Pete Josef has a modern take on classic soul
The Bristol-based songwriter on protest music, stage fright, the joy of singles, and playing Glastonbury with Kelis.
Today, the Spotlight is On singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Pete Josef.
The impetus for Pete’s visit was a series of tracks that he has been dropping throughout the Spring and Summer of 2023 - one of which, “Utopia”, you can listen to at the end of this episode. Before we got to his new music, we discussed Pete’s musical upbringing, his connection to classic soul “message music”, and much more.
Pete is an artist deeply in tune with his times, which is reflected in the lyrical content of his music. He is also in tune with the lineage his own work springs from, as you will learn from this talk. It was a pleasure having him on and we highly encourage you to check out his music. Enjoy.
------------------
Dig Deeper
• Visit Pete Josef at petejosefmusic.com
• Listen to Pete Josef’s music on Bandcamp or your favorite streaming platform
• Follow Pete Josef on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
• Pete Josef…inspirations (Spotify Playlist)
• Rotary Connection - “Lady Jane” (Jerry G. TV show, Chicago, 1969)
• A Guide to Baroque Music
• The Cornet: Secrets of the Little Big Horn
• Moussa Kouyate plays kora
• Kelis at Glastonbury Festival 2023: A sublime, genre-hopping performance
• Later … with Jools Holland
• Sura Susso
• The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar
• The Griot, the Preserver of African Traditions
• Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ Is as Relevant Today as It Was in 1971
• What’s Going On? : Marvin Gaye and the Last Days of The Motown Sound
• Stevie Wonder: The artist, the activist, the Wonder(ful)
• Local Groove Does Good: The Story Of Trip-Hop’s Rise From Bristol
• Dartington Arts School
• I Go Shout Plenty: A Guide To The Work Of Fela Kuti
• The Story of Sundiata: An Enduring West African Epic
• Playing the complex West African instrument called the kora
• Where to Start With Afrobeat Pioneer Tony Allen, One of the Greatest Drummers Ever
• Patch’s artwork for Pete Josef’s “Utopia”
• Singles vs Albums – The Dilemma
• The White Lamp
• Theo Katzman
• Rugby World Cup 2023
------------------
• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pete Josef
Musician
Despite his soul boy roots, Pete Josef’s melodic journey has taken him on a number of diverse musical stops along the way. From playing live drum & bass with Roni Size to producing lo-fi house as White Lamp with Darren Emmerson of Underworld fame, his mellifluous migration between styles reflects his open-minded attitude to creating sound.
Having travelled the globe as bass player and guitarist for the likes of Kelis, playing festivals as far afield as Fuji Rock in Japan, Splendour In The Grass in Australia and the UK’s legendary Glastonbury Festival, Pete finally came home when he signed to Berlin’s Sonar Kollektiv imprint with whom he released the 2015 LP Colour, and the follow up album I Rise With The Birds five years later.
His subsequent work with Rory 'Rag n Bone Man' Graham saw Pete drawn back into the familiar world of the session musician - finding himself separated from the pressure to write, produce, record and deliver in isolation. The experience also inspired him to create something of his own - somewhere to welcome collaborators, and to take this new voyage of creation outside the bedroom and into a space purposed for his own productions. And so was born 'The Orchard' - a large mezzanine cabin made all of gnarled wood and set in the green of the Somerset hills. The rural retreat - an idyll to inspire and escape to, became the enabling foundation of his new creations, as well as the source-space for other new productions, such as Hollysseus Fly and new 2023 project Supalung – a collaboration between Josef and the extraordinary …
Read More
Greatest Hits
Wondering where to start or where to go next? Check out some of our most-listened-to episodes.
Andy McCluskey: kicking down fascist art with OMD
The Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark frontman chats about art movements, political treachery, Kraftwerk's impact, and the brilliant album Bauhaus Staircase.
David J: unearthing tracks from the attic
The Bauhaus and Love and Rockets bassist chats with guest host Michael Donaldson about lighting candles, the magic(k) muse, touring with Jane's Addiction, and the album collecting his early demos, Tracks From The Attic.
Hainbach: crafting soundscapes from forgotten relics
Experimental musician, YouTube personality, and excavator of rare, electronic sound-making artifacts — Hainbach delivers a fascinating look into his prolific musical activities.
Ibrahim Maalouf: a conversation on harmony, heritage, and hope
The trumpet virtuoso talks about his father's inspiration, the Middle East's influence on symphonic music, how Bach and Mozart were punks, and the ideas behind his album Capacity To Love.
That Petrol Emotion
Today, the spotlight shines on the wildly influential post-punk group, That Petrol Emotion. Guitarist and songwriter Raymond Gorman and lead singer Steve Mack joined Spotlight On host Lawrence Peryer to mark the release of th...
David Rodriguez talks community, culture, and his work with NJPAC
With the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, David creates musical milestones in Newark, NJ, and beyond.
Diana Pasulka: a religious study of UFOs and nonhuman intelligences
With her books Encounters and American Cosmic, religious studies professor Diana Pasulka explores the modern edges of belief.
Dominic Miller
The ECM Records artist and Sting's longtime guitarist takes a seat in the Spotlight.
Michael Kuelker on The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Today, the spotlight shines on author and educator Michael Kuelker, here to talk about his recent book, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils On Record: A Narrative Discography . Michae is a teacher, writer, and reggae radio DJ in St...
John Barry on Levon Helm
Writer John Barry joins us on the podcast to talk his new book, "Levon Helm: Rock, Roll & Ramble—The Inside Story of the Man, the Music and the Midnight Ramble." Ringo wrote the foreword, and Roger Waters, Graham Nash and …
Steve Kimock
Steve Kimock talking about the new Zero reissue of “Naught Again” and finding the Grateful Dead scene
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley Mason, CBE (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member s...
Grahame Lesh
Based in the musical hotbed of Marin County, California, Grahame Lesh is a guitar player and singer-songwriter for Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends, & the Terrapin Family Band. A mainstay in the scene centered around Terra...