Following on from his much-loved comeback single 'Gettin' To Me' earlier this year, Austin-based artist Josie Lockhart is back on the grind once again to deliver his sweeping new offering 'Every Kind Of Light'.
Lifted from his forthcoming sophomore album 'What Golden Hues', which is set to land very soon, 'Every Kind Of Light' continues that warm and shimmering direction he is known for. With his captivating vocals layered across a breezy blues-rock production throughout, he is returning to the fold with one of his more impactful efforts to date here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The guitar. My mom had an old Yamaha acoustic that was in a case under the bed. I pulled it out when I was about 12 and never really put it down. My friend Cory, who I played in Sphynx with, gave me some chord charts from his guitar teacher and showed me the power chord formation. Once I had those, I started writing songs and the rest was history.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I really loved Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Townes Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams, great songwriters who wrote great melodies. My dad introduced me to those artists and it gave me a strong foundation songwriting-wise. I moved through genres over the years and sort of came back to that stuff as an adult.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Graceland by Paul Simon. I was obsessed with it as a child and listened non-stop on my Walkman. At one point, I wore out the tape in the cassette on a road trip and cried until my parents pulled over at a Wal-Mart and bought a fresh copy of Graceland.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
‘Fruits of My Labor,’ by Lucinda Williams. It’s such a classic sounding melody and the lyrics make you feel like you’re present in a place, scents, colours, settings. I strive to write songs like that - familiar and striking.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Cycling. I particularly love mountain biking. For me, it’s like high speed hiking. I do my best thinking while I’m moving through nature. It’s meditative and helps me centre myself when I write. Sometimes I come up with song ideas on my bike rides.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I love MJ Lenderman, that’s one of the new records I’ve spent a lot of time with. A friend recently introduced me to Famous Lunch, the new Chris Acker album, and I’ve been listening to that a lot too. Great writing and steel guitar, which I’m a sucker for.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Maybe Willie Nelson, he’s such an amazing artist and shaped so much of the Austin music world I’ve spent my life in. I’d freak out if I ever got to open for him.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Making the songs! That feeling when you have a melody hit you and start putting it together is amazing. Making those rough demos is like the honeymoon period, and preparing them for the album can strain your relationship with your songs, but is usually worth the work.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Probably trying to make a living doing it. I’ve sort of given up on that part and just work a day job now, which has taken the pressure off of me and felt a lot more creatively healthy. But it’s a shame that it’s so hard for musicians to subsist. I guess the starving artist archetype has always been a thing, but at a certain point in life, it’s not romantic to starve anymore.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Keep writing, even if it doesn’t turn into a good song. I’ve spoken to a few of my songwriter friends about this. When I was younger and had a lot of time, I’d sometimes just sit with the guitar or piano and be like ‘well, can’t come up with anything today.’ I think you get better if you push yourself through those moments. You’ll always learn something by writing, even a bad song develops your skills.
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Josie Lockhart's new single 'Every Kind Of Light' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.