describe the bedroom-pop genre?
photo courtesy of josh fudge
Josh: “Bedroom pop is a beautiful genre. It refers to indie pop style music made in a bedroom, but has continued to evolve and change into a beautiful subset of indie pop filled with retro inspired sounds packaged in a new and fresh way. It is a type of music that feels like a nostalgic, intimate homegrown pop. It is fuzzy and warm at its core, but it also has some heaters that will be sure to get your head moving if you know where to look. I love that it encourages bedroom producers, and those who may not have access to a full studio. It is very accessible, and proves that a song is much more than the equipment it is recorded with.”
Can you tell me a little bit about your song "FEEL LIKE?”
Josh: “‘FEEL LIKE’ is a fun, vibrant, and colorful song that is all about my life experience and how it feels to hopelessly fall for somebody. It bottles the feeling of finding someone who makes you feel a different kind of happiness, one that feels like the rush you get when a rollercoaster drops, or when you’re screaming the lyrics to your favorite song at a concert. It also touches on the ideas of the temporary nature of life, and how you can easily check out and live life passively when it’s hard. Overall, the song is a perfect representation of who I was and what I was going through at the time.”
What was the process like creating the music video for "FEEL LIKE?”
Josh: “The process was amazing! I had put together a few different mood boards for my ideas of the visual world I am currently building, and shot them to a few potential collaborators for the video. They responded with pitches about the potential music video they would make, and I selected a man named Johnny Chew’s pitch. I flew out to LA, and we shot it at The Billy Studio downtown. Johnny was a joy to work with, and is an incredible creative. He shot the video back to me a few weeks later, and it looked amazing! I love how the video turned out, and think it represents my project really well.”
Are there any specific artists that you'd like to collaborate with in the future? If so, who?
Josh: “Absolutely! I am super excited to start collaborating with more artists. I would love to work with people like Boy Pablo, Mac DeMarco, Still Woozy, or Dayglow. I have so many artists who I think are amazing in my genre, and collaborating with them could result in a really dope track. The way that our styles play off of each other would be super cool to see.”
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Josh: “In the future, I will only continue to refine my creative abilities. My project will only get more fleshed out as I continue to write and work on the visual world of the Josh Fudge universe. I have already made so much progress this year, and will only progress more as time goes on. I see myself going on world tours and playing Madison Square Garden in the future, and I am determined to get there.”