Music Interview South Africa

#MusicExchange: Josh Moreira's Homegrown EP

Engaging singer-songwriter Josh Moreira released Homegrown a few weeks back. His seven-track EP pays homage to South Africa. It's a bumper release with him also dropping his newest single off the EP, Fingertips, along with its music video.

Homegrown is a product of Moreira’s time in lockdown 2020/2021. What sets it apart from others for a young talent like Moreira is that it is all authentically 100% all him.

In true lockdown fashion, he wrote, laid down the vocals, played all musical instruments, mixed, mastered and produced it all himself. He then went on to film and produce his own music video for Fingertips.

I caught up with Moreira last week:

The new decade means:

It’s a time of embracing every asset we have at our disposal to make our dreams come true.

Fame is about:​​

Using your platform to make change happen.

Retirement will happen when:

I hope I don’t ever have to retire. I know it sounds crazy but when I’m behind my laptop just making music or playing guitar it’s a feeling like no other.
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BizcommunityI don't do:
Anything without thinking about it’s repercussions.

What does music mean to you?

Music is my everything. I’ve been doing it since I was four and I could barely play the guitar.

My music is about:

I tend to write a lot of love songs with underlying messages.

I would love to co-write with:

Jeremy Zucker. He’s my idol.

Where do you go for inspiration to create?

I get inspiration just from sitting at my desk and starting from scratch on my guitar. I also love watching TV shows and writing a song about a character in them.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

Listening to the first full audio of a track you’ve worked on for days is probably the greatest feeling known to me.

The song you must do in every show:

I’ve got to perform Nike Airs at every show. I finished that song in less than a day and it’s still the only track where I didn’t even have to think. I was just flooded by ideas

Any funny moments on stage?

Performing at Splashy Fen and I was using a loop pedal. I messed up the first time I tried to record the guitar and I had to apologise and start again.

In hindsight, it was a very funny moment for me.

My heroes:

My heroes are my parents. They’ve always shown much love and support for my music

My style icon:

Paul Klein’s style. He’s the lead singer of a band called Lany.

Which living person do you admire most and why?

Jon Bellion more than anyone. Not only has he helped write some incredible hits but he produces all his music himself.

What is your most treasured possession?

I’ve got a compass given to me by my family for my confirmation and that’s something I’ll keep with me until I die.

It’s your round. What are you drinking?

Jagerbombs - 100%.

Dream gig to do:

I sell-out Wembley Stadium is the day I can say music made my dreams come true.

What makes you stand out?

My ability to sing.
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BizcommunityNicknames:
My friends call me JXM Merch.

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

I would’ve loved to be a football player. I’m Portuguese.

Who would play you in a Hollywood blockbuster and why?

Pete Davidson. He’s hilarious.

Pick five words to describe yourself:

Ambitious, easy-going, dynamic, passionate and intelligent.

Favourite SA albums:

The Home we Built by Matthew Mole; Daniel Baron’s It’s Time; Werner Bekker's In my Cluttered Head album; Jesse Clegg’s Life on Mars and Corridors of the Mind by the Graeme Watkins Project.

Greatest movie ever made:

The Notebook

What books are you reading?

Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

What song changed your life?

Summer of ‘69 by Bryan Adams. It’s my dad’s favourite song and the first one I learnt by ear on guitar.

Who do you love?

I love my family with my entire being.

What is your favourite word?

Serenity. I just love the way it sounds and what it describes - perfection.

Favourite fashion garment:

I’m crazy about caps.

Top of your bucket list:

Machu Picchu.

Your greatest achievement:

This EP. I put my heart and soul into my music and spent hours ‘perfecting’ it.

BizcommunityWhat do you complain about most often?

It’s a silly one, but if you want me to be honest here, I complain about my laptop at least once a day.

What is your fear?

I hope money never becomes more important to me than family, friends and God.

Happiness is:

Writing a song that makes a friend cry. But knowing I touched someone’s heart like that is an indescribable feeling of bliss.

On stage, I tend to:

Close my eyes when I perform and it’s become quite a trademark of mine now.

The best life lesson you have been taught:

Don’t think too hard about life. If you knew where you were going it wouldn’t be much fun anyway.

Do you get worked up whilst watching a sports game on TV?​​

I am a Manchester City FC supporter, so there’s often times a lot on the line.

Where would you like to be right now?

Right where I am now.

Wishes and dreams:

My one major dream that gets me up in the morning is to change lives with my music. I have no greater wish than that.

Social media links:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

About Martin Myers

Co-owner at Triple M Entertainment, founder Music Exchange, manager Sipho Hotstix Mabuse
Let's do Biz