There’s something twilight-esque about Josh Pyke bringing his ‘Lone Wolf Tour’ to Tasmania on valentines day. A lone wolf serenading the moon on what is a very romantic day is very singular image. Josh himself believes there shouldn’t be one day set aside to tell someone you love them rather it should be an everyday occurrence.
Talking of things love, there was no other choice for Josh other than music and at 26 he did get his break in the industry after time at uni and a number of jobs including sound engineer, working for a record company, labourer, truck driver, working in a car wash.
I talked to Josh last week, and he says he gets to Tassie ‘a fair bit’ and has included us in nearly all of his album tours. He loves Tasmania calling it ‘a beautiful part of the world’ and especially Hobart which ‘has a vibrant culture’ with its fine foods and Salamanca precinct. Josh also calls MONA ‘the best gallery in the world’ and he has had the chance to perform for MONA on a ‘Day on the green’ concert showcased by Paul Kelly.
Although he is a many time ARIA nominee, Josh prefers not to take music and its industry too seriously and sometimes he takes a cynical look at the industry with some of the absurdest in his work.
In his song ‘Memories and Dust’ that sometimes the we are not always prepared for the twist. The clip starts all hopeful and light with the fluffy chicks cracking their shells, to a more sinister plot hatching with the appearance of a crocodile. Josh is quick to reassure me that in the filming of the clip the crocodile was digitally added so was not physically present and did not harm the chicks.
Josh says the writing or madness of creativity culminates in an epiphany. Often along the way you may feel something else is needed to complete it but often, after observation from someone with an objective viewpoint you can get the confidence to know it is complete.
One of the most meaningful things to Joshua is when he hears from fans the import of his music and how it has been the soundtrack to their lives, played at their weddings or when a child was born and even more flattering fans have also told him that they have tattoos of his lyrics! Himself a tattoo-ee Josh knows that such an act of admiration is not entered into lightly.!
Joshua Pike performs in Tasmania on Friday 14th of February at Waratah Hotel Hobart.
The Beginning and the End of Everything album is out now!
You can read more about Josh at: www.joshpyke.com
Paula Xiberras
