The title of Josh Atkinson's latest single, "Learn To Be Strong," could be read as both a declaration and a cry for growth. With his debut EP "Homebird" on the horizon, Josh enters a more exposed era of honesty, reflection, and intricate melodic power. This track suggests an artist digging deeper into his emotional lexicon, produced by Jamie Donnelly.
With a sound representative of indie pop, pop rock, and indie rock, "Learn To Be Strong" takes us to the moment lost in time between adolescence and maturity. It has the voice of a man looking back as he moves forward, striving to hold onto his memories and let go. Josh examines the subtler varieties of growth in isolation, amid uncertainty, and in the space between defining decisions.
The lyrical paradox is that strength often comes from doubt, that openness can embody fortitude, and that clarity sometimes means contradiction. And the single suggests well for an EP rich in texture, detail, and emotional depth. The EP is a quietly self-assured affair, communicating a lingual production and earnest storytelling. For an artist, there are layers of identity constructed, consciously interacting with each part, meticulously and slowly.
"Learn To Be Strong" presents "Homebird" as an ongoing personal narrative developed in real time. It is a contemplative book that's very readable, melodic, and quintessentially human. In one song, Josh Atkinson shares his story and invites us to share in the collective human experience of gaining strength through a lengthy, sincere journey.