Feed the Flames’ Josi to launch solo album

IF YOU have never heard local singer, Josi, belt out one of her original tracks, picture Adele’s emotion and pitch mixed in with the sultry, jazzy style of Amy Winehouse.
And if that doesn’t give you enough to work with, then perhaps you’d need to listen to her

songs yourself. And it’s worth the listen indeed.
This 19-year-old singer with the soulful sound and heavy vocals is relatively new on the market, but is ripe with potential for her ability to bring a new sound to local music, particularly in the Guyanese rock industry. Having been one of the vocalists and the only female member of local rock band, Feed The Flames, since 2015, however, Josi, whose real name is Josephine Mitchell, is now about to explore the solo route and is working on her debut album, which is yet unnamed, scheduled to be released by year-end.

“I started singing professionally at the age of 16, but I have been singing for much longer than that; for as long as I can remember,” Josi told The Buzz.
The young artiste, who hails from Linden, met Gavin Mendonca from Feed The Flames, then later met the other members of the band at the 2015 Rupununi Music and Arts Festival. Soon after, she joined the band and has been making sweet music with them ever since.
The band recently returned from playing at the Skyy Rock Festival in Trinidad and Tobago. While there, Josi performed her original single, Forgive which was well received by the crowd.

Apart from being the only female to perform at the two-day event, Josi was also the only artist to receive an encore from the audience. “The experience in Trinidad was an experience of a lifetime. It is something I wish I could rewind and do again; it was amazing,” she said, adding that she is also grateful for the exposure the event has given her, even as she continues to work on her album.
“Forgive is about a relationship where two persons started losing feelings for each other and wanted to get back to where things were. It speaks about real issues that we experience. I write most of my own lyrics, but sometimes the band helps me,” she said.
Other songs in the making for her album, she said, are centred on love and other everyday experiences. She added that she recently also penned a track speaking out against suicide, a prevalent issue in our local society.

As the only female member of the band, she admits that they are extremely supportive of her and give her the respect that she desires. “I really enjoy working with the band; they are all great, and all the boys are like brothers to me,” she said.
To help prepare her audience for what they can expect when her album drops, Josi has launched a YouTube Channel, Josi Music LIVE. The channel will feature videos of her performances, including at the Skyy Rock Festival, as well as other appearances that she will make in the future.
As she moves forward, she hopes that the listening public will be open to her new sound, and will share in her journey and her growth as she strives to place Guyanese music on the map.