1. You may have seen Josh Beech and that IDGAF stare all over recent
campaigns for the likes of Burberry and Moschino. Now, we implore
you: hear the kid out. The UK native and his band have been filling
up and selling out venues across Europe with their soulful sets;
and now, after wrapping up a residency at The Hotel Café, Beech
is laying down roots in LA, with the release of his single, Holding
Your Umbrella, in March, and an EP set to drop in April. If his
success abroad proves anything, it’s that Beech’s US solo debut
will be as winning and real as his steely gaze. He may be a product
of the London punk scene; but for his stateside debut, Beech is
stripping back to the basics—think Johnny Cash acoustic guitar
that builds to old school rock. And if pledging allegiance to the
Kings wasn’t already enough for him to win you over, know this: on
top of everything else, Beech is a bona fide musician who knows
his way around a Fender.
First you were Snish, then Josh Beech & The Johns and now you’re working
on your solo career. You’ve been huge in Europe for years, what is the
strangest thing a fan has done?
Oh god. Three years ago I was in Milan—which is an amazing place
to perform because of their fashion and music scene. For someone
who’s doing both it feels unreal. That night, I come out with the
Johns and a giant cage has been set up around the whole stage.
It was insane, people were screaming and fainting and grabbing
at the cage. At the end of the set, the only way to get out was
through the audience, so I climbed up the cage and fell onto to
crowd, body surfing all the way to the exit. Absolutely surreal. Once
I stepped outside for a cigarette, there’s a chick in a wedding dress
who comes up to me and in that Italian-English way says, I’m
wearing this wedding dress for you. Would you marry me? I definitely
gave her credit. The next second she’s ripping of the locket around
her neck to give to me. I pop it open and there’s a picture of me
staring back.
Where’s that locket now?
I gave the locket to my mum, I thought she’d appreciate it.
All right, dream collaboration and dream venue?
My dream collab was always Paul McCartney, obviously. But now
I’d just like to meet him and be around him. Now it would be to do
something with Jack White or Kanye. I guess Paul and I can just
be friends. Dream venue would be the Brixton Academy in London.
Why’s that?
I sort of grew up there going to shows watching Deftones and
Incubus. But you know what? It might also be the Staples Center.
I could sing God Save the Queen before a Kings game wearing my
Andy Andreoff jersey. Think they’d let me?
Definitely. Besides a national anthem, what else should we be looking
out for from your solo music this year?
My single Holding Your Umbrella will be out in March and after
that an EP in April. My wife, Shenae, and I also have a clothing
company called Two Halves in boutiques around LA. The whole
point of our label is creating unisex pieces because so often the
two of us like what the other has but can never find it. It’s really
just a cover so we can work together.
This is big. You’re drafting a dodge ball team. You have first pick: Prince
Will or Prince Harry?
Hands down Harry. He’s way more badass. Also, chances are he’s
gonna show up in cool war paint and dominate.
Interview by Kacy Emmett
Beech, please.
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