Josef shares brand new single East End Coast

“I wrote it last year. It was summer and I fell in love with someone when I moved out of my hometown. It's kind of about finding home in someone when you feel displaced from everything you’ve ever known. No matter how tumultuous it felt at times I felt this unconditional love that was only comparable to that of what I feel from Glasgow, my mates, and my family. This song means more to me than anyone would ever understand, if you take anything from this let it be a sign to tell them you love them, call your mum, hold your friends a bit closer at the after gaff next time, and take care of yourself.” - Joesef

Today, Scottish soul artist Joesef releases new single “East End Coast”, about the unconditional love he feels from his hometown of Glasgow, and the universal feeling of seeking safety in familiar places and people. Moving to London last year, the only place that felt like home was the studio with Ivor Novello Award Winning producer Barney Lister (Obongjayar, Joy Crookes, Celeste). During an intense period of creation and hedonism in the uncharted city, Joesef developed his craft from bedroom pop to a master and co-producer of new soul entrenched in new heartbreak, confiding in Yorkshireman Barney, which felt like “therapy everyday”. Containing the motifs we have come to love the BBC Sound of 2020 star for: Seeking pain and pleasure in heartbreak, addiction to the afterglow of a relationship, and throwing his heart into the “fire” again and again, on “East End Coast,” we are immersed in the delicacy of his songwriting, following the dance-floor late night anthem “It’s Been A Little Heavy Lately” and the brooding “Fire”. Having supported Mercury nominated Arlo Parks at Shepherds Bush earlier this year, only to headline the same venue a month later, Joesef has bewitched audiences across the country and played his most raucous homecoming show at the 2500 capacity Glasgow’s O2 Academy in May. Joesef will continue his live ascent with dates at Otherlands Festival in Perth, Scotland, Connect in Edinburgh, and Reading and Leeds festival this August 2022

LISTEN TO “EAST END COAST”

From pulling pints to being catapulted into the public arena in 2019 with his immaculate, critically acclaimed debut EP Play Me Something Nice, whilst being lauded by Sam Smith to Mark Ronson for his “sad boy bangers”, the 25-year-old has a talent for capturing soul and the nerve of a song. His new music shows the astounding development of a self-taught artist, exploring new realms with production, but always centred on the vast emotional weight of his lyricism, self described as “pure working class torch songs”’. Praised by the likes of Clara Amfo and BBC Radio 1, recent release “Fire” became a fan favourite on his extensive UK tours and festival runs, from TRNSMT to New York’s Baby’s All Right, Joesef’s “f***ing mad” moment was playing to thousands of fans at the iconic Barrowland Ballroom for his right-of-passage homecoming, having blizzarded the city with flyers a few years before for his first pub gig in his home city of Glasgow. Now Glasgow’s golden boy with the golden pipes has found his footing and sound in a new city: London.

WATCH “IT’S BEEN A LITTLE HEAVY LATELY”

Not coming from a musical family, but owing his musical references to his mum’s kitchen radio, with Al Green, The Cure, and The Mamas and the Papas playing all day in the background, Joesef grew up surrounded by the community in the East End of Glasgow, where everyone knew everyone’s business. Understanding he was queer from an early age, but “the kids made fun of my trainers more than my sexuality,” he was raised to celebrate his identity and understand it. Parallels have been drawn between author Douglas Stuart’s experience as a queer man growing up in Glasgow, documented in his Booker Prize winning novel “Shuggie Bain”.

This exploration of Joesef’s past is apparent in his deeply personal songwriting, having released his critically acclaimed second EP Does it Make You Feel Good? in 2020, which featured the lauded single ‘I Wonder Why’ with Loyal Carner. Garnering over 30 Million global streams, Joesef released a cover of Sister Sledge's iconic ‘I’m Thinking Of You,’ showing the breadth of his soul, and stylistic influence of Northern Soul ballrooms.

Writing with such full-force candour as he enters his new phase: “My motto” says Joesef, is “What else am I going to do?