Bristolian is nominated in awards

By Natasha Evans
BBC Blast reporter, Bristol

Josh Lloyd, a young musician from Bristol has been nominated for the MP3 Music Award for Best Unsigned Act Nominee.

Josh has been nominated for Best Unsigned Act

Braving the airwaves lone ranger Josh is one of the few artists breaking away from formal tuition.

He talks about his experience as a musician, telling me the many boxes that need to be ticked - and then some - in order to make a stand in the music profession.

He has worked with established artists in the Bristol music scene, including folk singer/songwriter Katey Brooks.

Josh holds firm to the belief that there is a "misconception that the music industry is all about the look".

"To be genuine is vital," Josh explains, and that music needs to be "culturally relevant".

We soon talk about genres, and how that affects up-and-coming musicians.

Josh rightly points out that the record labels are diverse; several bands are signed by the same company despite the huge differences in sound and temperament.

Josh talks about The Beatles, saying that they make you dance, but equally there is a deeper underlying, more profound sentiment.

"It's a balance between entertaining and providing meaning," Josh laughs, "But I don't want to preach to people!"

He tells me that around 60% of his music is written when he is hung-over: "My mind is in a state of recovery."

You have to be your own worst critic. You can't fall for self-satisfaction. Josh Lloyd

Listening to his music, I felt Josh produces a sound that blends the mellowness of Coldplay with the energy of The Prodigy.

"It's called reverse engineering," Josh tells me, explaining that it's where a writer takes ideas from an artist, and reinvents them.

Josh illustrates this with an example from Abba's Dancing Queen, describing how the run of violins leading into the chorus is a common structural technique in music in order to build momentum and excitement.

But reverse engineering does not mean any musical creation is perfect.

"You have to be your own worst critic," explains Josh, "You can't fall for self-satisfaction."

It is clear that Josh has given a great deal of thought, time and work on the artistic value of music.

"Many are distracted by the glamour, but you have to be aware of the complications that comes with being an artist."

To emerge from the ninth largest UK city as a nominee for such an award is a rare feat - especially single-handedly.

Josh evidently understands - and expects - the many trials and tribulations of the career path - things that educational institutions, like the Bristol Institute of Modern music, teach.

But he'll do anything, and face every challenge in order for his aspirations to be made a reality.

"As cliché as it sounds," he smiles, "music is the only thing that really matters to me."