Artist Spotlight 2024: Josh Bogert

Vancouver-based electropop artist Josh Bogert is a bonafide triple threat. Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, the prolific 22 year old delivers a distinctive sound that is both complex and candid, shaped by diverse musical influences ranging from artists like JP Saxe to Jon Bellion, and musical icons Ed Sheeran to Justin Bieber.

A multi-instrumentalist who started playing violin at 4, he quickly expanded to a love of singing and playing guitar, saxophone, drums, and piano. At 12yrs he started performing at open mics, and by 13 started pursuing music in earnest, releasing his own songs at the young age of 16 that reflect a lifetime of musical education. Adding to his many talents, this creative wunderkind also starred on the TV series "Backstage" in a previous life before flipping his script to a life of music.

Frequently on the road with over 300 live performances in his pocket, he’s graced many a stage across the country including iconic venues like the Budweiser Stage in Toronto, Scotiabank Center in Halifax, and Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. If you can’t catch Josh live, you can find his music on major music platforms where he boasts over 7M Spotify streams and 1.6 M YouTube views to date as he continues to release more of his unique brand of pop artistry

This is the Artist Spotlight, where we ask bands/artists 5 questions with the goal of getting to know the band/artist better, see what they’ve been up to and what lies ahead. Here are 5 questions we asked Josh Bogert:

You released your debut album ’S3’ in June of last year (2023). What is your personal favourite song off of this album and why?

It’s really hard to choose a favourite song on the album, since this album has definitely been my favourite project so far! I think if I had to pick one it would be ‘Kinda Miss You’. There’s something about the tempo and beat of that song that makes it a blast to play on stage, and I find it really gets the energy of the audience up. That being said, it’s a very small lead, if that! I’m really proud of all the songs on the record, and I feel they each play a role in constructing the overall world of this album.

With over 300 performances under your belt, what are some standout/memorable moments you’ve had on stage?

I’ve played some pretty awesome venues; the Budweiser Stage in Toronto, the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton for the CFL halftime, the El Mocambo, the Roxy Vancouver. However, I’ll never forget that some of the most special moments happened when I was first getting started, playing local open mics and restaurant gigs. There’s something about that intimacy that can raise the stakes, and bring a unique challenge to the performance. Thats where I honed my skills, built my confidence. I’ve got so many stories now of technical difficulties, distractions, or something going wrong, that nothing really phases me on stage anymore.

Having starred in a TV series and landed some other smaller roles in the TV/Film world. Is this an avenue you see yourself continuing to pursue alongside music?

Acting is absolutely something I’m pursuing alongside music. It has played a big role in how far my music career has come so far. I think I will always continue to have my toe in the film and TV world, but music is really who I am.

With 2024 finally here, what are some of your goals as an Artist for this new year?

I’m still trying to figure out what’s next for me musically. I’ve been releasing music since 2016, and my sound has really evolved over the last 8 years. I want to bring something fresh and exciting to the table for my next project, so for me that means writing a lot of new music and seeing where it takes me! One of my set goals for this year is to play more shows in Vancouver. Live music has taken me all over Canada, and even on tour in the US, but aside from my home town of White Rock / Surrey, I haven’t really delved in to the live scene in the closest big city to me until recently.

If you could be a part of your own dream festival, could be with any artist from any time period/any genre. Who would be your top 3 acts on the festival?

Ed Sheeran would have to make the list. He’s one of the most talented performers in the world right now and he really got me into pop music when I first started writing my own stuff. One of the best concerts I’ve ever been to was Jon Bellion, so he’d be on the lineup too. The last one may be surprising, and probably wouldn’t make for a very cohesive festival, but I’d have to put Brad Paisley on the list. I grew up on country music, and he was the single artist that inspired me to start playing guitar. I saw him live a few years ago and it blew my mind.

Josh Bogert has a headline show coming up at The Roxy Cabaret, Friday February 2nd, with Special Guest Orchid Orchestra. You can purchase tickets here.

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