Every time I sit down to listen to a new release from Coalescence Cascade, I know I’m about to step into something cinematic. Josh has a way of creating music that feels larger than the individual sounds themselves, building emotional landscapes that unfold like scenes from an imaginary film. It’s a quality that has been present throughout the conversations we’ve shared over the years, and his new release Topika is no exception.
In our latest conversation, we talked about the story behind Topika, creative intuition, and why sometimes the best artistic decisions don’t need to make perfect sense.
🎵 You can listen to Coalescence Cascade here.
Looking back at Topika, what part of this release feels the most satisfying to you?
Once I finish any song, I feel like I’ve closed a chapter in my life, often putting an emotional place I was in to rest forever. Topika was no different. Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m trying to work out until the track is “done.” The most satisfying thing is being able to listen to the song, revisit the time it represents, and feel the difference inside myself, saying, “You continue to evolve.”
Did Topika surprise you at any point during the creative process?
When I had most of the song’s structure completed, I was listening to it during my early morning drive to work. The surprising part was the word Topika popping into my head over and over again. That’s when I realized it needed to become a core element of the song. Not because it has any relevant meaning, but because of how the word sounded with the beat. I’m always searching for purpose that I can work into my songs, but sometimes the art just says, “Just say a funny word.”
Beyond streaming numbers, what would make Topika a successful release for you?
For me, a successful release is one I can share with my friends. I have some amazing people in my life who follow this project very closely, and hearing their feedback makes it all worthwhile.
For someone discovering your music through Topika, how would you describe your sound?
My music is an emotional journey above anything else. I believe awareness, consciousness, and humanness can be shared experiences, and I try to convey that fundamental connection through everything I create. I want whatever I’m feeling while making the music to be felt by the listener. It’s a way of cutting through what makes us feel separate and reminding people (and myself) that none of us are alone.
As your catalog continues to grow, which release are you the most proud of?
I’m proud of my whole discography, but my newest work is always my favorite and what I’m most proud of. With every track I make, I’m learning and becoming better at expressing what I’m feeling inside. Every so often, I feel like I’ve leveled up as a producer, and the songs that mark those transitions hold a special place in my heart. Trees, back INTO SPACE, and Acceptance, to name a few.
If Topika captured the essence of your artistic world, what color, place, or emotion would best represent it?
The color would be purple or blue. The emotion would be connectedness. As for a place… I’d say space, or maybe the ethereal plane.
When you sat down to create Topika, did you have any rituals or routines that helped you get into the right mindset?
Not really. Sometimes I feel like I have so much inside me that I have to get it out. Other times, I feel like an empty tube of toothpaste and have to squeeze every last bit of creativity out of myself.
When I’m in that “empty toothpaste” phase, I find it’s best to approach the project technically. I’ll start working on the technical aspects, and before long, I usually get pulled back into the emotional side of creating.
I can definitely relate to the “empty toothpaste” phase haha! That’s such a funny way to describe that feeling. How do you usually work your way through those moments?
I allow myself to have creative blocks. We’re human, and the muses aren’t always channeling through us. But if I need to stay productive, I start with a fact-based editing process. For example, I might spend time mixing or balancing the track so I can hear the ideas more clearly. Once I get into that technical mindset, I often find myself naturally pulled back into the creative flow.
If you had to describe both Topika and your music in just three non-musical words, what would they be?
Liminal. Resilient. Transcendent.
Thank you, Josh, for taking the time to share the story behind Topika. It’s always a pleasure catching up with you, and I look forward to hearing where your next chapter takes you.
Be sure to follow Coalescence Cascade on social media and streaming platforms, and don’t forget to give Topika a listen. If you’re searching for electronic music that feels cinematic, this is a journey worth taking.
- Explore Coalescence Cascade’s story in our very first interview here
- I had the chance to do music collaborations with Coalescence Cascade in the past. Here is our conversation about our latest collab ”Renegade” here.
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