From the sprawling metropolis of Austin, TX, a city acclaimed for its musical vibrancy, emerged Josh Rubin – a prodigious talent whose journey from a young piano and guitar enthusiast to an ascending star in the dance music sphere stands testament to his innate skills and determination. Rubin’s foray into the world of rhythm began in 2015. What set him apart wasn’t just his ability to produce, but his compelling prowess as a vocalist.
2022 marked a watershed year for Rubin. He traded the familiar sounds of Austin for the bustling ambiance of LA, enrolling in ICON Collective to sharpen his production skills. This move wasn’t just geographical; it symbolized Rubin’s commitment to evolving. While affiliations with renowned labels like Monstercat, Seeking Blue, Bassrush, and Welcome Records gave him the platform for collaborative releases, Rubin’s heart remained set on crafting melodies that resonated with fellow “OVRTHNKRS”.
Now, in what seems to be a culmination of his years of hard work, Rubin is on the cusp of launching his debut electronic EP, Playing with Fire, under the esteemed NCS banner. But this isn’t just about an EP release; it’s a peek into Rubin’s metamorphosis as he segues into a live DJ, blending his signature live vocals into performances. This is the space where Rubin is bound to outshine, promising an electrifying 2023 for his fans.
Josh Rubin is not just playing with fire – he’s igniting a new flame in the dance music realm and is eager to light up our world with it.
He sat down to talk to us about a variety of subjects – see the interview below.
Interview
Your EP is a reflection of past relationships and experiences. How do tracks like “Don’t Want to Feel” and “Surrender” encapsulate these sentiments?
“Don’t Want to Feel” paints the picture of being at my wit’s end. I’ve experienced my fair share of heartbreak and toxic relationships over the years, and for a while, it gave me a more cynical and almost hopeless outlook on love and relationships. For a while, I didn’t think I would ever find my person. On the other hand, “Surrender” is about feeling like you’re at your lowest point, like you’re ready to give up on love and relationships altogether, but coming to the realization that maybe all of those past heartbreaks were meant to happen so that you could reach this present moment. After all, life is all about duality, and without the bad experiences, how can we truly appreciate the good? I purposely arranged these songs in that order to show the evolution of my mindset and how my thought process slowly changed over time.
The EP encompasses a range of emotions from despair to euphoria. How do you articulate these extremes in your music?
It’s really just an homage to duality. Without the bad, there can’t be good; without the ugly, there can’t be beauty; without heartache, there can’t be love. As hard as it was to deal with some of those heartbreaks and bad relationships, they had to happen for me to learn from them, learn about myself, and learn how to love and be loved.
Many renowned artists contributed to the EP. How did their individual styles blend with yours to form a cohesive project?
Melodic bass has always held a special place in my heart. Since I had worked with all of these artists multiple times in the past, I was very familiar with their sound and their workflow, so it was easy to communicate what I was looking for and to anticipate what to expect from them. It still kind of blows my mind that different producers helped with each track at totally different times over almost two years, yet they all make sense together and fit just like pieces of a puzzle.
You and Charlotte seem to have a strong songwriting synergy. What are some of the standout moments of your collaboration on this EP?
Charlotte and I have written so many songs together that at this point we can knock out an entire song in a matter of hours. Songwriting can be a very vulnerable and intimate experience, and you can really get to know someone through it. So we just understand each other and how we think and write music, making it very easy to build off each other’s ideas.
The track “Black and White” took some time to find its place on the EP as I understand. What does its inclusion say about the EP’s overall theme and narrative?
When I was writing and planning the EP, I knew I wanted Yetep and Klaxx to be involved in one of the tracks. “Black and White” had already been done for almost a year, and while we were going back and forth brainstorming the kind of track we wanted to write for my EP, Klaxx had the brilliant idea to include “Black and White.” I thought about it for some time, read back through my lyrics and notes about the inspiration behind the song, and realized it was perfect for the EP. The song is all about how sometimes things aren’t as straightforward as we would like. Sometimes something that may seem bad is actually good in the long run. It perfectly reflected the highs and lows that can come from love and relationships.
Transitioning into DJing, you mentioned receiving tips from Highlnd and noll. How has this transition impacted your music and performance style?
I’ve been watching those guys kill it on stage for a while now. They’re both incredible artists and performers, and I love how they’re able to incorporate the beautiful, melodic music that they are known for, but also bring the intensity and high energy of the festival bangers and heavy vibes. Every set I’ve seen from them feels like a roller coaster ride in the best way. They really tell a story through their music and sets, and I love the combination of the highs and lows. Getting you in your feels and then smacking you in the face with a face melter!
Connect with Josh Rubin
https://twitter.com/joshrubinmusic
https://www.instagram.com/joshrubinmusic/
https://soundcloud.com/joshrubinmusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7e1qyhWgdVEnEjG7Sbb5W0
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