Frank Joshua – On This Night (2024)
An artist with many sounds but no face, singer-songwriter Frank Joshua is an enigma both in his presence and his music. In an interview with Joshua, he shared that “it’s a sort of shyness combined with a social experiment. Music used to be considered because something about the sound of the artist spoke to you…I like the idea of that so I’m seeing where it takes me…” Tipping back to the days before MTV, Top of the Pops or Rolling Stone, Joshua breathes a nostalgic whisper into the core of musical appreciation clinging to the sound instead of a pretty face. He turned our heads in 2022 with the album Sense Life and continues to astound us with his moving melodies. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘On This Night’.
Following the well-received single ‘Victim’, ‘On This Night’ continues Frank Joshua’s evolution as an artist. Combining the sheen of dream pop with classical precision, ‘Victim’ fluttered between smooth symphonic charm and vulnerable rawness; ‘On This Night’ draws from this style but with a unique edge to the melody. Recorded and produced with long-time collaborator Tony White, Joshua drifts back to nostalgic 80s dream pop, however, the classical harmony between vintage pop and contemporary electropop shines through.
Sitting alongside Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys, the lean toward 80s synth-pop is clear. A sophisticated arrangement carries traditional 80s synth-pop along its bold electronic beats. Yet, just as a haze of vintage perfume ensnares your senses, Joshua’s warm vocals transcend decades holding you in a kaleidoscopic twirl while guiding you toward the 21st century. It is this that showcases the slip of sophistication and harmonic arrangement layered with a confident yet vulnerable rawness.
When it comes to the theme behind ‘On This Night’, Frank Joshua remains steadfast in different interpretations by different people. He explains that “the lyric hints at something divine…” but he prefers “to let people’s imagination do the work.”
In addition to this single, Frank Joshua has released an official music video for ‘On This Night’. You can view the video below or on Joshua’s YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
Find out more about Frank Joshua on his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more dream pop tracks on The Other Side Reviews Dream Pop playlist:
