Josie Proto has released her second EP ‘Oh What A God Awful Stupid Idea’.
The new EP from the singer-songwriter is packed with playful yet empowering singles that are set for singing out loud.
Speaking of the EP, Josie said: “It’s probably the most juxtaposing EP to ever grace the planet. It’s full of my shower thoughts that have somehow wound up in stories of how I think I want to live my life. Just like my brain, it doesn’t really make sense. If you want warm and fuzzy, I have a song for that, if you want attitude and female empowerment, I got one for you, if you want angry and sad, click play… It goes on. This EP is just an extension of the work that I am dying for everyone to hear!”
To celebrate her EP release, we caught up with Josie Proto to discover 5 tracks that influenced ‘Oh What A God Awful Stupid Idea’.
Eliza Doolittle – Big When I Was Little | Listen via Spotify
An absolute classic bop that is so timeless and inspired ‘Puddles’. This song brings back so many memories and has that amazing childhood pop sound. I love the attitude and the delivery and the storytelling, and there are no words to explain how much a song can infiltrate your life like this. Everyone knows it, and everyone loves it.
James Bay – Best Fake Smile | Listen via Spotify
James Bay has always been a favourite of mine but this song gives me Maeve from Sex Education vibes and I’m here for it. If you’re sick of putting up with peoples sh*t then this is your anthem. Middle fingers to the sky and leather jackets out. The feeling I get from this song is something I wanted to recreate with ‘Kids TV’.
Lizzo – Exactly How I feel | Listen via Spotify
The queen of attitude, Lizzo, is, and always will be, a massive inspiration to me. Putting my personality in my lyrics is such an important part of who I am as an artist and that “I will not apologise for who I am” attitude was written into ‘I Bet You Fall Apart’ by taking inspiration from someone who does it impeccably.
Ashe – Save Myself | Listen via Spotify
This song has inspired pretty much every song I have written since it came out. If you want incredible songwriting that is supported by phenomenal production, get to the chorus of ‘Save Myself’. Written by one of my favourite writers of the decade, Michael Pollack, this song gives me women empowerment and a whole lot of ‘IDGAF’. It bleeds with personality and it, therefore, resides in my top ten all-time favourite songs where I assume it will be neatly sat next to my next song…
Carole King – Where You Lead | Listen via Spotify
A timeless and beautiful song that inspired a plethora of songs from a gazillion artists across the globe. Carole King is my all-time favourite artist and there is no way that any of the songs I have written would have come to fruition without the genius of ‘Where You Lead’.
You can stream Josie Proto’s new EP ‘Oh What A God Awful Stupid Idea’ via Spotify below: