Josh Hyslop
Joshua Hyslop is a modern folk artist who patterns himself after, and is constantly compared to, such musicians as Damien Rice, Ryan Adams, Sufjan Stevens, and Sam Beam of Iron and Wine. But don’t be mistaken; these artists do not define Hyslop. Rather, he takes his place amongst them in their perspective genres as a genuine songwriter and musician. But like the aforementioned musicians, Hyslop’s inspiration is drawn from the people and relationships that surround him, while also subjecting his songs to his own vulnerabilities, doubts, and conflicts. What sets Hyslop apart from the coffee shop crowd of “folk artists” is his faultless ability in a live setting. Pitch perfect vocal control, intricate guitar rhythms, and intention in what he is singing, whether it is for a crowd of one thousand or a crowd of three, are all part of what makes Joshua Hyslop a great artist.
Over the semester break, Mars’ Hill had the privilege to sit down with Joshua Hyslop. The topics ranged from his upcoming album wih Nettwerk Records to his adventures traveling through India. From playing for the head office of Sony, iTunes, and HMV to the state of the record shop, without further ado, Mr. Joshua Hyslop.
Photo Credit: Submission
Mars’ Hill: How is it being classified as a “working musician?”
Joshua Hyslop: It’s kind of strange. I’m still adjusting to the idea of doing music as a living, but it has been fun thus far.
MH: You’ve recently done a few things with CBC…
JH: The label has been using the songs from Cold Wind as anchor points to get me onto things like CBC and to gain exposure across the country. Since the album won’t be coming out for a while, it is great way to have a face in a bunch of different cities, so when the tour comes around shows become a guarantee.
MH: Can you tell us what your writing process looks like?
JH: I often start with a chord progression that I like and play around with that. I don’t write around other people, because more often than not the first 15 minutes of writing sounds like gibberish, making up words or sounds to go with the progression. Usually there will be one line that really sticks out and I write the song around that. After I’m done that I don’t know if it’s good at all until I show a bunch of different people, and after about two weeks I get nervous that I will never be able to write another song. It happens every time. You’d think I’d learn.
MH: I can imagine an EP and full album in one year would be difficult then.
JH: Well luckily I’ve just been traveling for four and a half months; so I had lots to think about when I sat down to write a song. The words and ideas coming from me are backed by all this experience, and I draw a lot from that. A song of called “Do Not Let Me Go” was inspired by a time when I was lying on my hotel bed in Varanasi, India, in so much pain, thinking “I’m dying, I don’t want to die.” I was praying and talking to myself, and some of the lines in the song came from things I was saying to myself during that time. ** Yeah, there are a couple of those on the upcoming album. It’s quite a bit different than Cold Wind.
**Editor’s Note: This instance happened when Joshua collapsed on a crowded street, alone, in Varanasi India. An Indian man took care to take him to the nearest hotel and find him a doctor. He was told that he was close to death, with severe dehydration.
MH: What’s the album going to be called?
JH: It’s going to be called Where The Mountain Meets the Valley, after one of the song titles on the album.It’s basically about the highs and lows of our own experiences. It’s remarkable. In this past year I got married, signed, and I almost died twice. I’ve had the most dramatic highs and lows of my life, and it’s only been a year. This album is me trying to articulate what I went through.
MH: Speaking along those lines, how is playing for a record label and for major companies?
JH: I played for everyone from the main offices of Sony, HMV, and iTunes this past year. It was just a guitar and myself, which was really nerve racking. There were pictures up everywhere of people who have done this before with Sony, like Bob Dylan with a band, and Johnny Cash with a band. And there I was, no band, like “Hey guys.” But it went well. Everyone seemed pretty into it.
MH: And now you’re signed to a label that some significant bands have been signed to…
JH: It’s funny, I remember trying to throw CD’s to bands at shows way back when I was just starting out. It’s funny, one of the bands I did this to was Coldplay like four or five years ago, and now I am on the label that they recorded A Rush of Blood to the Head, and Parachutes on.
MH: With the fall of tangible albums, what does the future of the working musician look like?
JH: I don’t know how it’s all going to play out. You can get digital all over the place, but how do you get physical anymore besides CD Baby and sites like that? I will still have physical copies at shows, But it’s a huge shame to lose record stores. It makes it difficult for an artist to get their music to the public in a physical way.
MH: What’s your big project right now?
JH: Well, I just finished a full-length album. It’s been a year of heavy recording. In this last year I have recorded 20 songs and released six of them in the Cold Wind EP, so twelve more songs are coming out in May, followed by a cross-country tour. The album will be done by the end of this month, but no one can hear it till May.
MH: So how is the tour shaping up, do you have an idea what it’s going to look like?
JH: When I asked the label what we were going to do when we released the album they basically said, “So we will leave in May, and tour until November.”
MH: So keep that time open…
JH: Yeah, basically don’t make plans from May until November.
MH: Are you touring with a full band?
JH: It depends on where we go. Touring is expensive so local shows – BC and Alberta – I will have a band (cello, violin, drums, bass, and banjo). I have a cello and violinist in Toronto, but most likely East Coast shows will be solo.
MH: What’s the biggest audience you’ve played to?
JH: I’ve played at a few folk festivals with around a thousand people, which is a weird feeling. And the least would be three at an actual show. We still played our whole set though.
MH: Do you still throw up before shows?
JH: Yes. All the time. It’s brutal.
Check out Joshua Hyslop’s music at facebook.com/joshuahyslop
Mathew Braun
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