It’s been a busy year for Josh Osho: After releasing “
The
Manifesto EP” then his debut album
“L.I.F.E (Learning Is For Ever)”,
touring plus headlining his own show in London and doing festival dates over
the summer, he still found time to record another body of work.“
The
John Doe EP”is a collection of seven songs covering themes of identity,
freedom, love, loss and legacy.
The John Doe figure is used to explore the freedom of
anonymity: The idea that in being nobody, you can become anybody.The title
track, “John Doe (Forget to Remember”)is a reflective,uplifting song
about breaking away from the labels and categories that we use to define
ourselves and our place within the world. The song is a call for people to find
the freedom to be whoever they want to be, rather than aspiring to someone
else’s vision. The steady bleep of a heart rate monitor, the church organ and
Osho’s rich vocals all combine to give this song its intensely ethereal tone and
give gravity to the message being communicated. This opening track does an excellent job of
setting up what to expect from the rest of the EP, both musically and
lyrically.
“Even in War”is a folky mid-tempo track about viewing life as
series of experiences both good and bad:‘Even
in war, the birds sing’. There is the idea thateven in the darkest moments
of life there is still light andthere is still hope. “The Sandbox” continues
this concept, observing the lessons adults can learn from children in terms of
living life fearlessly being carefree and contented.“The Last Letter” is abitter
sweet song that encourages the listener not to lose themselves in grief over
the loss of a loved one because ‘Our time is only borrowed’. The legacy of those,passed lives on through
those left behind:‘I’m living forever, through you and your endeavour’. The
songadvises the bereaved to find solace in this.
Osho avoids sounding corny, patronising or preachy. He comes
across as authentically honest with a youthful wisdom. You get the sense that
he truly believes in what he is singing and that he’d be singing it, whether he
had the platform to tell just one person or thousands of people.There is the
familiar twang and scrape of the acoustic guitar which give his songs that
genuine, wholesome, earthy vibe. Even the most cynical among us couldn’t deny
thatthere’s something about Josh Osho that just rings true. The one time on the
EP when stereotypical expressions are used,it’s done with an ironic twist. “The Clichés”
is a self-conscious love song in which, Osho finds himself stuck having to use
some typical romantic expressions to describe the way a lover makes him feel.
The EP features two covers and having previously done
amazing versions of Kanye West’s“Jesus Walks” and Alex Clare’s “Too Close”,
Fans have come to expect great things from any song that gets reimagined by
Josh Osho. The two featured onThe John
Doe EPdo not disappoint. The first is“Call My Name”, a hypnotic reworking
of Cheryl Cole’s synth-heavy dance track. The second is the classic, “Could
you be Loved” by Bob Marley.
This is an impressive EP.
It’s musically atmospheric and lyrically clear and simple. Josh Osho is
a storyteller andThe John doe EP is
genuine food for the mind and soul. You get the sense that this artist is here
to impart something more than great songs.
Amongst the mix of disposable music in the charts, Osho creates music
with such depth and clarity that it’s instantly grounding. Perhaps that’s what
makes his songs so relatable and so refreshing.
There’s nothing to fault here, The
John Doe EP is like a warm musical embrace that no one should shy away
from.
