After over a decade of creative silence, Miami-based artist Joshua Sturtevant re-emerges with Start Forward, a new project that distills years of musical experience, personal growth and self-reflection into a potent blend of emotion and intricate production. With a background in Michigan and two decades spent in New York City’s music culture, his return under the Start Forward moniker marks an exciting and profoundly personal journey.
His sound is anchored in the aesthetic of 90s alternative rock and grunge, drawing clear inspiration from the likes of Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots and Radiohead. As Start Forward, Joshua’s sound offers a carefully stitched fabric of textures and sweeping guitar-driven power, equally comfortable in quiet melancholy as it is in cathartic bursts of distortion.
After an extended hiatus, Joshua returned last month, unveiling the Start Forward project with the single “Tightrope,” quickly followed up by the sophomore outing “Another Late Night.” Now he brings us his most ambitious release to date with his brand new record titled Breathing Under Water, a document of transition, a reflective album shaped by a period of personal upheaval and renewal.
After years of creative dormancy, the album was written and recorded entirely as a solo effort, becoming both a refuge and a roadmap for Joshua. Thematically, it explores the turbulence of change, the discomfort of growth and the enduring strength found in persistence.
Opened by the title track “Breathing Under Water,” the softly drifting instrumentation and laid back taps of percussion form an immersive soundscape of psych-tinged rock that gently flows with airy lead notes and absorbing arrangement. Following the dreamy instrumental intro, “Glorious” shakes with the gritty sound of fuzzy guitar, pattering drums and compelling vocal performance before launching into a dazzling chorus of blissful melodic lines and surging sonic energy.
Previously released singles “Another Late Night” and “Tightrope” follow, first with subtly hurried indie rock energy capped by impassioned vocals then anthemic downtempo rock on the latter. Other highlights on the record include songs like “Next Time” with its delicate key tones, intricately shuffling drums and mesmeric blend of elegant strings and stunning lead guitar work.”
With “Realize,” he serves up a timeless pop-focused rock outing that builds from tender acoustic backing and hushed vocals towards an epic sound of theatrical instrumentation and gripping vocal hooks. Closing the LP with the Kaiya reprise of “Next Time,” Joshua’s graceful guitar leads hover above an engrossing backdrop of strings to deliver an arresting instrumental finale to his superb debut record as Start Forward.
The album comes wrapped in the kind of emotional candour that can only come from time away and the long road back. With this ambitious debut under the Start Forward name, Joshua Sturtevant marks his return in spectacular fashion and we can’t wait to see what his new project has in store next.
Listen to Breathing Under Water below
More from Albums
New full-length record from Divergent
While some musical ambitions take a little longer to find their moment, the journey for Iowa-based trio Divergent has been …
New album from Ashot Danielyan
Based in Moscow, pianist, composer and improviser Ashot Danielyan has spent more than a decade developing a musical output that …
Bryan Howell returns with new studio album
Originally hailing from central New York and now based in Nashville, Bryan Howell has spent more than a decade developing …
