In the realm of contemporary folk music, where narratives are spun and emotions are woven into melodies, emerges an artist who embodies the very essence of the travelling troubadour. With his upcoming EP, “Blessed with a Mess,” set to release on August 29th, Josh Robins stands poised to captivate audiences with his evocative storytelling and melodic prowess.

A harbinger of tales that traverse both time and sentiment, Josh’s lead single, “All Kinds of Shoes,” already dances on the airwaves, offering a glimpse into his narrative craftsmanship. Josh’s artistic journey is one of transformation and resilience. Having originated from the punk scene, he discovered his voice as he traversed the highways and byways of his country. Surviving through couch surfing, busking, and pub performances, he emerged as a compelling voice with a rich tapestry of experiences. His artistic evolution didn’t just unfold on stage, but also through the pages of English literature, where he pursued his MA amidst his musical pursuits.

Indie Boulevard delves into the world of Josh Robins, a modern minstrel whose music carries the weight of experience and the spirit of adventure. His stories resonate with echoes of the past and hopes for the future, reminding us of the power of music to bridge the gaps between time, place, and emotion.

INDIE BOULEVARD: Hello Josh, it’s a pleasure to see you here, on Indie Boulevard. So, it’s evident that “All Kinds of Shoes” carries a captivating narrative. We’d love to dive deeper into the heart of the song. Can you take us on a journey of its inspiration?

JOSH ROBINS: Sure! I wanted to add the tradition of folk Ballads, putting a good narrative into a song, with characters that can be romanticized but put a modern twist on it. That’s as far as the inspiration went for it, really. The tale itself was complete fiction, God knows where this kind of thing comes from. The melody and chords were down in an hour or two, but the lyrics took days and days, with help editing from a friend of mine. The first draft of the track was twice as long, it turns out to be a hell of a challenge condensing a full story into a song, pacing it right, keeping it interesting, not showing off too much with words, yet not being too dull with information, and keeping to the tone right. It was a great literary exercise.

IB: Your music video for “All Kinds of Shoes” creates a unique juxtaposition between the modern setting and the traditional storytelling. How did you come up with the concept, and what message were you aiming to convey?

JB: Thanks you’re very kind, my whole intention was to bring the new and the old together. But to be honest I gave a lot of this over to the videographers. They heard the song and did a great job getting it across visually. It would have been nice to play the story out word for word, but unfortunately we were without the hundred grand budget required to make that happen. So we made a story between the two actors that gave a sense of the tone of the song. Regarding messages, with both the video and the song, I think when you’re writing a story there shouldn’t be any one fixed message to convey, that’s for the reader (or listener) to find for themselves.

IB: Josh, your evolution from the world of punk to becoming a folk storyteller is a fascinating journey. We’d love to explore the bridge between these seemingly different musical worlds. Could you walk us through the transformation? How did your punk background shape your artistry and influence the stories you tell through your music today?

JB: I think Folk and punk are really very similar, they’re both music for the people, they like to tell stories, they both have three chords, are generally anti-establishment, and socially critical. I can’t say it was that much of a change to be honest, I just preferred the one where you got to sit down at gigs as I got a little bit older.

IB: Do you remember that moment when you decided you wanted to change your life and embark on a trip in your van?

JB: Yes! I was finishing my undergrad during covid, locked in a pokey little flat desperately trying to find the inspiration to finish my dissertation. I spent many nights with my paper opened and untouched on my computer whilst I scrolled YouTube watching other vanlifers living wherever they liked, doing whatever they liked. I realised this could be me, I had already built a small bed in the back of a little van that I used for busking trips, and the notion that I could just take that further and build myself a little house on wheels , that was all mine, exactly how I wanted it, without having to pay any landlord or mortgage broker each month, was to good to pass up. I wouldn’t have to work on building sites anymore to pay rent, and I could pursue music full time. Best decision I ever made.

IB: Can you share some memorable experiences from your travels on the road and how they have impacted your songwriting?

JB: One recent one springs to mind. I was doing a couple of gigs over in Ireland recently. And some of the people I met there, sometimes with serious pub talk, sometimes in drunken anger, and sometimes with little jokes, explained to me the situation between England and Ireland, and all the horrible shit we did there. I also noticed that in every town I went, no matter the size, there was a recognition of the oppression suffered by the Irish at the hands of the English, such as a statue, museum etc. so during the long drives between towns I listen to as many podcasts as I could about Ireland and the Irish struggles, and watched documentaries in the evenings on the famine, the troubles, Oliver Cromwells oppression etc, and by the time I got back I was ready to write a song about it, which I did. It’s called October Snows, and will be on the next record. For me that what’s folk music is about, going out and finding stories.

“YOU GOTTA BE READY TO TAKE IT ALL IN“

IB: Living a nomadic lifestyle can be both liberating and challenging. How has this constant movement and exposure to diverse environments affected your perspectives and, in turn, shaped the themes and emotions conveyed in your music?

JB: Moving around all the time and busking and gigging in new towns keeps you on your toes, keeps you present. There’s always some immediate problem- filling up water, electrical or plumbing faults, finding places to park, finding busking spots and keeping up with the rules and regs of each town etc. And you are always meeting new people on the street and making new connections, if you play a song on the street that a complete stranger connects with, they sometimes like to come and tell you why and tell you their story, you gotta be ready to take it all in, save it up for writing.

IB: Your EP, “Blessed with a Mess,” is set to release soon. What themes or emotions can listeners expect from this collection of songs?

JB: Well there’s politics in there I guess, and a couple of stories, bit of poetry, I dunno man I just did some writing, I hope people like the work.

IB: Having played at the Cambridge Folk Festival twice, you must have a profound understanding of the festival’s atmosphere and the sense of community it fosters among folk artists. I am curious to know if you have any upcoming gigs or performances lined up that your fans can look forward to?

JB: So my Dad was a folk musician, so I went to the folk festival many times as a kid, then as a teenager my older brother who lives in Scotland would come down and take me. I really associate the folk festival with family, unfortunately I missed it this year as I was playing Bestival, but I’ve still never been to a festival with such a strong sense of community, and safety, you could leave your wallet on the floor on a blanket in the middle of the mainstage Friday, and come pick it up Sunday. I have a tour booked! Over England and South Ireland! Starting August 24th, ending September 20th, you can find the poster on my instagram.

IB: As someone with a passion for English Literature, how does your academic pursuit influence your songwriting, and do you ever draw inspiration from literary works?

JB: Yea that’s why I chose the degree, I wanted to ingest the great writers and the big idea’s, see if there was anything worth nicking for my songs. Unsurprisingly, my writing improved immensely during my undergrad. Learning about romanticism, the Enlightenment, 20th century Socialism, the American Beat generation, and the incredible and bizarre lives of these writers that created these movements, just gave me so much more to say and write about and believe in. And it wasn’t just these new influences I had to draw from, but studying the styles and techniques of poetry, that made my toolbox a lot bigger.

IB: And the last question. Folk or punk?

JB: What’s the difference?