In Conversation with JDM Global: New EP ‘Concrete Beach’ and the Shelly Era.
Manny:
I am joined by one of the most exciting up and coming talents right now, JDM Global. How are you feeling today?
Josh:
Hello! I'm so good. It's bright and early in Los Angeles and yeah, it's another beautiful day and things are good and I'm excited to be talking with you. It's been a long time since I've sort of been putting out music and it's fun to get to chat about where I'm at and everything going on. And I love just rambling about music. So I'm super excited about this, and I can't thank you enough.
Manny:
I can't thank you enough because I cannot wait to delve into everything to do with your current music and your past music. I've been listening since the get-go, since your first single, so I'm so, so excited to jump into all of this. Have you had your coffee yet? That's the first question.
Josh:
No, I haven't, and I'm truly a caffeine addict at this point. It's really bad. I'm up to like three a day. So yeah, but I'm awake. I don't know, you have such amazing energy. It's it's very energizing.
Manny:
Oh, thank you so much! I mean, we'll get to coffee. That is actually the last signature question. We will get to that. So you keep that in mind for later. But before that, we're going to jump into the fun parts. I mean let's start at right now, two new singles! As soon as you started dropping music again, I was like, Josh is back, this is what we want. I can't wait for this era. there has some really, really cool features on them as well, which was something that I guess I was not expecting based on the past music, where it's been a lot of solo and these, both with really cool features. What has your like mindset been like going into this brand new era of music?
Josh:
Yeah, I think well, I knew this was going to surprise people. And, uh, I was nervous about that, but mainly excited because before I even started this artist project and sort of just had maybe the idea of releasing music of my own, it was always actually in my head, supposed to be like sort of a producer-artist project. Like, I thought I wanted to make it always, like, just tons of features and almost like A&R projects with artists I love and people who I think would, like, work well together or something that would sound, you know, a collection of artists that I think would sound unique and people from all over the world. But then what happened was I, you know, the project sort of started in the pandemic and it was a lot harder to collaborate. And I think people were just then getting used to or learning to collaborate remotely. So I think just how our cards were dealt during the pandemic, I sort of just ended up just creating everything myself and things that I think I was planning on maybe having someone else record or someone else sing over. I was sort of just like, okay, well, I guess I have no choice but to try and do it myself, which was a great.
I’d been producing for upwards of eight years but had never tried to sing. It was a pandemic thing—I just ended up trying one day. I was creating a song for pitch, thinking I’d sell it or have another artist cut it. Right at the start of the pandemic, I had written this instrumental, and the next day, I brought my computer into my car. I didn’t have much of a setup at home since I was staying with my family in Texas and was too nervous for them to hear me sing. So, I drove to a park, recorded the vocals into my laptop mic, and listened to it on the way home. I was excited to send it to artists, but when I sent it to friends as a joke, they told me I should release it with my vocals. I never touched it again, and those car vocals became my first song, “Cake.” That started a whole new thing for me, and I realized I could keep doing this.
I made a bunch more songs and my first EP, doing everything myself. But after taking a long break, I knew I wanted to make things feel bigger than just me. I wanted the project to feel like a world or community people could fall into, with me kind of steering the ship but involving many people. It feels great to have made this shift, or maybe it’s not really a shift, but more like how I always envisioned JDM Global—a project bigger than just me. That’s my long-winded answer.
Manny:
No, I love it. Like I said, I want to be as natural and as long winded as you want. Speak your mind. I want to hear it all.
I can't believe that that's how it started. Like, I guess a lot of my interviews have touched on obviously, the impact of the pandemic and if it's worked in favour of artists or against artists in terms of inspiration and not being able to leave, you know, your area, but the fact that you literally kind of did it yourself? I mean, your friends helping a lot, that's nice. Obviously, having that kind of opinion, being like, you should do this, why don't you just try it for us? I think that's really, really cool. And then, like, I'm so glad you did because I felt like those songs were very you as a personality, because obviously a lot of people knew about you through Shelly, which we'll get to, I felt like everybody kind of were was aware of who you were as a person and kind of your personality and stuff. So that really did shine through.
And I was going to get to the question, which I don't normally like answering because it's really generic and it's very like you've probably been asked before, but in terms of, you know, the summer pack and then obviously the EP, in terms of me listening to that, I legit couldn't find a sound that was executing it as well as you did in that style. So I wanted to ask, like, legit, what were the inspirations? What were you listening to? Because honestly, there was nothing like it and I absolutely loved every second.
Josh:
Oh my God, this truly means the world to me. I can’t express that enough. There were so many times while making these songs when I was ready to quit, so hearing that is just crazy and fills me up. I can't thank you enough. As for the songs, there were a lot of different influences. I’ve always loved early Beck, which I think people have noticed. I’ve also been really into Gorillaz, David Byrne, and that kind of world. I fell into a 90s DIY sound, focused on texture, which I gravitate toward. There's this band, Katy Craft, that I love. They have this scratchy, DIY beat-making sound but feel flowery and like springtime. The lead vocalist has an angelic voice, and I was discovering cool bands like them and 800 Cherries from Japan.
I was also listening to a lot of 90s indie electronica, which found its way into my debut EP. During the pandemic, I got into the UK band Sorry. They were a big inspiration for my first song, “Cake.” I was also listening to bands like Mama from New York and other current acts, but I loved older stuff like Beck and Kitty Craft too. I found myself drawn to rough, tape-sounding alternative electronic music. I was constantly digging through Spotify, making playlists every couple of days. Looking back, it was a coping mechanism for me during the pandemic. I discovered so much music, and all that absorbing led to a lot of creative output.
Weirdly, that time gave me space to both take in and create music. I don’t think Shelley or this project would have come out the same if we hadn’t been in quarantine. It’s crazy to think about, but yeah, that time allowed me to get inspired in ways I wouldn’t have if life was normal. As creatives, we need that time to stay inspired, but we rarely get it. Then the world flipped upside down, and we were stuck inside.
Manny:
I need the link to those playlists, that's for sure. If you still have them, I need the link. I think you also described your music so perfectly there in terms of the inspirations, because scratchy but flowery and very springtime was the perfect way to kind of put it in one sentence. Like if I was going to describe JDM Global, I'd be like, you know, very DIY, very scratchy, but also so flowery, so full of colour, and just feel good music. A lot of it especially like when we touched on ‘Rush Things’ before we even got into this, because it's my personal favourite and for some reason just incredibly underrated.
Josh:
Thank you for saying that, because me too. And that's easily my favourite song from that EP, and probably one of my favorite songs I've ever made. It's definitely my favourite from that EP. It's my favourite one to perform live.
Manny:
There was a lot going on in terms of people coming out of quarantine and the time that you dropped, obviously June, which was perfect for the type of music it was. But I do think ‘Go Easy’ is very, very close. They're so different in terms of the pace of them. ‘Go Easy’ is a bit more laid back, I could just imagine myself sipping on some ice-cold lemonade by the pool for that one, and then ‘Rush Things’ I'm just like dancing around the house like non-stop, just going crazy, just bopping. So I get what you mean about playing it live as well.
Josh:
It’s so fun, such a vibe, and it gets everyone moving, which I love. The songs on that EP were all very different, but the fun part was figuring out how to make them coexist in the same sonic world. I think that scratchy, flowery vibe really ties it all together. I still love that EP so much, and it was even an inspiration for the new stuff. It was a big stepping stone in figuring out the vision for what I want this world to look and feel like. That EP helped establish that vision, and now the upcoming stuff just expands and builds on it even more.
For those who loved the last EP, I’m excited to show them what’s next. The new material is much more in line with that EP, especially since the recent singles were a bit of a departure. I can’t wait for people to hear what's coming because it’s going to push that sound forward into this new era.
Manny:
But I love how you touched on it being bigger than you. I think that's a really nice way to put it, because there's so much you can do when other artists are involved. You've already done that with the two singles now. So is this part of kind of a larger project that is going to go down that road in terms of having multiple artists involved on different tracks?
Josh:
I think so. When I first started this project, I felt like I had to do everything myself to gain respect—writing, recording, producing, mixing, mastering, and even making the artwork. I thought that was how people would take me seriously. But after a couple of years, I realized I wasn't feeling as inspired by that approach anymore. Moving to LA also opened my eyes to the power of collaboration. I had been stuck in a tunnel-vision mindset, but when I started bringing other people into the process, it made everything so much bigger, better, and way more fun.
I don’t really enjoy promoting myself, so having people—whether they’re my best friends, artists I admire, or smaller artists I want to uplift—makes it more enjoyable. It’s amazing to build something larger than myself, and having more minds and ears involved only improves the project. I'm just one person, and bringing in fresh perspectives has become a key part of the process. I've always been inspired by artist projects that feel bigger than just one individual, like James Murphy with LCD Soundsystem, Gorillaz, or even Tame Impala, which is essentially Kevin Parker but feels larger than life.
I love how Gorillaz bring together such an eclectic mix of musicians and artists, sometimes pairing people you'd never expect, and that kind of collaboration really excites me. I want this project to evolve in that direction, with more artists involved, allowing me to explore different genres and keep things interesting. It’s all about expanding the world and making it feel like more than just one person driving the ship.
And, you know, sometimes they're putting two artists on a song who I would never expect on a song together, and that kind of stuff, makes me nerd out a bit. And so I want to do that for this artist project. So I see it kind of continuing in that lane, more collaborative, more artists involved. And I think that lets me kind of step into, you know, so many different genres too which I'm having fun with.
Manny:
Beautiful. And you're so right about geeking out. Like when you see two artists that you just don't think are ever going to be on the same track, and you're just like, how have they made this work? This is so crazy. So I do get you definitely when it comes to that. And I think you definitely do have the ability to do that, especially with like how you present yourself and like how what kind of lane you want to go into now. Now you're explaining it. It really does make sense to me. Even though your solo stuff is really cool. It kind of reminds me of my favourite people of all time Pharrell Williams. I'm obsessed with the man, and he hasn't put out a solo project in probably a decade now. I think his last album was 2014, and now he kind of is what you said, the person who brings people together and then produces and helps out and puts people on tracks that you could never expect, even when he was helping Calvin Harris. I can really see you being that person, by the way, that you kind of carry yourself the musical talent, the fact that you did so much of this on your own, so many different avenues, from the beginning, I think that's really kind of puts into perspective that this lane and this kind of route for you in the future of music makes a lot of sense. I can't wait to see where this takes you. I'm excited about that.
Josh:
And Pharrell is a great example too, I love him. He's such a big he's such a big influence. I feel like the Neptunes in general, that sound has influenced me and kind of I'm a student of people like the Neptunes and Pharrell. I think actually that is made its way a lot into this new EP, for sure, a great example.
Manny:
That's so exciting. I mean, we've touched so much on all your music. I mean, I'm obviously fanboying over the earlier stuff, and I can't help it! Even though there's a lot of exciting things coming, I wanted to talk a little bit about my personal favourite, which we touched on a little, ‘Rush Things’, l like how it's both of our favourite, I feel like I always managed to do that somehow. Like there's a song that I always pick from someone's project and they're like, that's my favourite as well, but I wanted to ask you specifically how that one came about and how that one was made. Was that one that was in your car as well? Kind of like just putting it all together yourself.
Josh:
I do make a lot of songs in my car—it’s my safe space and my favourite studio. It has the best speakers, and everything eventually gets the car test. I’ve got a beat-up Toyota Forerunner, and I’ll be driving around, listening to demos. The song "Rush Things" almost didn’t make the EP; it was the last song I made, and I already had five songs. I was struggling because one of the tracks I had just didn’t feel right, and it wasn’t fitting into the world of the EP.
It was around 2021, and I was back home, staying at my mom's place in Houston. For some reason, whenever I’m there, sitting on the bedroom floor, ideas just pour out of me. I think I was on a family trip and had some downtime, so I started creating. The instrumental came first, as usual. I was listening a lot to *The Slow Rush* by Tame Impala, and I knew I wanted something with a groove—something that felt like straight-up dancing to fill out the EP.
I built the instrumental, and the next day, I took it into my car, drove around, and came up with the melodies and lyrics while driving. Then I’d rush back home to record over it. I sent it to my friends Claire and Noah from Shelly, and they loved it. That’s when I realized it had to go on the EP, so I made a last-minute swap. I’m so glad I did because, honestly, I might not be talking to you right now if I hadn’t—this is the song that brought us to this moment.
Manny:
You’re so right! That’s the great thing about having friends you trust, especially in the music world. I mean, you knew them—both Claire and Noah—way before, right? That really helps because you can put aside the work aspect and just be the friends you are. Plus, since you're all in the same world, you can really take their opinions on things, which is special.
It’s interesting what you said about going back to your bedroom and how something unlocks. I think it’s because, as kids, we’re so imaginative, with no boundaries. You just do what you want and imagine things however you like. Going back there probably brought that out in you again for sure.
Josh:
That’s definitely what it is! Making music has to feel playful and fun for me—no pressure. As a kid, you feel invincible, with no pressure, just building worlds in your mind. I was the kid with imaginary friends, thinking of crazy stuff in my bedroom. It’s like you return to that form when you’re there, which is such a cool thing. I think we could all use a bit more of that playful, childlike energy.
Manny:
Yeah, I've noticed that too! People are realizing that being in your creative space should feel unrestricted, like your world where you can do whatever you want. It’s unfortunate that, as you mentioned, promoting yourself can be tough because of the current artist landscape—having to juggle TikToks, Instagram, and all that on top of making music can feel like a chore. If it’s not by choice, it’s hard to enjoy. I totally get that. Going back to your roots can unlock those walls you built and bring back the joy of making music, which is really nice. It’s like young Josh is with us, contributing to that record, and that’s a lovely way to think about it!
Josh:
For sure! Listening back, it definitely feels so childlike and fun. It’s like the soundtrack to a cartoon I would have loved as a kid. That’s a great way to put it! Those songs are such bops. When I rewatch some shows, like 'Shrek’, I realise how many hits are in there. I loved ‘Codename: Kids Next Door’ and some of the Cartoon Network shows—they had amazing artists making bangers for those cartoons!
Manny:
Even the Wii Music soundtrack. Like all the Wii stuff.
Josh:
Oh, man. Incredible. For some reason, absolutely. Every part of each thing that you went on. Absolutely the best vibes. Like, I could listen to that on repeat all the time. The Wii Music will go down in music history one day. I feel like it's only kind of getting its flowers now, but I feel like it will be in textbooks one day, it'll be up there with, I don't know, kind of some of the best, like ambient electronic kind of, I don't know, there's some crazy shit going on. Love it.
Manny:
My other favorite of yours is ‘Go Easy’. When I re-listened to it, I thought it sounded so much like Childish Gambino—it could have fit on one of his records! It has that summery vibe and, like you said, a scratchy, DIY feel that’s really nice to hear. Have you ever thought about that? Can we expect a similar sound with the upcoming singles? Will that style land on the full project? Are we getting it soon or later this year, or early next year? What are we looking at?
Josh:
The Childish Gambino reference never crossed my mind, but I’m a huge fan and listen to him all the time! I think he’s one of the best producers out there. While he’s massive, I feel like he doesn’t get enough credit for how amazing his production is—especially in his earlier work. I love how he’s built this entire world that feels much bigger than him and takes his music in various directions.
His album with "Redbone" and "Me and Your Mama" really draws from **Maggot Brain** by Funkadelic, which is one of my all-time favorites. I can definitely see that Gambino vibe in "Go Easy," especially in "Feels Like Summer." I was likely listening to that around the time I made it.
I loved how he put out a collection of songs called the "Summer Pack," which inspired me because I didn’t want to release just a single or a full EP yet. So, yes, Gambino influenced that idea. For the next project, there will definitely be elements that could fit alongside "Go Easy." So, there’s a continuation of that sound for sure!
Manny:
Okay, we’re now going to get to the Shelly era, and I can't even explain my excitement about this!
During the Shelly era, it was after ‘Immunity’, and that’s where a lot of people fell in love with Clairo. I was actually a fan before that, but when I saw her collaborating, it was so cool. ‘Immunity’ was so focused on her individual music with no features, just her, and then to see her working with others was amazing. It’s also wild to think that this was before you released any solo music!
How was that experience for you, being part of the Shelly project before you even delved into your own solo work?
Josh:
The Shelly era was honestly one of the best musical experiences of my life to date. It felt like everything around us had just kind of stopped, and everyone was coping with that in their own way. What was so cool was that we were all in four different cities, yet we still managed to come together. These are my three best friends in the world, so it was so natural for us to start sending ideas back and forth in our group chat.
Claude and I, who’s another member of Shelly, have always collaborated a lot. We started sending tracks and little snippets of what we were working on. Everyone was throwing out ideas, and it just felt so exciting. It came together really quickly because we were all so eager to create. During that time, it felt like creativity was just pouring out of us, especially for me, Claire, Noah, and Claude.
It truly felt like magic. These songs were essentially born in a group chat, and I think we all feel that way about it. It was the most fun I’ve ever had making music, and my soul felt so fulfilled in that process. I can’t imagine a better way to create than with people I love the most. It just made everything easier and so much more enjoyable.
Manny:
Oh my god, that just felt so pure! Everything you just said came straight from the heart. It sounded like you weren’t even thinking; it was just flowing out exactly how you felt during that time. It’s so beautiful to hear. I mean, you ended up with two songs that are still getting a crazy amount of love! I’m curious—how many songs did you actually make during that whole Shelly experience?
Josh:
It’s been a while, so I can’t think of an exact number, but there are definitely more ideas we have! A lot was pouring out during that time. We ended up landing on “Steam” and “Natural” as our two group favorites, and I think the ones I love the most are the ones that just naturally came together—pun intended! I guess it’s because we were all so excited about them.
I’m not sure if anything else we worked on feels as complete as those two, but we might have dozens of other ideas. I genuinely don’t know the exact number, but the creativity was just flowing from all of us. I mean, Claire, Claude, and Noah are three of my favorite musicians and minds. It’s such an honor to work with them, especially since we all pull from different influences and come together to fill in the puzzle pieces.
Some days, Noah would send over her playing drums, and then Claude and I would help fill it out, while other days, Claire might send an idea, and Claude would throw in a guitar and vocal part. We’d all work to build a world around it, and all of that was happening at once! There are tons of ideas and songs, and it’s just the coolest thing ever.
Manny:
I think you're so right about everyone having such different styles and then bringing those together. I feel like that gave everybody the individual time to add what they wanted to add.
Josh:
That's definitely part of the magic because, bringing up Claude again, we’ve made so many songs together, and maybe only a handful were made in the same room. A lot of that was done while we were on the same school campus, working separately. There’s a certain magic to being in a room together and creating, but there's also a different magic in everyone having their own intimate time to make the song their baby, without time pressure or anyone looking over their shoulder. Everyone gets to experiment and do things they wouldn’t necessarily do in the studio but can do alone in their bedroom. I’m an overthinker, so if I'm in a studio, I used to feel slow or like I was taking too long. This process allows everyone to babysit and care for the song, letting it grow and take on a life of its own. It’s really cool, and part of the magic comes from being apart and working this way.
Manny:
I mean I checked the numbers again today, you still have currently, if I'm not wrong, two million monthly listeners on Spotify which is insane! Two songs and then obviously Claude's feature with you guys on their album, how does that feel?
Josh:
It's incredible that these songs are still getting attention years later. I didn't fully understand TikTok's power until now, three and a half to four years after their release. It feels amazing to see this resurgence and how these songs have connected with so many people. I’m so happy that my favorite two songs, which I created with my favorite people, are finally getting the recognition they deserve. It's been the coolest experience to watch something we quietly put out four years ago resonate with a whole group of people. It’s mind-boggling how you can mess around with your best friends and, years later, it turns into something significant.
Manny:
As part of the fan base we definitely want more music but we also totally understand that there's no pressure there at all. can we see any of the members on your upcoming project?
Josh:
Wait and see! Those three will always be a part of everything, whether they’re involved in the music-making, featuring, being a sounding board for ideas, or just being there as a friend or therapist. They’ve been with me through everything, projects and beyond. It’s amazing to know that even if they didn't end up on the project, they were still involved in some way.
Manny:
Well I wanted to talk about obviously Claire's new album which came out very recently and I'm really intrigued to know what your favourite song from ‘Charm ‘actually is? I feel like we kind of have a similar ear, so maybe a top three?
Josh:
My top three changes all the time, but right now, I’d say it’s "Nomad," "Glory of the Snow," and "Juna." "Nomad" holds a special place in my heart, while "Glory of the Snow" is probably my favorite at the moment. "Juna" is such a bop, and I’m always in awe of Claire's writing and her ability to find such a cool pocket in a song. Claire is the best songwriter of all time, and that song showcases her versatility and influences in unexpected ways. "Juna" has taken on a beautiful life of its own, so those are my top three: "Juna," "Glory of the Snow," and "Nomad."
Manny:
we were waiting on “Nomad” for a very long time ever since she played it on tour. "Juna" is getting an insane amount of love, which is so cool to see! There's always one song on Claire's album that attracts new fans, and I think that’s definitely the one this time. So that’s a great top three! My favourite would actually be "Thank You," which gives me such an "Immunity" mixed with "Sling" vibe—it perfectly represents both her past albums. I can’t stop listening! It’s been amazing to watch her grow, and now with "Shelly" and your upcoming music, it feels like everyone is coming together. I can’t wait; it’s been too long! Speaking of which, we touched on coffee earlier, and I’m glad you’re a big fan! What’s your coffee order and your current go-to spot in L.A.?
Josh:
My coffee order kind of depends on where I’m going. Even if it's below freezing, I still get an iced coffee—usually an iced latte with almond milk. I’m sort of over oat milk; I guess I’m joining the bandwagon since everyone seems to be hating on it. But my favorite place for coffee is a French café in Los Feliz, where I love getting a hot cappuccino. I used to live nearby, but even though I've moved farther out, I still drive there at least once a week for that cappuccino. It’s so tasty! It’s a bit of a weird contrast because I usually stick to iced lattes or cold brews, but that place is special for me.
Manny:
Love that! I mean I guess as coffee lovers you are going to have the kind of difference in order but i just love how opposite they are. The part two is something that I love hearing about because I'm making a little playlist of them, but what's the perfect coffee song to play while you take that first sip?
Josh:
Right now, I have Ravyn Lenae’s new album on heavy rotation, especially the song “One Wish” featuring Childish Gambino. It's definitely one of my songs of the summer, if not of the year. There’s something about the production and the sample, along with the introspective nature of the song—it's about her father and feels like a diary entry. It really fits that mentality of sitting outside on your porch with a coffee and reflecting on life. It feels like a perfect way to wake up and start my day. So, as of this week, I’d say “One Wish” is my current favourite.
Manny:
Love that, I mean we'll pick this back up when I interview you in a year again when you're selling out arenas!
Josh:
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. It’s been fun to walk down memory lane and unlock things I had forgotten about. It’s cool to reminisce and chat about the history of everything. I don’t take enough time to think about how it all came about, so doing this with you has been really special. I can’t thank you enough for your support for Shelly and this project; it means the world to everyone involved!
Manny:
I can't thank you enough! Thank you for creating music that's such a massive part of my life now. I have so many memories attached to it, and it’s so fun to have music that can do that. Yours has definitely been a big part of my life, so thank you for joining me!
You can listen to the new EP here: