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Song You Need: Wesley Joseph’s “Monsoon” sounds like a fresh start

The British artist shares his latest single, produced by A.K. Paul.

November 18, 2022

The FADER’s “Songs You Need” are the tracks we can’t stop playing. Check back every day for new music and follow along on our Spotify playlist.

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Wesley Joseph begins "Monsoon" with unsteady feet, spending his days confused and looking for closure. His bars spill out of him on top of a tastefully restrained beat studded with harmonious backing vocals. There is no escape at night, either, as time and a lack of purpose join forces to keep him awake into the early hours. The image Joseph paints on his latest single is one of an artist reaching breaking point.

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Co-produced with A.K. Paul, "Monsoon" is Joseph hitting that wall only to keep on going, finding that it's possible to get back on your feet from what seems like a point of no return. "Small world filled with true lies. Sore eyes I'm walking in blind," he sings as Paul's soulful guitar licks at his most closely-held feelings. "Loose ties are cut from our life. Two times I'm up, I'm alright." The song, which will appear on Joseph's next project Glow (out February 17) is a voyage from darkness into something approaching light. Sometimes those moments take time, others it can be the flick of a switch. Joseph's skill is that he makes the quick resolution sound hard earned.