After a career of playing in various rock bands in Perth Sydney and London, followed by a lengthy time away from the industry, Australian folk-rock singer-songwriter Joshua Paparo recently released his newest single, 'Marie'.
Recorded and co-produced by Rodney Aravena (The Sleepy Jackson and End Of Fashion) in his Minidthstr studio in Fremantle one afternoon in February this year, 'Marie' tells the story of an intense but fleeting relationship fuelled primarily by drunken lust. "When I look back it's often those very brief relationships which held so much promise and left me asking 'what if?'. These have the ability to come back to mind years later and crush the heart," Josh says.
Paparo's current songwriting attempts to make some sense of the underlying fears, insecurities, and heartaches we all share in love and life.
His belief is simple and classic. A voice and an acoustic guitar can be a very powerful way of telling a story that binds people together.
I sound like... The Pogues, Billy Bragg, Neil Young.
My first gig was... At a bar in Perth called The Grosvenor when I was 16.
In the studio... I usually don't mess about. Arrive practiced well, and lay down tracks in a couple of takes.
If I could tour with anyone... Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Beautiful voices and songs.
Social media is... A very strange place.
My favourite app at the moment is... VoiceRecorder. It's where all my songs begin life.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I spilled beer down the back of my Marshall amp at a house party, rendering it useless before I'd played a single chord.
Life on the road can be... Character building.
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that the rider contains... A decent selection of detective/ horror/ serial killer novels.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... A Halloween gig at the Dublin Castle, Camden, London. Goths can be truly spooky when the put their minds and eyeliner to it.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be spokesperson of the band... Rob Halford (lead singer with Judas Priest) for his intelligence, charisma, and articulation. Strange choice for a folk-rock singer I know!
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party? Neil Young – deadset legend. Phoebe Waller-Bridge – I love the beautifully flawed characters she writes. Stephen King – so many great stories.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Thai beef salad and for something more carbon neutral prawn pasta.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Penfolds Grange Shiraz.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Years ago, but I do run outdoors several times per week.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Washing clothes.
Do you have any phobias... Insincerity.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? Err, no thank you.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? A mate of mine runs this fantastic rum bar called Jungle Bird in Fremantle, WA.
He's quite passionate about rums, a real connoisseur, so I'd probably organise a truckload of the cheapest, nastiest jet-fuel rum to be delivered him COD.
