A Chat with Josh Fr3da (24.07.25)
JOSH FR3DA is a genre-bending, swagger-filled rising music artist. His latest EP release, Turn Him Loose, is a celebration of freedom and fierce identity, while blending country grit, rock flair, and alternative blues swagger, delivering a sound that falls somewhere between Queen and Shania Twain with the emotional depth of Bonnie Raitt and the arena-ready energy of Aerosmith. We chat with JOSH FR3DA about the new release and more below.
OSR: Turn Him Loose is a bold debut. How did the title come to you, and what does it represent in your life right now?
JOSH FR3DA: First, thank you. I wanted to make a statement with my debut. I write and compose with a lot of layered meaning. I love double entendres and turns of phrase. I’m also a tongue-in-cheek kind of guy, so I wanted an EP title that spoke to multiple things in a playful and substantive manner. Turn Him Loose is an internal and external call-to-action, and an homage to the flair and flamboyance of artists that inspire me. For me, Turn Him Loose refers to my own coming out. It’s also a reflection of my years-long journey towards self-love. And on the DL, it’s a subtle dig at my ex lol. We were together for seven years, but it should’ve been four.
Turn Him Loose is also a call-to-action for my fans, or anyone listening that needs a push to share who they are with the world. I recognize that we’re in a politically turbulent time, and that coming out and living openly isn’t a safe option for everyone. But if it is, you owe it to yourself and those who can’t to share your authentic self with the world. Your story helps someone else find their way. Your courage makes the world a better place.
As for me, I’m figuring a lot out right now. I’m ecstatic that Turn Him Loose is out and finding fans. I’m also stoked to start doing shows with my band soon. Add in a concurrent legal career, dogs, and the hopes of one day reigniting a social life, and it’s a lot. But I keep moving, and Turn Him Loose is the embodiment of that momentum.
OSR: Your music blends genres fearlessly. Were there any artists growing up who gave you permission to break the rules?
JOSH FR3DA: Also, thank you. That’s a very kind review. I knew I wanted to blend genres when I made this record. The overtones are country, but I’m deeply inspired by classic rock, blues, soul, alternative, and pop, so those sounds and vibes had to be part of the record. I grew up listening to Annie Lennox, Hootie & the Blowfish, and Fleetwood Mac. Annie, in particular, taught me that artists can break the rules. She’s a rockstar, a pop icon, a gay icon, a fashion icon, and so much more. She’s so unique and yet totally timeless. Her voice translates to rock, pop, blues, soul, and contemporary music, and you always know it’s her. She’s signature.
Christina Aguilera is also a big influence for me, especially when it comes to artistic expression, leaning into my sexuality, and making darker subject matter palatable for mainstream audiences. She blends genres in the most incredible way. Stripped is a masterclass blend of pop, rock, R&B, and Latin music. Back to Basics brought jazz into the mainstream. Christina is the epitome of talent, substance, and soul – something I strive to be myself.
OSR: ‘Does My Ass Look Good in These Pants?’ is an anthem. How did that track come together, and did you know from the start it would be the focus song?
JFJOSH FR3DA: ‘Does My Ass Look Good in These Pants?’ is a cathartic clap back at traditional notions of masculinity. Years ago, I had a thought: Why don’t men ever talk about their physical insecurities? That thought was followed by the foregone conclusion that you (the proverbial you) would never see a man ask his wife or girlfriend if his ass looked good in a pair of jeans. Why? Because men are supposed to be stoic… or they’re gay. Men are very limited in the emotions they’re allowed to show in public, and that sucks! So I decided to write a song that would challenge this norm. I came up with a slightly outrageous hook and a catchy melody and got to writing. To avoid being preachy, I put my own insecurities on blast. I figured an infectious baseline and a flamboyant hook would disarm listeners so they would connect with the deeper meaning of the song. I always knew ‘Pants’ was special. After I got scouted, I went up to my producer and said we were going to make ‘Pants’ together. He was equally taken aback by my confidence and the song. He knew too, that ‘Pants’ could break me as an artist.
OSR: There’s real vulnerability in your lyrics. Was it ever difficult to be that open, especially on a debut project?
JOSH FR3DA: You know, no, it wasn’t. I appreciate the struggle because it makes me who I am. It also gives me stories to tell. And what’s an artist without stories? I think I have enough distance between the big things I talk about on the record and where I’m at now. I’ve been through the fire, so to speak, and I made it to the other side, so I’m at a place where I can reflect on hard times and bad decisions without being triggered. Sure, I might wince now and then, but I’m not afraid or embarrassed to talk about my life. I’m not trying to give fans a perfectly curated view into my world. I want them to see me as another human being. I deal with things too. I don’t have all the answers, but I might have some, and I’m happy to share. We’re not alone. We just trick ourselves into thinking we are. I want to kick that falsehood in the ass, one cheeky song at a time.
OSR: You’ve spoken about singing the things you need to hear. What’s one lyric from this EP that hits home for you personally?
JOSH FR3DA: The hook from ‘Best We Can’: “Getting through, I get you man. We’re all just doing the best that we can”.
OSR: What was your coming-out journey like, and how did it shape your voice as an artist?
JOSH FR3DA: I came out when I was 22. I’d just graduated from college and I was horny lol. I didn’t sleep around in college because I was closeted, and I felt like I needed to come out so I could smash with a clear conscience. I didn’t want this “secret” hanging over my head, so at the top of 2013, I embarked on my coming out tour. I went to Boston and came out to my best friend, then Blacksburg to come out to my fraternity brothers, then a horse race near home to come out to my home friends. I told my actual brothers that summer, and then my parents that Christmas. All in all, my coming out journey was good. I got big reactions from my brothers, and my parents didn’t take it well, but that’s ok. Their bad reactions didn’t hurt me like I thought they would. My dad and I didn’t speak for four months, and it took my mom about 18 months to even engage with my new gay life (though she was publicly supportive), but again, that’s ok. They needed time to adjust. And even though I was the one in the vulnerable position, I had to be the bigger person and give them that space. I love my family. It’s important to me that they be in my life, so I had to give them what they needed to process. Is that ideal? No. Of course not. It sucks, but the ties that bind… Eventually, they all came around, and now we’re closer than ever.
As for my artistry, it shaped everything. I write about my life. I sing like I’ve got something to say. And I perform like a bad bitch with flamboyant flair and soulful swagger. I’d say “being gay” is an essential ingredient to that mix.
OSR: If someone listens to this EP from start to finish, what do you hope they feel by the end?
JOSH FR3DA: Hope. Hope is my ultimate through line. Every song I write, happy or sad, gives off at least a modicum of hope by the end. I tell stories because I want to normalise struggle, the process of dealing with it, and the peace that comes with making it to the other side. We go through things so we can help the next person that has to deal. But that chain breaks down if we don’t share our stories. We need stories. It’s how we make sense of the world, especially when things are bad.
OSR: There’s humour in your songs, but also pain. How do you balance those tones while staying authentic?
JOSH FR3DA: It’s all feeling to be honest. I know when I’m speaking from the heart and when I’m forcing it. I don’t write about things that aren’t in my purview, so I can avoid the latter. For example, I won’t write a song about driving a truck, shooting guns with my buddies, or picking up a hot chick at the bar because that’s not the life I live. I’m a gay millennial yuppie that loves the stage. I just write what I know in words I would say. If you vibe, cool, welcome to my world.
OSR: Who’s on your “dream collaboration” list, and what kind of song would you want to make with them?
JOSH FR3DA: There’s too many to list, but if I have to give some hits: Annie Lennox, Faith Hill, The Chicks, Christina Aguilera, Santana, and Kacey Musgraves. In terms of writers, I’d love to co-write with Shane Macanally. And I had a dream come true when I co-write a song with Holly Lamar, the incredible songwriter that wrote Faith Hill’s ‘Breathe’. The song isn’t on Turn Him Loose, but I plan for it to be on my next release. Of these artists, let’s say I got to work with Annie Lennox. After geeking out for a bit, I’d love for us to write an anthemic duet that tackles a modern political issue. I think we’d find common ground in soul and the blues and pull from both our styles to craft a rock anthem that transcended genres. Y’all got me manifesting this collab.
OSR: If you could send this EP back in time to your younger self, what do you think he’d say?
JOSH FR3DA: I don’t think young Josh would be surprised. I’ve always been an artist. When I was a kid, I played with my toys for hours. I created whole worlds and characters with storylines. When I got a little older, I started drawing and then painting. I was pretty good too. Then I found music. I realized I could sing. I became a writer. And I saw myself on stage. Truth be told, I’ve always been a rockstar in my own head. I just didn’t have the confidence to own it when I was younger. So I don’t think young Josh would be surprised by Turn Him Loose. I just think he’d be happy he finally let his freak flag fly.
Many thanks to JOSH FR3DA for speaking with us. Find out more about JOSH FR3DA on his Facebook, Instagram, X, and Spotify.
