a conversation with… JOSIE PROTO
Rachel had a chat with Josie Proto ahead of her London show at the Courtyard Theatre.
FIRST OF ALL, COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?
My Name is Josie, I’m 21, I grew up in a really tiny village in the middle of nowhere and I write songs and sing them, and people listen… sometimes
HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC?
My brain splattered on a piece of paper! Maybe not a piece of paper because you listen to it but if you could take me, blend me up and send it through some headphones that’s my music.
YOUR SONG ‘BTEC LILLY ALLEN’ RECENTLY WENT VIRAL ON TIKTOK! WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU?
It was fucking mad! I had just moved in with my boyfriend over summer and when I posted it on TikTok, I had literally fifteen followers. I sat there watching the numbers go up and I was like “what the f-, no way!” I hadn’t told anyone I even had TikTok because it was embarrassing, and I didn’t want everyone telling me it was for twelve-year-olds. I had to tell my boyfriend and he was like ‘you’re on Tik ok??’ Hahaha! So, I had to say look it’s on 5000 views, at that point. I was like that’s insane!
It kept going up and up and by the time we went to bed that night it was on one hundred thousand views, and I was like ‘what is going on?’ Over the following week it moved up to half a million! I was getting so many messages and my Instagram was blowing up. At one point my phone was going so mental that I couldn’t open it. It was really nice to have something really raw have that attention. It wasn’t a squeaky-clean music video it was me in my boyfriend’s bathroom singing my fave song. I was told by lots of people it shouldn’t be the one I release but after it went viral they suddenly were like actually maybe it is a good idea to release that one.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A MUSICIAN?
I listened to the Carole King Tapestry album when I was eleven and it’s still the only thing I listen to. That was my inspiration but also, I have too much shit in my head that I have to get out and song writing was the way that I found that I liked doing. I liked turning what I felt, specifically strong emotions like anger, into music. A lot of my songs are angry or charged in some way because I’m frustrated. It’s an outlet for that and when I sing them, I remember that anger. I think it was out of pure boredom and loving Carole King. I loved singing anyway and I grew up in a musical household but mostly it is just an outlet. I think if it wasn’t song writing I’d still be a writer or a painter.
WHAT IS ONE SONG THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD WRITTEN YOURSELF?
The whole of the Tapestry album! Or ‘Beautiful’ by Carole King that is gold. I’m also so jealous that Grady wrote ‘Kissing Girls’ because I listen to it and I’m like this is gold dust. You know you get those brain scratches? It’s just like a brain scratch. I listen to it and I’m like “oh yes, Grady smashed it!”
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER GIVEN THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD?
I never knew how to answer this question until about a month ago when I was talking to my therapist, and she told me I was still valid even if you don’t achieve! I grew up with a real achieving makes you a good person mentality, which can be great for drive . It genuinely did get me to where I am now, but it also caused a lot of issues which meant I was constantly striving to be better. Sometimes it’s not your fault that you’re not and there are situations that prevent you from being what you want to be, and you can’t help that. When she said that you don’t have to achieve to be valid as a human, I was like… bruh. So that is something I’d love more people to hear because I think a lot of people who grew up like me, who were just like problem child my song, and who were high achieving young kids that get to eighteen/nineteen, and they realise they’re not that good. Suddenly your whole world deflates because you’re like shit I’ve been working so hard to be the best and now I’m not and no longer know who I am. I’m defiantly wanting to spread the message that you can still be happy with yourself even if you’re not the best.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER SOR FAR?
OH MY GOD THIS GIRL GOT MY LYRICS TATTOOED! That was fucking cool! At my last gig this girl turns up and lifts up her jeans to show me her thigh and she has my lyrics tattooed. I was like that is the best compliment in the world. The fact that someone heard my song, related to it and felt that it said something so much that they got it permanently inked on their body is crazy! I really want to get more tattoos, but I just chicken out so the fact that someone went through with it and I feel lyrics are the hardest thing to get tattooed. I always think what happens if you hate the song? Or I know people who have Michael Jackson Lyrics tattooed on them and I’m like erm… not that I’m going to be problematic. But yes, that was a great compliment.
I FEEL LIKE MOST ARTISTS HAVE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL WAY OF HOW THEY ENVISION THEIR FANS LISTENING TO THEIR MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME SUCH AS IN THE CAR STARING OUT THE WINDOW OR DANCING AROUND THEIR KITCHEN COOKING PASTA. SO, I AM WONDERING WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL WAY OF YOUR AUDIENCE EXPERIENCING YOUR MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME?
I’d love people to come and see me live! I know that must sound really pretentious but for me music is all about the live experience and I have such a deep desire to play songs in front of an audience. I grew up playing in pubs and that was the most intimate way you could ever play. It’s part of how I write, I always write as if I’m playing it live. Aside from that I’ve always wanted my music to be the music someone comes to when they’re like do you know what fuck it, fuck you, fuck him I’m going to put on Josie Proto and blast it in my car or in my room and go absolutely mental to it. That’s what I do with Avril Lavigne.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOU AUDIENCE WILL TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR MUSIC?
That I’m normal and that normal people can write songs. The worst thing I’d ever want anyone to see me as is a role model because I’m not and life’s crap and things like that. I’d love for people to walk away from my gigs and be like she’s just normal! I went to primary school in the UK, I sung the Jesus songs, I’m just normal and have my own life and this is just an outlet. I want people to see me as just their mate.
WHAT WOULD YOU LOVE TO ACHIEVE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
World domination!!! No, I’m joking . I always say that this is more than I ever asked for. The fact that people pay money to come and see me and my little guitar on stage is insane. I’m happy to just do this for the rest of my life. I got played on fucking Radio One!! That’s cool enough. As long as I can keep filling 150 cap venues where I can see everyone then I’m happy.