Joshua Hyslop’s new song ‘Behind the Light’ is a fresh, buoyant piece of music establishing this Canadian singer-songwriter as one of the most exciting folk artists coming through at the moment.

There exists a wondrous poetic sensibility in his tunes, conveyed by imaginative, vivid lyrics as well as thoughtful instrumentation, both of which do so well in painting a picture for the listener. ‘Behind the Light’ is similarly visual from the very first moment, as Hyslop goes on to describe ‘crimson sunsets and violet skies’; his songwriting is artistic but enigmatic---he is rather ambiguous as to who he is speaking to or the well of deeper emotions that ground this rosy song. It is folk at its most inspiring---deep, delicate, beautiful and soulful. 

The rhythm guitar powers the verses as Hyslop’s silky voice soothes the composition. The structure is not strict either, as the song does not rely on a traditional verse-chorus arrangement. It unfolds as per Hyslop’s inclination, and that results in an intriguing, unexpected melody led by emotion, not tradition. The Canadian artist, signed to Nettwerk Records, has been active in the music industry for quite a few years, having released his first album Where the Mountain Meets the Valley in 2012, which subsequently received much praise and acclaim. Since then, he has been recording, touring, producing and sharing his music with his passionate fans, specifically in the form of three other albums. Although he did not release an album in 2019, he did release a few singles, ‘No Roots’ and ‘Something More’, both of which explore themes prevalent in the folk music genre. 

Currently, Hyslop enjoys much success and streamplay on Spotify and Youtube, racking up over tens of million streams on both platforms. Speaking on how he has developed as a musician as well as an individual over the years, he says:

“I’d like to think I’ve grown in many ways. I’ve learned that songwriting and performing takes hard work but that it’s important to take breaks and remember why you’ve chosen to pursue this crazy lifestyle..”

He also cites Nick Drake, Joni Mitchelle and Ryan Adams as some of his influences. 

 Folk