Josef Scott on his latest EP ‘Beacon Hill’
Hailing from Auckland, the New York based songwriter & producer blends lo-fi pop with indie soul, crafting a sound that resonates with both personal introspection and universal themes of love, change and self-discovery.
HM: Hey Josef! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat to us about your new music! First of all, we'd love to know how you got starting in singing and making your own music?
Josef Scott: So stoked you guys reached out to chat! Music has always been in my life, and writing songs on my acoustic guitar has been a constant since I first picked one up at 8 years old. But it wasn’t until the lockdowns during the pandemic that I decided to go all in. Since then, it’s been non stop, teaching myself how to produce and constantly refining my sound as an artist. It’s been a process of discovery in figuring out who I am musically and how to bring that to life in the most honest way possible. Every song gets me closer.
HM: Who your main musical and creative influences growing up, and who are they now?
Josef Scott: In the days of the iPod Nano, which I shared with my brothers, ‘The White Album’ by The Beatles was the one I kept coming back to. John and Paul’s songwriting made me see music as more than just something to listen to, it shaped how I thought about it. As I got older, Bon Iver and Frank Ocean became big influences. The way they crafted immersive, emotional soundscapes and pushed boundaries really stuck with me. These days, I don’t pull from any one artist directly. It’s more about admiration - seeing how others create and bring their ideas to life. I love discovering new music and finding inspiration in the way different artists shape their sound.
HM: Congrats on your amazing new EP ‘Beacon Hill’! Can you tell us about the concept of this album and how you landed on the name of it?
Josef Scott: Thank you! ‘Beacon Hill’ was where I lived in Boston before moving to New York. This EP is a follow up to my previous project, ‘Joy Street’, which was named after the street we lived on in Beacon Hill. Now you see the pattern … this project explores nostalgia, reflection, and self-discovery. But where ‘Joy Street’ captured the feeling of stepping into the unknown, ‘Beacon Hill’ feels more like looking back - processing how much has changed and what that means for me moving forward.
HM: Amazing! And we absolutely love your song ‘Picture Me’! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind that track and how it came about?
Josef Scott: ‘Picture Me’ came to life one afternoon in my apartment while messing around on my acoustic guitar. The riff instantly took me back to when I first met my partner. At the time, we were both a couple of layers removed from the same friend group, but I felt that connection right away. I wanted to capture that rush of excitement, wondering if she saw me the same way. I kept the recording simple and natural to hold onto that feeling.
HM: Another one of our favourites is ‘Cold’! What was the songwriting process for that one like?
Josef Scott: I always start by recording into voice memos, and with ‘Cold’, the phrase "don’t leave me cold" came out right away. It became the anchor for the song, and from there, the story unfolded. Looking back, I realised it was about the surprising shift in relationships after I left New Zealand for the first time - something I wasn’t fully prepared for.
HM: What were some of your highlights working on EP as a whole?
Josef Scott: The biggest one for me was the re-integration of the acoustic guitar. When I first moved to America, I didn’t have it with me for the first year, which pushed me to explore a more electronic side of my music. That challenge forced me to grow, experiment, and approach songwriting in a new way. So, having my acoustic guitar back and blending it with everything I discovered was really exciting. This process has already sparked new ideas of where I want to take my music moving forward.
HM: Who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you especially love?
Josef Scott: I’ve gotta give it up to my friends over at Foley. Their new album ‘Thats Life, Baby’ is some of their best work yet, they never fail to blow me away.
HM: Yes, we love that project! What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your career so far, and what advice do you have for other artists out there?
Josef Scott: I think some of the biggest lessons i've learned so far is to be patient and to always strive to carve out your own sound. I’m still on that journey myself, and that’s what excites me! It’s great to learn and draw inspiration from others, but use it as momentum to push beyond your comfort zone. That’s where real growth happens.
HM: Lastly, if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?
Josef Scott: Stay hydrated, chase your dreams!
Thanks so much Josef! Make sure to keep up with him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Spotify or Apple Music.
