After a transformative journey across the Atlantic Ocean, indie-folk artist Joshu announces his third EP, way back home, set for independent release on January 22nd. The project, which includes the poignant focus track ‘way back home’, emerges as a deeply introspective exploration of belonging, identity and human connection.

Following a devastating break-up, Joshu set sail from the shores of southern England to cross the  Atlantic Ocean for the first time. Retracing a song-line from his birthplace to the island he  was raised on, this journey not only transformed him, but gave rise to the concepts behind his way back home EP. The five songs serve as an introspective exploration of place, pondering how one comes to belong in a land, and the quiet discomfort of never quite feeling at home. 

Over five gently woven tracks, he grapples with questions of identity, asking: Is home where you’re born, or where you’re raised? How do we cultivate a sense of belonging in a land? And what does it mean to belong as a second-generation white man in the Caribbean?

“While sailing the mid-Atlantic, surrounded by vastness, I began to question what it truly means to belong,” says Joshu. “I realized that home isn’t just a physical place—it’s about the relationships we build: with each other, with the land, and with the non-human beings around us. This record is my attempt to untangle those threads and move toward reclaiming that sense of connection.”

Written and self-produced over the course of 2024 in spare rooms around Antigua, way back home is a tender yet emotionally expansive record. Joshu’s delicate vocals pair with lush, intimate instrumentation, creating a soundscape that invites listeners into his most personal reflections. This project marks a milestone for the artist, showcasing his growth as a producer, mixer, and songwriter.

It was on his first Atlantic crossing that songs like EP focus track ‘way back home’ began to take shape. “On the open ocean, time blurs into itself,” Joshu shares. “I played the song over and over again, letting it evolve naturally over many days. It became a crucible for all the grief, hope, and surrender I was feeling. By the time we reached Antigua, I had not only a finished song but also the foundation for the entire EP.”

Beyond his personal story, the EP into a universal longing for connection in an increasingly alienated world. “This record is an acknowledgment of the grief that comes with disconnection from place and nature,” Joshu reflects. “But it’s also a call to reclaim our role as rational stewards of the natural world and to reimagine what it means to truly belong.”

Tracklist:

1. holding on
2. way back home
3. morning eyes
4. honey in the dark
5. reminds me to stay

Raised on the twin-island nation of Antigua & Barbuda since he was just two weeks old, Joshu’s music reflects a unique blend of influences. Rooted in the eclectic soundtrack of his childhood, spanning folk legends like John Martyn to the calypso rhythms of King Short Shirt, he crafts a distinctive sound that merges soothing indie-folk with subtle island grooves.

From his debut EP, Lines of Time, single ‘Where Did The Time Go’ garnered over 2 million streams and went on to win the 2019 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Following his 2023 EP, Ocean Daze, Joshu marked his return with a Mahogany Session, featuring the title-track from his upcoming EP, way back home.

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