Josh Indio steps boldly forward with debut EP 'the lEaP'

Every artist remembers their first true statement, the moment when bedroom demos and half-finished ideas crystallise into a finished project. For Josh Indio, that moment arrives with 'the lEaP', a concise but affecting three-song EP that stands as a confident jump into his artistic identity.

Working alongside producer and collaborator Ewan Samms, Indio has carved out a sound that is both intimate and expansive, weaving atmospheric textures with lyrics that grapple openly with youth, love, and ambition. While many debuts lean heavily on rawness, 'the lEaP' manages to strike a balance between vulnerability and poise, hinting at the years of reflection and persistence that brought it into being.

Opening track '12' sets the tone with a sense of restless nostalgia. It’s a song about looking backward while trying to move forward, conjuring the bittersweet longing of days that can’t be reclaimed. But rather than indulging in sentimentality, Indio translates that feeling into something immediate, where the guitar work and layered production tug us into his world of blurred memory and desire for second chances.

'i don’t mind” shifts the mood into warmer territory. This is the artist at his most tender, offering acceptance without condition. The lyrics echo with quiet reassurance, while Samms’ production wraps the words in reverb-heavy guitars and understated percussion.

All while the title-track closes the set with a rush of determination. 'the leap' is both personal and universal, wrestling with doubt while chasing after freedom. It’s the kind of closer that elevates the entire project, leaving the impression of an artist who understands the risk of vulnerability but chooses to share anyway.

At only three tracks, 'the lEaP' may seem slight in length, but it’s heavy in intent. Josh Indio proves here that brevity can amplify impact. If this is just the first chapter, the chapters to come could be extraordinary.