“Misplaced & Discovered” cowl artwork with Josh Cullen of SB19 —SONY MUSIC PHILIPPINES
The trauma, the unhappiness, the ache—Josh Cullen might have chosen to only maintain all of them to himself. That manner, he wouldn’t need to topic himself to the agony of revisiting them.
However as troublesome because it was to comb by his childhood reminiscences and profession hardships, he felt that placing them in an album might result in newfound classes, or on the very least, assist him make sense of the items of his previous that slip by the cracks on occasion.
From these outdated wounds arose “Misplaced & Discovered” (Sony Music Philippines), Josh’s debut solo album that charts his journey towards redemption and internal reality amid the sense of loss that had lengthy pervaded his life.
“I’m tremendous happy that folks will lastly get to listen to my tales. The rationale I mustered the braveness to share them is as a result of I need folks to imagine in themselves, too. For me, this was an enormous transfer,” the singer-songwriter and SB19 member advised the Inquirer in a one-on-one interview.
The angst and frustration is instantly palpable within the opening observe, “1999,” whose guttural, staccato-like refrain had Josh sounding like he was singing by gritted tooth.
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The observe units the tone for the remainder of the album. Whereas higher generally known as a rapper in SB19, “Misplaced & Discovered” marks Josh’s reconnection to his rock, emo and pop-punk roots.
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The 30-year-old knew that confronting the previous could be the toughest a part of the artistic course of. In reality, he thought he would solely be capable of provide you with one music. However earlier than he knew it, he had unwittingly opened the floodgates.
“After I bear in mind the trauma, the experiences, the struggles … the songs began to return out naturally. And whereas I used to be doing the music and lyrics, I believed, ‘OK, so that is what the method is like,’” Josh associated. “Writing got here straightforward, however going through my feelings originally was something however.”
What was it like revisiting previous traumas?
It’s like, right here’s my story, but it surely’s all jumbled. I bear in mind the traumas, I simply didn’t know the place to put them.
This album gave me a template of kinds. I laid all of the reminiscences out one after the other. And now, I can revisit them any time I need. Every music pertains to particular experiences and triggers sure flashbacks.
Some are pleased, some are unhappy. However the necessary factor is that I used to be capable of create one thing out of my experiences. Nothing will beat songs like that. Authenticity is all the pieces.
Josh Cullen —CONTRIBUTED Photograph
Take us by the album’s artistic course of.
All of it got here collectively rapidly. It took me most likely a month.
The creatives and I brainstormed: “How ought to I outline my album? What’s probably the most fascinating factor about me that I can share with everybody?” I couldn’t provide you with something however my story.
The struggles, the ache, the whole thing of me; I imagine that’s one in every of a sort. It was arduous. Folks fearful about me as a result of I used to be weak through the course of. They’d ask me, “Kakayanin mo ba talaga?”
So all 9 songs had been written in a month?
I don’t understand how I did it, to be trustworthy. Initially, I barely slept. The folks round me know that. I’ll work through the day, report at night time, write … all the pieces. I might sleep for one to 2 hours. I used to be getting sick—all that, halo-halo na.
Truly, whereas I used to be recording “1999,” I had a very unhealthy chilly. My voice was hoarse. I assume that’s one of many causes the grit and anger got here out. I used to be annoyed as a result of it needed to occur whereas I used to be recording, and I used to be fearful I wasn’t going to complete the album.
Some folks had been stunned with the shift from hip-hop/city to extra melodic alt-rock. There’s additionally some emo and pop-punk in there.
We simply assign genres to songs so we are able to categorize them. However for me, there are not any boundaries. As a part of a pop group, I largely rap and I’m actually heavy on hip-hop. However I like all kinds of music. I’m the kind of one that has extra likes than dislikes. I’m very open. After I hear one thing new, my first response isn’t, “I don’t like that.”
I’m at a spot the place I really feel like music should not have any limits. However yeah, apart from punk-rock, I integrated extremely pop, which isn’t as well-liked right here within the Philippines. Parts of digital dance music are additionally there.
I assume I simply need to strive issues that aren’t traditional. That’s what provides me satisfaction, with the ability to do what I need to do as an artist.
Did you already know beforehand that this was going to be the sound?
Not completely. I had concepts, however there have been some issues that got here up on the spot. For some songs, it was solely after I heard them in full that I spotted that I ought to do that or that. The songs normally undergo completely different phases of evolution.
The emo affect actually shines in “Silent Cries,” “Sincere” and “No Management.” Are you a fan of the style?
Oo naman! Emo and pop-punk had been fashionable again within the day, so there actually was no escaping them. Personally, I’m an excellent fan of The Crimson Jumpsuit Equipment, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and Paramore.
These had been my major influences earlier than I obtained into hip-hop. So this isn’t new to me. I can really say that, in a manner, it’s extra of my house in comparison with rap.
However did you additionally undergo the entire emo look, the style?
I might say, sure, pero ‘di naman todo-todo! Are you aware the anime “Loss of life Observe”? My hair inspiration was Mild Yagami (the principle protagonist).
What was in your playlist whilst you had been engaged on the album?
I had no time to take heed to anything. I couldn’t afford to waste time. I used to be considering of melodies and lyrics at any given time. I used to be centered on what I used to be engaged on.
Why was there a lot urgency?
I had a deadline. It was mission unattainable, if you consider it. The folks I labored with requested, “Are you critical?” And I might be like, “I’m critical!” They thought what I used to be attempting to perform was too bold. Nevertheless it labored. I used to be persistent. After I need one thing to occur, I’ll make it occur.
So how does it really feel now that the album is lastly out. What’s being a solo artist like for you?
After I see that folks relate to the music, once I hear that it provides them motivation and inspiration, that actually fuels me. It makes me suppose that I’m entering into the correct route.
I’m not doing this simply to flex or magyabang. I do suppose that I’ve a function… And studying folks’s feedback about my album, I used to be touched. Naiiyak talaga ako.
