Summer Bonus: Joshua Idehen

Photo by Fabrice Bourgelle

Before I even heard Joshua Idehen's debut album, I Know You're Hurting, Everyone Is Hurting, Everyone Is Trying, You Have Got To Try, a trusted friend told me it would become one of my favorite records. In hindsight, it’s crazy how he couldn't have been more right. Blending spoken word with electronic music, house, gospel, jazz, and dance, Joshua and producer Ludvig Parment have created something that feels both deeply personal and universally comforting. In this conversation, Joshua opens up about the emotional foundation behind the album, why acknowledging life's darkness is essential to finding hope, and how building (and losing) friendship and community carried him through difficult seasons. Together, we explore grief, gratitude, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to keep trying when life feels overwhelming; something that I imagine many of us can relate to in 2026. Out of all the talks I’ve shared with you recently, this is the one that I already know I’ll return to for years to come.