Q&A with Jeshua
This week, we’re bringing you the smooth effortlessly cool tones of Glasgow based songwriter & artist, Jeshua. A student at Glasgow Kelvin college and on their respective in-house label Electric Honey Records - he impressed at his headline show at The Hug & Pint over the bank holiday weekend. In our eyes he’s cemented himself as Glasgow’s very own Mac Demarco - with a quiet confidence which is both endearing and spellbinding.
His recent release ‘Esther (22 Mix)’ is smokey and shrouded with jingly guitars - uncomplicated yet impactful. It transports you to the cool sands of California, beer in hand, watching the sun disappear of the edge of the earth.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with Jeshua, describe your artist project in 3 words
An infinity pool?
You released ‘Esther - 22 Mix’ on Electric Honey Records last month, tell us about that process
There were a couple of songs on my debut album ‘’Unreliable Narrator’’ that I felt would suit a more ‘’produced’’ sound so I collaborated with Jamie Holmes and Femi (mnlghtr) who are both amazing musicians and producers. We added drums and some other layers and gave it a more contemporary mix. So happy to be releasing the first one on Electric Honey Records!
In a recent Vintage Society interview you mentioned the inspiration of your grandmother and her generation - how does that inspiration transcend to your music
I think maybe it’s a bit more in the context of the song ‘’Esther’’ because it’s about my Gran and I was definitely taking inspiration with the lyrics from the songs of her generation. For some of the lines I was trying to get in that mindset of an older style of lyrics like from a Sinatra type song.
Your music is effortlessly refreshing, cool and understated productions - do you write and produce all your own music or do you have a team you work with?
Initially I tried to do it myself but it’s very much a collaborative process now. Collaboration with other producers and musicians has been really liberating and I'm really into it! I'm always looking for people to work with to add something different. I haven't really stepped into songwriting with others yet though but having other people's music imprint on there is so cool.
You’re hosting a dinner party and you get to invite 3 musicians/artists (dead or alive), who would you have along to 'Jeshua’s tea party’
Édith Piaf, Brian Wilson & André 3000 would be a dream come true actually. Ideally there would be a piano in the room! I'd make everybody a risotto and we'd all get really drunk :).
You can catch Jeshua performing as part of the Electric Honey Records showcase tonight (Thursday 9th June) at Oran Mor alongside a series of other artists on the famous label. In the meantime, follow Jeshua on socials Facebook / Instagram / Twitter.