Josh Schwartz, well known in the jam scene as the tall baritone saxophone player and occasional singer from Turkuaz and Cool Cool Cool, has announced his solo project, JOSCH. Pronounced like his first name, JOSCH debuts with his soulful debut single, “Icarus In Motion.”
“Icarus in Motion” features Schwartz alone on all vocals and instruments, with the entire track his brainchild. With pre-production support from producer/songwriter Rob O’Block, Schwartz makes a grand entrance as a solo performer, channeling the likes of James Blake and Hosier.
A modern day reimagining of the ancient Greek myth of Icarus – who ignored his father’s warning and flew too close to the sun, melting the wax that held his wings together and plummeting him to his death into the ocean – Schwartz was inspired by “The Power of Myth” by Joseph Campbell, and spoke to NYS Music, sharing deeper insight into the lyrics of the track.
The lyrics are basically a modern-day retelling of the classic Icarus myth. I was partially inspired by Trump’s rise and (hopefully eventual) fall. The character in the song supposedly pulled himself up by his bootstraps (“You come from such humble beginnings/rough hands and dirty shoes/stranger to silver spoons”) but similarly to how some people in this country seem to think Trump did that, the details often tell a different origin story.
I was also envisioning the main character, Patrick Bateman, from American Psycho and typical Wall Street bros in general. I grew up with and went to college with lots of those types and was always amazed at the degree of materialism they had.
With the legend of Icarus taking on a deeper meaning, JOSCH presents “Icarus in Motion” has a departure from the high-energy power funk that Josh Schwartz is known to deliver on stage. “This song and the other tunes I have ready under JOSCH are more in the vein of electro-pop. Lots of synths, lots of emotions. If you’re expecting horn-driven funk, you’re certainly in for a surprise!”
Over hard-hitting drums and droning bass, behind-the-beat vocals on “Icarus” sing of a man with a hard upbringing (“rough hands and dirty shoes/stranger to silver spoons”) who rises to great financial success (“you soar on guilded wings/keep score with gods and kings”); in the process, he becomes addicted to and obsessed with the material goods and pleasures he can now afford (“hungrily grasp for more/the endless spoils of war”). Will the man in the song succumb to his own hubris and greed or will he realize the folly of his ways and get a grip on his dangerous habits? You’ll just have to listen to find out.
JOSCH is available on all streaming platforms now. Listen on Spotify.
In addition to the single, JOSCH will release an accompanying music video shortly after. Shot on 8mm film and directed by longtime collaborator Dani Barbieri of Two Truths Production, the video brings the imagery of Schwartz’s lyrics to life.
“Icarus in Motion” Lyrics
High above it all
Far from the commotion
But you’re about to fall
Icarus in motion
You come from such humble beginnings
Rough hands and dirty shoes
Stranger to silver spoons
And now you’re drowning in your winnings
You soar on gilded wings
Keep score with gods and kings
No time for self-reflection
When striving for perfection
Ambition suits you like the labels that you wear
(Labels that you wear)
On the way up, it’s all so thrilling
‘Til you remember nothing is under you but air
High above it all
Far from the commotion
But you’re about to fall
Icarus in motion
High above it all
Far from the commotion
But you’re about to fall
Icarus in motion
The universe just keeps on giving
Hungrily grasp for more
The endless spoils of war
They say that life is for the living
You’ve burned through twenty lives
Almost as many wives
The same universe that gave you wings
Can snatch them back before you blink
Your narcissism is a dangerous affair
(Dangerous affair)
On the way up, it’s all so thrilling
‘Til you remember nothing is under you but air
High above it all
Far from the commotion
But you’re about to fall
Icarus in motion
It’s always sunny when you’re flying high above the clouds
Nothing to see below so up and up you go
No one but yourself can stop you now
As the sun destroys your wings
See the angels beckoning
High above it all
Far from the commotion
But you’re about to fall
Icarus in motion
High above it all
Far from the commotion
But you’re about to fall
Icarus in motion
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