NICKNAME JOS LOOKS INWARD ON NEW EP “PACE”

Most people wouldn’t broadcast their deepest vulnerabilities, anxieties and compulsions to the whole world. But Josef Kuhn isn’t most people. Kuhn, known under the moniker “nickname jos,” is a Nashville-based artist making a name for himself in the indie world.

During a break from touring with Annie DiRusso (as her drummer) “nickname jos” released his second EP, “Pace”. The three songs — “Shell”, “Good Ones” and “Love Song” — touch on the feeling of being locked in, tied down, strangled by a situation, from three different perspectives. The ultra-personal lyrical matter left Kuhn in his head — to the point where he almost didn’t release the songs. 

“I was totally nervous to put these songs out. I feel like I had never truly written vulnerable songs before these few and I had to sit with them for a while to make sure it was something I really wanted to do,” he explained. “These songs were the hardest songs I’ve ever written and although they’re my favorites right now, I really couldn’t listen too much without getting overly inwards.”

By Elizabeth Marsh

Kuhn knows his songs better than anyone, being a self-produced artist has only helped his art. There are no gimmicks in what he creates, the production throughout the EP seemingly naturally follows every dip and fall that his stories conjure. He has mastered knowing when to drop out all instrumentation, just for a split second, letting the words speak for themselves. 

“My inspirations were truly my friends I made it with. Henry Breen my co-producer, Caleb Hinz  Hunter West the mixers really pushed this EP past my expectations,” Kuhn said. “Henry broke down every wall production-wise that I thought couldn’t be. Every time I encouraged him to push something harder it worked out and I think that’s why some of these songs are so different for me.”

By Elizabeth Marsh

As for his future? Well the title of the EP speaks for itself. He’s going to pace himself between his own music and collaborations with a variety of his friends including Samia, Annie DiRusso, Venus & the Flytraps, Mali Valasquez and Hannah Cole, though “nickname jos” will always be his favorite creative outlet.

“The EP is called ‘Pace’ because it serves as a reminder to myself to be self-aware. You can’t run a long race without pacing yourself -- you can’t try to preserve anything in life for your future if you aren’t present,” he stated. “[I’m] still figuring it out, but I think that’s where I’m at right now.”

By Elizabeth Marsh