Joshua Webb presents

Rushing To Wait

This album again is a collection of songs written over a couple of decades but vastly different than the previous. Lyrically a more mainstream one with inspiration from a larger variety of genres being unified by my vocals. This album truly offers something for everyone! It begins going in one direction, then shifts to another before taking another turn. Plenty of ear candy and a completely different cast of vocal collaborators. It was recorded mostly in New Zealand and Australia. The album title came to me many years ago rushing to make it to the bus stop on time only to wait for it to arrive (late). It’s music I’ve wanted to release for such a long time but there is never a perfect time so I’m not waiting any longer, it’s out there and I hope you like it.

Let me introduce the songs on ‘Rushing To Wait’:

Mosh Pit

I got caught up in a mosh pit at a festival with a band called ‘Family Force 5’ on stage in early 2010. They were an eclectic mix of genres, ranging from rap metal to dance-pop. Not too dissimilar to how this song sounds, with a mix of rock (not heavy) and electronic music underpinning my rap and autotuned singing vocals. The hook actually came to me during that FF5 performance but I discarded the idea from my recording plans thinking it was just a silly theme! But the hook just wouldn’t leave me alone for months, even interrupting my sleep! I had no choice but to record and write the rest of the song. I took it to producer Emmanuel Ensink’s home studio later in the year in South Auckland. We spent many hours creating this masterpiece mixing different genres and vocal effects. Some many different tracks were used that the computer software crashed a few times! I invited rapper Stubbing Stubbing who goes by the artist name Voice of Triumph to feature in a verse. This song is the perfect way to begin this album with a bang!

Bounce Back

I originally wrote and recorded this song in 2007 (00s Mix) as a rock-inspired hip-hop song about my personal battle for success as a music artist. It’s about my belief in my ability/talent and my determination to not give up despite the setbacks. I had been overlooked as a performer, but through persistence and further development of my talent some breakthrough would come and I would perform as part of my own set at the Parachute Music Festival in 2008 and ’09. It’s also a song to encourage others to not quit and keep following their dream. In 2023 a new version of the song was recorded and released as a single a week prior to the album. A music video was filmed in Sydney and Brisbane along with a Columbian dancer Lotty G. This is the theme song for the album and features the title ‘Rushing To Wait’ in the lyrics.

Oxygen

I had a lot of fun recording this song with Emmanuel Ensink back in 2010; the vocals are crazy! Singing with autotune was fun and it perfectly suited the electronic nature of the song. I created it using beat-making computer software in 2005 and recorded tuned vocals in a studio too before eventually taking it to the pro. Lyrically it’s an intimate song about yearning to have a closer relationship with God.

Full-Time Lover

I originally wrote this song in 1999 hence the 90s feel despite recording this version of the song in 2013 with new verses and production. I invited Dianne Katz to sing the song which was a great decision as she took it to another level. Previously she helped me with vocals for the children’s album ‘Hits 4 Kids’ by Hey DUBY, but this time it was great to have a song that didn’t limit what she could do with her vocals, but let them rip!

J-DUB (On Ya System)

This is my ‘artist’ theme song. I wrote it in 2006 inspired by other white rappers Enimem and KJ-52 who had such songs about themselves. It’s a playful and fun song that has always been well-received by audiences of all ages. In 2022, I updated the song with new production and vocals. I found the perfect singer for the song in Agus Bouquet from Argentina.

Turn Up The Pain

This dark-sounding hip-hop song was originally created in 2005 and first performed on a stage in front of African-American teens in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, early the following year. It’s written about teens I once knew that made poor decisions that caused their families pain. The updated album version features vocals from English-based singer Shari.

Princess

For the previous 2 songs I mentioned ‘playful’ and ‘Atlanta, Georgia’; well those words also would feature when describing this song. I wrote it in 2009 based on a true life story (a person I met) from a previous visit to the US. I hope she never hears it! Former DJ Taxtix (Smashproof) provided the scratches on the turntables. I love the ATL!

Everyday 

I have finally released this song this year! I wrote it with a friend from high school (Sonny Khusal) in 1999 and we performed it at a lunchtime fundraising concert that most of the school attended. We sang it live in the studio on Auckland’s pop music radio station More FM the following year, but the song was never heard again, until now. The song is now a collaboration with American R&B singer J-Ray and was recorded in 2022. It’s unique as it’s a positive song about missing someone after a relationship break-up and wanting them back.

I’ll Be There For You

I wrote this song originally in 2001 after coming up with the chorus when walking home from the shops one day. It wasn’t about any girl in particular. I later rewrote the verses to turn it into a rap song and originally recorded it in ’09 with NZ Samoan producer Emmaunel Ensink (who played keys for the likes of Cydel) and a NZ Fijian singer called Paul Elliott to give it a soulful Pasifika feel.

How I Love You

In 2016, I wrote and produced a romantic song for my now-wife and recorded it with François Malan in Brisbane. It was the first time I had recorded a song in Australia. A music video was shot at our wedding in the Philippines.

I would like to thank everyone involved in helping me put together this album. I am a fan of all the singers, rappers, writers, producers and audio engineers who contributed their skills and talent.

Here’s the album review from Beach Sloth.

LISTEN TO “RUSHING TO WAIT”

* The Remix Album is also available now! *

LISTEN TO “RUSHING TO WAIT (REIMAGINED)”