Meet the Liverpool singer who followed Andrea Bocelli at Queen Anne Naming Ceremony

After the release of his first single, Liverpool singer-songwriter Josh has been making waves in the music world.

Josh Zepp was stunned to hear his song being played at the celebrated Queen Anne Naming Ceremony in the city on Monday.

Thousands of people gathered at the Pier Head for the spectacular Cunard event with celebrity guests like Mel C and Olympic athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, and to hear legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli who closed the ceremony with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

And there was one surprise ‘act’.

Josh explains: “Andrea Bocelli had finished performing and there was a lull in the events, so my mum asked someone if they could play my new song, Coming Down. They said they couldn’t promise anything obviously but asked us to find it on Spotify.

“Minutes later, my song came over the loud-speakers and everyone stopped talking and started dancing, it was amazing.

“In that moment it felt like all the work I’d put into writing and recording the song was worth it, and it’s definitely the highlight of my career so far.”

He adds: “My family all went to watch the ceremony for my grandad Alan Duffy’s birthday – so it’s one he’s not going to forget in a hurry.”

Josh, a 21-year-old bank admin worker from Norris Green, is becoming a well-known name in Liverpool, playing in bars and clubs, festivals – like The Florrie – and events like the end of year party at LFC at Anfield last year.

Inspired by John Lennon, along with the likes of Bob Dylan and Neil Young, his sound has been likened to the old skiffle, or a combination of country, soul, and Indie.

“Although I’m not sure we always fit into one category,” he says. “People have said I’ve transformed these old sounds into new when creating my songs. I think if I made music like Bob Dylan and Neil Young now, it wouldn’t be accepted, but as musicians we find a way to change with the times.

“But I’m an old soul at heart.”

Music is something Josh, a former music performance student at Liverpool City College, has grown up with: “In a city like Liverpool, there’s always music around your ears.”

And he says: “I’ve gradually picked it up. I started playing guitar about eight years ago after hearing the riff on Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and thinking I want to play that.

“I knew my grandad had a guitar and played a bit, so I went round to his and asked if I could try and play it. It didn’t feel nice at all, as any musician will tell you it feels weird at first and the strings hurt your fingers, but it gave me a goal to reach and then I wanted to play all the songs that I could hear in my head.

“I started to sing about a year later and then to write songs.”

Josh’s first single is about being in a situation in life that you don’t want to be in: “And I think a lot of people can relate to that,” he says.

“I know a lot of musicians say their dream is to play at Glastonbury or whatever, but my dream is to be able to create and play the music that becomes the soundtrack to people’s lives, like other music became the soundtrack to mine.

“I want to create everyday music that people hear and think of me and what I put out. I think musicians should bring out music to help others, to help the city you grow up in, I’m a proud Scouser and I think that’s important.

“I think music can help people when they’re in bad situations or going through bad times in their lives. A lot of people forget that Glastonbury and those dreams don’t happen unless you look after people and you’re making music that can help them. I think that’s the most important thing.”