Nicholas Joseph Shares ‘Go Along With It’
Go Along With It is the third single from Kirikiriroa based Nicholas Joseph, the last to be released from an EP out through Sonorous Circle in 2024.
Showcasing a different side of Nicholas Joseph’s music than previous singles Not Yours and Sleigh Bells, Go Along With It sees Joseph flirt with RnB vocal stylings over dark jazzy piano chords and a syncopated beat. While the musical bed feels more electronic, Joseph’s vocals are largely unaffected, densely layered and breathy, the chorus refrain of ‘go along with it’ repeating over and over, almost to the point of goading the listener. The tension reaches breaking point by the end of the second chorus when a sweeping reversed keyboard sound rises up to the forefront, carrying the song off to a chilling end.
The song was written and produced by Nicholas Joseph in an underground recording studio in Shanghai, China with additional mixing and mastering by Thomas Arbor (Kōtiro, Seth Frightening, iRyoko).
While few will be familiar with the name Nicholas Joseph, the singer and multi-instrumentalist (government name Nicholas Joseph Walsh) was an active participant in Auckland’s indie scene for a decade. Cutting his teeth as the bass player for post punk trio Vacants (who played frequently with the likes of The Mint Chicks and Die! Die! Die!), and later the primary songwriter and front person of Deer Park.
Joseph’s former musical project Deer Park was a collaborative project with cousin Shannon Walsh. The band toured regularly making a name for the band with their sometimes slightly unhinged and emotive performances.
The band toured regularly. Its heady combination of hip hop beats, samples and a horn section featuring Peter Ruddell (Wax Chattels / Sulfate) and JY Lee (Avantdale Bowling Club, Yoko Zuna) wowed audiences around the North Island. In 2015 the band were one of just a handful of local acts to play Laneway Festival, handpicked by festival organizers of the strength of their live performances. In spite of the growing hype, Joseph relocated to Shanghai, China, and the collection of songs that had garnered the band attention emerged much later under the album title Saboteurs. In the interim Jospeh has returned to New Zealand and co-founded Never Project Space, an artist-run space that championed emerging music and contemporary art (2020-2022).
Having tested the waters with a tour in China and a handful of shows in his hometown Kirikiriroa under the name Umbrellas, Nicholas Joseph is ready to lose the moniker and stand on his own two feet – taking on his first and middle name with a collection of songs that are stripped back, personal and raw – a far cry from the hazy beat driven soundscapes of his former band.
Joseph’s new music is arresting and melodic – taking cues from the likes of Big Thief, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Nick Hakim – and favouring electric guitar over keyboard. Front and centre are his distinctive vocals, unembellished and layered.
His debut is scheduled for release via Poneke collective Sonorous Circle (home to the likes of Seth Frightening, Kōtiro and Thomas Arbor) with an accompanying tour to follow shortly after.
Photo Credit: Ruth Friedlander
