BEHIND THE MUSIC

A Creative Presence  

The music of Chepstow-raised songwriter JOSH HICKS has a lightning-in-a-bottle quality that nothing could really prepare you for. With a richly distinct vocal tone that exudes fragile, alchemical beauty and bluesy grit, the 25-year-old pulls from the worlds of soul, pop and R&B. The results are otherworldly: think Amy Winehouse or Duffy for the next generation, a new voice that has the power to seemingly stop time in its tracks.

Having grown up enamoured by everything from Motown classics to Queen and jazz stars like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, there’s a timelessness to Hicks’ work. But his stories of home, longing, self-discovery and relatable matters of the heart also contain consistently gorgeous moments that throw modern reference points into the mix.

Hicks’ musical journey began from his bedroom aged 11, where he would upload pop covers to YouTube. Star turns in gospel choirs would follow throughout his teenage years, before he graduated from the Academy of Contemporary Music in 2020 with a First-Class degree in vocal performance. The following year, Hicks triumphed at the world-renowned Open Mic UK competition – beating 10,000 other entrants to follow in the footsteps of previous winners Lola Young and Birdy.

Recent single ‘Eyes On You’ – which was produced by Aston Rudi (Olivia Dean, FLO) and has been playlisted across Radio 2 and regional BBC stations – makes clear Hicks’ rhythmic expertise, giving Memphis a sleek, contemporary gloss. As a newly independent artist, the track feels like a turning point, reaffirming his red-hot ambition.

Coming off the back of sold-out shows in London and Bristol, Hicks is moving forward with purpose, working on new material with support from Youth Music Next Gen, as well as PRS Momentum Accelerator and The Birthplace Fund (Novo Amor and Beacons Cymru).

Prepare to watch him go stellar