Josh Story’s recordings are like a great party. Each song he’s released as jstory brings together many characters. You have delicate tones, sweet, sugary lyrics, and rowdy, rambunctious beats. And, just like a party, you want to hear the cacophony of sounds rise, but you also want to engage in all the conversation at a more personal level.
jstory has the magic to record songs that feel alive. Playful beats, distant vocals, and distorted synthesized layering fill the space with energy. This is why jstory has broken through my sound barrier and into my brain, expanding and opening up the electronic realm.
Across his catalog, jstory balances opposing forces: chaos and control, intimacy and expansiveness, digital precision and organic flow.
Start with his most recent project, lil joshi. The instrumental track “Just Imagine” feels like a downhill skateboarder reaching speeds that scare most people, doing tricks that could never be done in real life. The song unfolds as dreamy, raw, and full of excitement, weaving in and out of frenzied keyboard sounds and snappy beats that thrill the listener. “Dance with Me” is a dirty secret song, the kind you don’t mention until the night is late. The song’s synched-out vocal lines remind me of a 1980s mixed tape. Repetitive vocals that draw the listener in, beats and a groove that make you just want to dance.
“You Can’t Divide Us” from Music for a Better World captured my attention and audio heart. This synth-soaked song punctuated by mantra chanting of “You can’t divide us” is potent stuff. Many artists would employ angst, distortion, and volume to propel the song forward. jstory took the opposite approach to create a rich listening experience. I want to sit in the forest at night and listen to this over and over.
That project’s creation story reveals jstory’s artistic process at its most intentional. As Josh explains: “I made this in 2020 during lockdown and the George Floyd / Black Lives Matter protests. I had been working on the music since the COVID lockdowns began as I felt I needed to make something beautiful to keep me going. The EP came together after capturing sound recordings at several protests in Los Angeles, which I layered over the ambient music I had already been working with.”
“Affirm Yourself” features a recording of activist Tanita Ligons speaking at what was the first-ever Black Lives Matter march in Glendale, California. A sundown town until the late 1960s and home of the West Coast headquarters of the American Nazi Party until the 1980s. jstory‘s decision to weave this historical moment into lush soundscapes shows how electronic music serves as both escapism and activism.
The scratch and hiss of vinyl create a warm foundation for “It’s All in My Head” off of Going Home. Hypnotized by the stutter and syncopation that becomes a flow that carries you as you collide into the horns and strings. Imagine walking up to a house show, hearing the music from afar, then opening the doors and being brought into the warm embrace of tones pumping outward like waves landing on a beach.
I begin to imagine artists that I would love to see collaborate with jstory. Guero-era Beck? I am happily reminded of “Hell Yes” while bouncing to “Scams”. Lady Gaga? I can picture a completely insane dance video while listening to “Social Connection”. Moby? On numerous tracks, I am brought back to his 1999 album, Play. Memories of rainy Sunday afternoons, music delivering happiness on the dark days.
jstory provides us with well-produced, thoughtful music that comes from the heart and resonates with our daily lives. The music is sharp, fun, and able to push free-flowing sounds into the room with the feel of a live performance or soundtrack guiding revelers through the night and into the dawn.
jstory has a long list of recorded individual tracks, albums, and EPs. Beyond his solo work, Josh also performs with the synth band Delver. Take your time to explore them all.
Follow + listen to jstory
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