An exploration of Alt RnB & Future Soul, Jozem returns with 'Goderich'

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Olivia Rayner

"Goderich is a song about letting go, a song about falling in and out of love with my creative process and realizing that it is in these 'in between' moments of quiet that you will again find the love and inspiration. I wrote it after experiencing a long period of creative block, trying to force things and worrying that I had lost my touch/connection to my creativity then realizing that it was okay to have these moments of drought, and that it was all part of the process. Once I let go, it came back overflowing.

I was doing a rotation as a medical resident in Goderich, Ontario in the middle of winter and brought a bunch of my music gear as I was hoping the solitude and time away from the bustle in Toronto would allow me to reconnect with my creativity. At the time I felt I was in a prolonged period of creative block and had almost gotten in a bit of panic about it thinking I may have lost my touch and perhaps lost the love for making music. I struggled for weeks to reconnect with that side of me, but nothing came. I started going on winter strolls and in those moments of introspection, learned to be ok with having these moments of lacking creativity- we are so often conditioned that we constantly have to be producing, that time is of the essence, that as artists our success is tied to our youth/youthfulness, so we need to be producing as much while we can- but I have been learning not to take heed of those voices and to truly listen to myself. Once I felt I let go of that pressure I had been putting on myself, this song came to me, the melody, lyrics and production all came flowing to me…

The artwork is a picture I took on one of my numerous winter-time strolls in Goderich, Ontario where the song came to me as I was contemplating my relationship with creativity and learning to accept seasons of disconnect with my art as part of a greater process.

The song title ‘Goderich’ is simply the location where this song and lyrics/melody came to me, the place where I came to the realization about the moments of disconnect in one’s art and accepting that as part of the process."

About

With eclectic tastes and influences stemming from his colourful upbringing, Toronto-based artist (via Kenya and Rwanda), Jozem experiments with various elements to create a unique sound that is melded with allusive and personal lyrics.

While taking the time to pursue his other childhood dream of becoming a physician, Jozem kept the music close, continuously writing and producing. He views music-making as a necessary means of self-expression and a form of catharsis for his ‘two-brained, academic and creative sides which are sometimes at tension but ultimately complement each other.

In May 2019, Jozem released his debut 3-track EP, BLACK NIGHT, a deeply introspective work that touches upon various themes of loss, indecision, self-doubt and ultimately, self-acceptance. His following singles ‘Breathe,’ ‘Water Me,’ and ‘Dreams’ were equally moving and well-considered bodies of work. With each release Jozem continues to grow and progress as both a musician and a songwriter, establishing his artistry through meaningful, expressive music that’s thought-provoking, sincere and relatable.

Still something of a best-kept secret, Jozem has impressed audiences with his intimate and expressive performances, anchored by a voice rich in emotion and texture. His lyrics and sounds emanate from intense depth and contemplation, offering a brief glimpse into his soul, whilst leaving room for interpretation and self-application.

With a sophomore project, it came to me in a dream, on the horizon, Jozem hopes to extend fans a further glimpse into his world with the release of ‘Goderich’.

Source Olivia Rayner