Josh Huie – Hell & Back (2020)
The life that we think we want and the realities of walking that path are often very different. In an attempt to come to grips with this, Josh Huie uses his single ‘Hell & Back’ like a journal entry. A cathartic listening experience wrapped up in the story of where he has been and where he is going, the single captures a wonderful energy and vibe.
With sonic influences including Post Malone and Fleetwood Mac, he brings the struggles of life to sonic glory. While the impact of growing up around the Bluegrass Capital of the World can be heard in his early work, he has branched out in new directions. Push boundaries, he uses his powerful vocals and conscious songwriting style to bring the realities of his lyrics to life.
‘Hell & Back’ has a delightfully earthy feeling to the acoustic guitar that opens the track. The melody is a gentle wash against your ears that effortlessly draws you into the soundscape. The gentle tones roll into a trap beat that chitters against your ears in the most wonderful way. There are these deep beats that enhance the lightness of the guitar and add a texture to the soundscape. The interplay between the deep beats and the higher tones creates a restful space that boosts the emotions that shine in the vocals.
Coming through the gentleness of the guitar, Huie’s vocals shine like a gentle glow in the twilight. The smoothness of his voice slides against the trap beats as he pulls you into the story of his journey. Through his performance, you feel the emotions he has gone through only to have a resilience pulsed into your chest. His performance captures every hope and dream he has with the emotions that they bring both positive and negative. This drapes over you before the chorus wraps you in the wonderfully freeing energy that has you feeling powerful and calm.
Josh Huie uses an effortless soundscape and authentic vocals to draw you into a journey of self-discovery in ‘Hell & Back’. With light tones and textured depths, the melody draws you in only for the vocals to captivate you with the story of the lyrics. Through the journey of the single, you are pulled to a moment of blissful freedom.
Find out more about Josh Huie on his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
