Kat Harlton
Photos provided via PR team
Edmonton-based indie-pop artist Josh Sahunta with his Album, To Be Loved, Vol. 1, recently earned his very first JUNO Award nomination for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year.
To Be Loved, Vol. 1 comprises 7 love songs written for his wife, exploring the depths of marital emotions and conveying appreciation. These songs, which resonate deeply with audiences, have found a special place in numerous wedding and engagement videos globally. Sahunta reveals that To Be Loved, Vol. 1 initially began as a collection crafted for film and television, nearly remaining exclusive to those mediums before its eventual release on streaming platforms.
This past week, Josh released his brand new single “Crazy“, inspired by the experience of falling in love with someone yet feeling too anxious to confess. It delves into the emotions surrounding the fear of rejection and the vulnerability of being afraid to be hurt by someone you care about.
Josh Sahunta has seen his music featured across various platforms, from Top 40 International Radio to prominent Netflix series “Love Is Blind”, “Love Island”, “Tiny Pretty Things”, and “The Order”. His career has taken him on global tours to perform on stages previously graced by icons such as Ed Sheeran and The Beatles, as well as the 2023 JUNO Awards performing with Jessie Reyez. His versatile sound draws comparisons to renowned artists like John Mayer, Dermot Kennedy and Ed Sheeran. Whether he’s delivered a solo acoustic performance or rocking out with a full band, Sahunta consistently mesmerizes audiences with his captivating musical storytelling.
I had the opportunity to chat with Josh about his 2024 Juno Award Nomination, finding inspiration, and what’s next.
Kat: Can you share with us a bit about yourself and your music journey so far?
Josh: I’m an indie-pop singer-songwriter and producer based in Edmonton, Canada. I’ve been making music professionally since 2017, and doing it as a full-time career since 2020. I come from a culture that largely does not approve of pursuing a career in the arts. I always had major pushback from my parents when I expressed my interest and passion for doing music as a job. I went to the University of Alberta and did a 5-year Clinical Psychology program, graduated and worked in my field for 2 years following that, all to try and convince myself that music really was just a hobby. That plan didn’t work out very well, as I ended up getting busier and busier with music to the point where it eventually made sense to go all-in. I’ve been making a good living from it now for 4 years, and my parents are finally fully on board.
Kat: You were recently nominated for a 2024 JUNO Award for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year. How does it feel to be nominated for this award?
Josh: It still feels surreal 2 weeks later to say that I’m a JUNO nominee. It feels like at any moment I’ll wake up, and tell all my friends about the crazy dream I just had. I’m so honored to be nominated for this award. I never in my wildest dreams could have ever thought I’d be “JUNO-material”, or deserving of any award for that matter. When I write music, it’s just not something that crosses my mind. I’m so completely ecstatic and win or lose, this is something that truly means a lot to me.
Kat: Can you share more about the inspiration behind your album To Be Loved, Vol. 1?
Josh: I wrote this album entirely for my wife, who I married back in 2020. She’s quite simply the best part about my life and someone I just couldn’t be the best version of myself without. I intended for this album to be used almost exclusively for film & tv, but I decided that I loved the songs too much to just leave them there. I decided to release them for streaming, and they’ve now been used on hundreds of wedding/engagement videos around the world, including on Logan Paul’s engagement video, which was the #1 trending video on YouTube when it was released.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Josh: The most challenging part is definitely convincing myself that I am a good enough writer and producer to see a project through from inception to completion. I get in my head a lot and often feel like the song would be better if I had someone else help me with writing or production, when I am absolutely more than capable to do it all myself if needed. So it’s not uncommon for me to start a song, and then wait to finish it until I have the help of somebody who I deem as being “better” than me. I know that I’m fully able to finish it, and do it well, but it’s the self-doubt and imposter syndrome that continuously holds me back.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far?
Josh: Back in 2022, I was asked by Sony India to write English lyrics to a song on a major Bollywood movie. I quickly agreed, and wrote the lyrics. I also sang the English part for their demo recording, assuming they were going to replace my voice with somebody more famous. They ended up liking my voice so much that they kept it on there and now my songwriting and vocals are featured in a huge song that has over 11 million views on YouTube.
Kat: What have you learned along the way, that you would like to share with other aspiring artists and creators?
Josh: You have everything you need right now to be successful in your field, and the only thing stopping you is your own inability to accept that. I’ve met too many people who think that once they get a manager, they’ll be successful. Or once they get signed to a label, then their music will be heard. This just isn’t true in 2024. There are more opportunities today to get seen/heard than there ever has been in history. Sure, it’s difficult, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy. You just have to start, and keep on going even when it seems like it’s going nowhere.
Kat: What else can we expect from you for the balance of 2024?
Josh: A lot more music! I’m currently in the process of writing/releasing my 3rd major album, and also writing the follow-up to my JUNO-nominated album, To Be Loved Vo. II.
Connect:
Instagram: @JoshSahunta
Twitter: @JoshSahunta
Facebook: /JoshSahuntaa
Website: www.joshsahunta.com