Interviews About Albums: Josh Keech - Warrior In The Clouds (2022)

1. What can you say about this new EP/CD?

Well firstly, it’s my debut solo EP. It’s a project I’ve been working on for many years. I want it to help get my name out there and help me make a big step up to the next level in terms of my music career. The songs I wrote between the ages of 15-19, and from 2020 I have been perfecting them to what they are today. I originally had 12 tracks for a full-length album, however, when starting the recording process we thought it would be best to split it in half, concentrating on 6 tracks first, then once they’re released (Warrior Pt.1) we’ll make the 2nd 6.

This EP encapsulates all of my influences while growing up and learning guitar, from Thrash Metal to Rock, and more Extreme Metal to classical music. It’s also an instrumental project, paying homage to some of my virtuoso guitar heroes who have made countless instrumental albums. I wanted this EP to show what I can do, and show the potential I have for future projects and hopefully getting bands together.

2. What is the meaning of the EP/CD name?

The name and the artwork go hand in hand. I got the idea for the artwork before the album title. I saw this advert on TV years ago, and it was like this cloud warrior with a bow and arrow. That image always stuck with me as I thought it would make cool album art. After this is where I came up with the name “Warrior in the clouds”, then came up with the artwork by taking photos of clouds and merging them together in Photoshop. So there isn’t a proper meaning behind the name of the album, I just thought it sounded cool! Sometimes not everything has to have a real deep meaning. Then part 1 because we split the full length in half as I said, hopefully part 2 will be out next year!

3. Which one is the composer of the CD/EP?

It’s me! As it’s my solo project I wrote and arranged everything. As I said I wrote all the ideas between ages 15-19, and the last few years I have made them what they are today. I went through a lot of fine tuning from the original ideas, as you do when you progress as a musician. I made demos which have no drums, I still have them on my computer. Even from those they have gone through some minor changes to the finished product. I have a huge folder of riffs I wrote between this time, and I still have a lot left over! So I am hoping to make more projects in the future.

4. If you had to pick one song, which one would you pick?

This is such a hard question, because I like to listen to different styles all the time, I can’t pick just one. If I’m listening to Rock it’ll probably be Joe Satriani Surfing with the alien, or if I’m listening to Metal I’d have to pick Call of ktulu by Metallica. I love both of those songs. But if I had to pick one, I’d go with Metallica. Super hard and unfair question haha!!

5. Is there a special message in this EP/CD? If there is, what is it?

Yes there is. I said in a video (talking about the EP) this project means a lot to me. I was going through a bad time while writing a lot of this originally, so these songs act like therapy for me. Also with this project I wanted to make the most professional product on the smallest budget, and I think I have proven it’s possible. If you know the right people, anyone can make good music and make a full project like this without spending too much money.

Lastly, I wanted this project to prove you can do anything when you put your mind to it. No matter what anyone says, you can do it! If I can do this you can too, I want this to inspire others to go and follow their passion. Regardless of the odds, regardless of what your mind is telling you, you can do it.

6. Are there some lyrics that you'd love to share?

As it’s an instrumental album, there aren't any lyrics. However, in “Society INC.” there is a spoken word part in the middle. That song is all about me seeing society as one big corporation just manipulating the way we all have to live. I got really annoyed at how society and the media turn their back on people like me. So the “lyrics” say;

“I’m fed up with society manipulating the way we have to live, I will not be one of their servants, for those who wish to rise against the system, this is our time.”

7. Which inspirations have been important for this album? Like musically or friends, family, someone you'd love to thank specially?

I was inspired by many bands and artists during the making of this project. As I said I wrote what I was listening to, and that really came through with these songs. The main bands/artists that influenced me most for this project include Metallica, Megadeth, Joe Satriani, Marty Freidman, Randy Rhoads, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Slayer, Machine Head, Nirvana and Pantera.

Also my friends and family have been a huge inspiration for this EP, they have given me so much support and motivation to carry on and get to this point. Obviously I have to thank my parents for letting me do this and follow my dream, they’ve put up with me trying to get this project done and get myself out there. I really appreciate them for this opportunity. All of my close friends and friends online for their support, I wouldn’t be doing this without their support and belief in me. My YouTube subscribers for helping me get to this point and the positive feedback they have given me about my EP, it has meant the world to me!

And lastly my good friends Alfie and Kim for everything they have done to help me make this EP happen. They helped me record it (Kim on drums and Alfie on bass) at their home studio, and they produced it for me. It was a long process going to their house almost every week, I really appreciate all the help and support they’ve given me. None of this would have been possible without them!

8. Something to add?

Warrior In The Clouds Pt.1 was released on 24th June 2022, and is available on my YouTube channel, all streaming services such as Spotify, iTunes, Deezer, SoundCloud etc, and Bandcamp. Also I hope physical copies will be available at some point in the near future. If interested stay tuned!

I hope anyone reading this has a better understanding of me, and most importantly my debut project. I really hope you will check it out and enjoy what I have created. And I hope you will be excited for part 2! As I said before this is just the beginning of my career, and I really hope it can be a big stepping stone up to the next level.

Thank you so much for this opportunity, I really appreciate it. Here’s to the future, thank you.