Josh Rennie-Hynes is a singer/songwriter hailing from just north of Brisbane. Josh combines his humble upbringings, together with his love for travel, life, and storytelling, to create honest, thought-provoking, authentic music.
At an early age, he remembers his father coming home from a long day’s work as a diesel mechanic, to sit in front of a piano or a guitar; playing and singing and escaping into another world for hours on end.
‘My earliest memories of my Dad are watching those big, callused, oil-stained fingers playing those instruments. He was always singing and harmonising along to every song on the radio. I guess you don’t realise it at the time, but it’s those moments and memories that come to influence who you are as an adult.’
Skip forward a few years to when Josh was living and working in Canada.
‘I guess I was just somewhat floating about, trying to find my place, find out what direction I wanted my life to take. I’d been working a job since leaving school that I really had no passion or desire to do, had just come out of a fairly rough breakup, and my Dad had just passed away, so Canada seemed like a good place to escape to.’
While he was working at a ski resort, a local restaurant was hosting a competition where musicians would play off against each other in a weekly duel, with the overall competition winner receiving professional studio time.
‘Music had gone quiet in my life for a few years before that. I mean I still played a bit of guitar here and there but nothing serious. Anyway, my friend entered me in this competition without my knowing, and I had too much pride to pull out. So I sang some covers and ended up winning. All of a sudden I had free studio time and no original songs to speak of, so I thought I’d best get writing. To actually sit down and write songs again was like a door had opened for me. I remember the feeling of complete comfort, relief and satisfaction, something that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Then I recorded five songs and released them on a burnt disc with a glued paper CD wallet; I called it The Snow Town Chapters.’
Skip forward to late 2012 and the release of Josh’s debut self-titled album. The album is a salient and personal insight into a young man’s life, with tales of love, loss, travel and introspection, but crafted in a way that immediately connects with the listener on a deeper level.
The first single off the album, Dreaming, has received national airplay on Triple J, ABC radio national and 98.9 FM on the back of countless live shows right up and down the east coast of Australia. 2013 is set to be an even bigger year for Josh, with more shows and tours, and the recording and release of his second full-length album with renowned ARIA award-winning Australian producer and artist Shane Nicholson.
‘I feel like I’m finally starting to find my feet. For the past few years I’ve been struggling to find balance with all of the different aspects of my life, but since releasing my first album, things have really started to kick along, and some realisations are finally starting to hit home. I’m just really excited for the future and excited to get into the studio with Shane, and see what form this next album will take.’
Josh will play at the Treehouse on Belongil, Byron Bay, this Friday.
Find this and many other great gigs in Echonetdaily’s North Coast Gig Guide
