When I listen to music, I love listening to each component that makes up the song. From the bassline to the hidden meanings in the lyrics. Every song is like a story to unravel. So, listening to Rescue Me by local musician Josh Klynsmith, the song evoked strong feelings in the listener through its blend of soulful lyrics and a sweeping melody.
Going into music was a natural progression for Josh. He was exposed to music and playing instruments at a young age while growing up in a musically inclined home, “I started playing drums from the age of 10 and was playing in my first little band by age 11,” Josh explains. With music engrained in him, it’s the only thing he could ever see himself doing, following his calling, he studied music at UKZN for five years after high school. During this time, he also formed a band with his brother and two friends, “We formed a “side project” band called Gangs of Ballet. We got to do some amazing things and travel all over the place to play shows,” he recalls. This band grew to be their full-time job for a few years as they toured together! “Around 2015, I met Matthew Mole at a show. We were playing the same line up together and we became good friends,” Josh reminisces. Soon after, Matthew asked him to tour with him as his drummer which Josh is currently doing.
Being so involved in music for most of his life, Josh has written and composed songs, with the goal of releasing one in his solo career. “I’ve never given it too much focus. It was only very recently (with a push from Matt) that I decided 2025 was going to be the year I gave the solo venture a real swing,” Josh elaborates. This determination paved the way for Rescue Me to be brought to life! Like all good things, this record also took time to come together.
“Some songs just fall onto the page in a matter of minutes and then others are a bit of a journey. Rescue Me was written over the course of four years,” he recalls. Josh composed the verses during the pandemic while living in Sri Lanka. “I loved the verses but just could not find the right chorus to live with them, so I kinda just pushed pause on it.” Then, living in South Africa again, the chorus finally came to him last year and in the place where most of us get inspired—the shower! The song took a while to come into itself but Josh wanted the timing to be right since a big theme for the song is finding the right timing.
“Back when I wrote those verses I (like most people) had no idea what my life was going to be or where I was going,” he says. For Josh, Rescue Me is meant to be a reminder to keep faith that everything will work out how they are supposed to even when the situation may seem hopeless at the time, “I would love it if this song could give hope to someone who is maybe in a bit of a hopeless headspace.”
Drawing inspiration from his own feelings and experiences, there is no strictly defined genre you could place Josh’s music in, “I never really know how to describe the sound of my music but I guess it would be described as alternative,” he expresses. “I think the best songs are the ones that make the listener feel what the writer was feeling.” Even in Rescue Me, both acoustic and electronic elements give it a unique sound that blends with the lyrics. “If I was to pick one instrument as the kind of hero it would have to be the piano. There is a lot happening around that piano but I think if I muted all the other instruments and just left the piano and vocals, I think it would still maintain the integrity of the song,” he elaborates.
So, now that Josh has opened himself towards composing solo records, what’s next? “I’ve been fortunate to do a couple of tours along the Garden Route and in some of the major cities but this being a new venture for me means I still have so many shows to play in South Africa,” he says. While the immediate goal is to continue touring locally, he also has a goal to play on some international stages, “Last year, I played two shows in Europe and I would really love the opportunity to tour there again at some point!” he exclaims.
If you haven’t yet, give Rescue Me a listen—you might just find a piece of your own story in its melody. My Spotify already has it on a few playlists!
https://www.instagram.com/joshklynsmith/?hl=en
Words: Cristina Govender
Photos: Leon Strydom: Slowburn Media