The latest single from Miami-based indie soul artist Josh Schwartz, a.k.a. JOSCH, entitled “Fantasies Don’t Cry” was released to the world on January 12. The singer’s third single follows up the epic “Icarus In Motion” and the more relaxed “No Beginning, No Conclusion.” “Fantasies Don’t Cry” details the frustrated confessions of a scorned lover who gets kicked to the curb without warning, replaced by someone else.
“The concept that one’s reality, the model of their universe they put together in their mind, can be shattered instantly by getting broken up with, that has always fascinated me,” muses Schwartz. “Whether it’s getting dumped, losing a friendship, getting fired from a job, we’ve all experienced some kind of event that makes us question our perception of others, of ourselves, even our own sanity. It makes you wonder if you can really trust your senses and your gut. My aim with ‘Fantasies’ was to channel that heavy mass of emotions in a way that brings a bit of levity to the situation.”
Although a newly-released song, “Fantasies Don’t Cry” traces all the way back to 2007, when Schwartz first wrote it during college. “When I showed it to [then-bandmate] Dave Brandwein, who was producing my album, he loved the soulful, R&B-style choruses but hated the verses,” Schwartz recalls. “On the demo, I played the song on acoustic guitar and swung the rhythm slightly, which Dave rightly pointed out sounded a bit cheesy, kind of 90’s pop rock. The verses just didn’t match the vibe of the chorus, or of the other songs for that matter. But I wasn’t ready to give up on the song.”
With a few tweaks to the chords, beat and instrumentation, the pair transformed the song into a 70’s-inspired funky strut. Schwartz remarks, “Adding the 6-piece horn arrangement, including Grammy and Latin Grammy-nominated trombonist Quinn Carson, was the cherry on top that really tied everything together.”
“Fantasies Don’t Cry” kicks off with a bombastic horn section, which transitions smoothly into the first verse. A quintessentially funky wah-wah guitar can be heard underneath JOSCH’s confrontational lyrics, “Did I miss the meeting / When you decided to dust me off the shelf / Your heart is fleeting / Your mind will mirror someone else.” With descriptive lyrics that paint a clear picture of the ex in question, “Old bubblegum and dancing shoes / That never fit her / Her grandma’s ring that sings the blues / She won’t remember / Her favorite t-shirt on the floor,” JOSCH’s latest single packs a punch. A grooving bass line continues throughout the song, with extraterrestrial, reverb-y guitar chords underneath it all to add to the bold sound.
Stream “Fantasies Don’t Cry” here.
Keep up with JOSCH:
