Irish experimental folk artist Joshua Burnside is something of an anomaly. With a brooding, powerful sound echoing artists of places afar and time long gone, his enthralling craft strives towards an aesthetic as much as visual as it is sonic.
After his time spent touring his award-winning debut album Ephrata around the UK and Ireland, Joshua returned home to experiment in his studio.
Joshua used post-punk and electronic recording methods to push the boundaries of his beloved folk music and make a sound unique to the 21st century, one that echoes the uncertainty and humanity of the times on his newest record Into The Depths Of Hell. Lauded by critics and fans alike, Into The Depths Of Hell was released in September 2020. Joshua will be touring the UK again in November 2021.
Here, Joshua reveals his Music DNA inspirations to Andy Howells
What was the first song that made an impact on you?
We used to tape the top 40 onto cassette when I was a kid, those are my first memories of sort of having music for myself that was separate from my parents.
What was the first album you owned?
The first CD I owned was a compilation album of rock and indie called Reloaded 2, it might have come from a magazine. It had some decent stuff on it though – Eels, Beck, Queens of the Stone Age.
What’s your constant go to track?
I don’t think I have ever had a constant go to track, I get tired of songs pretty quickly so I’m always looking for the next thing. At the minute I’ve been listening to the Ye Vagabonds version of The Bothy Lads on repeat.
What is your constant go to album?
There are a few albums I always come back to: Nick Drake – Pink Moon, Paul Brady – Welcome Here Kind Stranger, The Books – The Lemon of Pink, Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me.
What is your own track that best defines you as an artist?
The track that I think best represents where I’m at musically is possibly Driving Alone in the City at Night.