Josh Cashman

Every now and then, a local artist emerges who has an undeniable, palpable and infectious momentum, and 21 year-old Josh Cashman definitely fits into that exclusive category. Hailing from Gippsland in Country Victoria, Josh gave up a promising football career to pursue his real passion -- music. After relocating to the big city lights of Melbourne, Josh hit the ground running, immersing himself in the local indie music scene, and hasn't looked back since.

Humble by nature, Josh began posting low-fi Facebook videos, skillfully interweaving layers of electronic textures and sublime loops with his acoustic folk originals. Word spread quickly, which saw the unassuming videos often reach thousands of views in 24 hours. Josh took the opportunity to release his first single "Running," in July 2015, to a sold-out crowd at Shebeen. He's now amassed over 25,000 fans across all social media platforms, a number which continues to grow daily.

The unstoppable momentum reached new heights in October 2015 when Josh's second single, "All About You," debuted at #2 on triple j Unearthed's Roots chart, leading to support on the station's Roots n' All program, as well as community radio.

The demand for new music was overwhelming, and Josh headed back into the studio to record his third single "Patience." Recorded at Smooch Records, mixed by Matthew Neighbour (Matt Corby, Missy Higgins) and mastered by Adam Dempsey at Deluxe Mastering (Courtney Barnett, Sticky Fingers) the track peaked at #29 on the Spotify US Viral Charts and has been streamed over 350,000 times. It also impressively climbed to #1 on both Unearthed's Rock and Roots charts, and #8 overall.

Word travelled quickly, and Josh signed to Paradigm Talent Agency in the US. Locally, he signed with Mushroom Publishing Australia.

In August, Josh locked himself away in the studio with lauded producer Jan Skubiszewski (John Butler Trio, The Cat Empire, ILLY). The result is an upcoming EP, mastered by Joe LaPorta at Sterling Sounds (David Bowie, Foo Fighters, The Weeknd). The 5 new tracks evoke a newfound sense of confidence and maturity. The first single "Wishful Imagery" was released on September 30, with two accompanying single launches in Melbourne and Sydney.

Packing out venues wherever he goes, thanks to his fiercely loyal fanbase, the gifted self-taught musician has also sold-out revered Melbourne venues including The Worker's Club and Penny Black, as well as a residency at Ding Dong Lounge. In between playing his headline tour dates, Josh has also opened for renowned musicians including Ash Grunwald and Jon Toogood (Shihad).

Having already broken into the Australian festival circuit last year, playing the likes of Queenscliff Music Festival and Nannup Music Festival, Josh is preparing for another heavy Australian summer touring schedule, with his own shows and supporting triple j favourites The Pierce Brothers. Josh is also showcasing at SXSW and supporting Tash Sultana on her US tour in 2017.

"Nothing ever did nor will happen overnight, persistence and timing are everything," says a hard-working Josh. With a work ethic that comes as naturally as his talent, the sky's the limit for a promising, exciting act like Josh Cashman.