Crocus of Hope.
Following Johnson’s #CrocusofHope Speech on Monday 22 February, about the post COVID roadmap back to social proximity, my neighbours challenged me to write a song called ‘Crocus of Hope’, in a style somewhere between a #SeaShanty and #DaftPunk, to mark this positive moment on the muddy lawn of life.
This is what I did.

I have been fortunate to receive a request to write and produce some original music for a financial services company looking to create a short marketing films. The brief was for a soft house/EDM/chill-out vibe, to be between around the four minute mark, and not too busy so as not to crowd the voice over.

Two have been completed, and one selected for use in the film production. Both are available on the Commissions page of my website, but you can also listen to them below.

We’ll happily take more commissions, contact us for more information.

We haven’t really left the house much recently. With Lockdown rules, the furthest we’ve gone is into Crouch End to the laundromat, the local shop for milk and giant chocolate buttons, and out on the bike a few times.

I thought it would be fun to try something new, so I wrote the repeating piano phrase, found some beats I liked, and found a deep bass sound that shook the little studio I have in the garden. I started writing some words and this just came out in one go. The only changes were where Dr Who was drinking his Coffee. Starbucks would have worked better, but it closed-down before lockdown, so the Timelord went to Costa in this story.

For anyone who knows Crouch End, this will be like a virtual walk tour up the Broadway.

Hope you like it.

Josh

New Song.

New Video.

In the summer of ‘76
I was just one year old
My dad in terry towelling in a rusty brown Allegro
Cos the Cortina had just sold

In the early 90s
When I left home
Got a place to study drama in a college up in scarborough
Where I learnt to spend and owe

Now it’s 2020 wearing masks to fight the virus
Because the future came to bite us a-ll
playing quizzes on Zoom calls
Drinking cocktails at home

We’ve got to stay 2 metres to defeat the deadly virus
Because the future came to bite us a-ll
Testing the limits of broadband
Baking sourdough

In the year 2000
There was so much time
But I Stopped the Marlborough lights + whites and golds
And rolled up notes and grew older like a waitrose wine

I’ll always fight your corner
Always on your side
Cos every second every minute every hour every day
I’m with you for the ride

Now it’s 2020 wearing masks to fight the virus
Because the future came to bite us a-ll
playing quizzes on Zoom calls
Drinking cocktails at home

We’ve got to stay 2 metres to defeat the deadly virus
Because the future came to bite us a-ll
Testing the limits of broadband
Baking sourdough

(Don’t stand that close)

I did this years ago but lost it somewhere, so, sitting at my mother-in-law’s house in Johannesburg, I thought the piano was calling for another shot at a pub singer version of Lady in Red. Hope you enjoy it 🙂

New song – Gammon and Karen.

A song about people who are entitled beyond the scope of what is appropriate, misinformed, and who use their privilege to demand their own way at the expense of others. Gammon and Karen.

The 1990’s came to visit, and they left us a song. Thanks to Jo for giving it some! This is so much fun!

Music and Production by Josh Beach

Lyrics and vocals by Jo Pinate

Another great song I got to work on with Jo Pinate.
It’s like a time machine to the 1980s!

Jo Wrote this on her Ukulele, sent it over and asked; ‘do you think we could make it 80’s? ‘

I think we managed it. Have a listen 🙂

New song and music video.

Written yesterday. Recorded today. Film made whilst watching The Crown on Netflix this evening. The episodes seem almost in real-time this season.

Hope you like the song 🙂

jb