Luxembourg’s national final for Eurovision 2024 will take place on January 27. Submissions opened in the Grand Duchy back in July and earlier this week we learned that Luxembourg-based artist Josh Island had submitted an entry.
And while he hasn’t yet heard whether he’s in or out — the submissions window closes October 1 — he has today released a new single called, “How Does it Feel.”
We asked Josh’s team if “How Does It Feel” is his Eurovision entry, but they neither confirmed nor denied.
“While in Luxembourg we are still in the submission stage, we prefer not to comment,” he said. “However once submissions close, and the submitted song potentially moves to the confirmation stage, we will probably have much more to tell you”.
What we do know for sure is that Josh has never submitted a song to the Eurovision Song Contest, but he does have some connections to it.
Black Mamba — Portugal’s Eurovision 2021 act — have been session musicians for Josh in studio recordings and he supported them at a concert in The Netherlands. They remain in close contact. Elsewhere, Josh worked on his recent EP with Luís Figueiredo, who arranged Eurovision 2017 winner Salvador Sobral’s “Amar Pelos Dois”.
About Josh Island
What follows is a press release from Josh’s team
Luxembourg-based singer-songwriter Josh Island releases his debut album In My Head on 15 September, taking him on a European tour with a final full-band show celebration in Dudelange on 11 November.
Born in the British roundabout town of Milton Keynes to Dutch parents, Josh Island moved to Germany and The Netherlands before eventually settling in Luxembourg. At the age of 15 he began touring the local music scene, quickly establishing himself as a powerhouse vocalist and engaging live performer.
His catchy singer-songwriter pop with strong soul and folk influences is inspired by the likes of Sting, John Mayer and Jamie Cullum. Since his debut at Screaming Fields in 2015, he has released two EPs, opened for James Morrison and Passenger, and played several European headline tours.
Josh Island: “In My Head is about all the thoughts, ideas, fears and dreams we all have and how they start in our heads. It’s an honest title for my first album.”
Four previously released singles (Make It, Pennies From Heaven, Rewind and Patio Blues) received national airplay in the Benelux and Germany. The fifth single, How Does It Feel, comes out on 6 September.
In his music Josh calls on listeners to be less afraid of the unknown future and to focus more on the here and now. This mindset allowed him to mature as an artist and person: “I’ve learned to enjoy the moment.”
Mental health is a dominant theme in the title track In My Head, in which Josh describes the feeling of one’s head being on fire. “But when the sun is shining, it fills me up…” he then sings. How Does It Feel, written with Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue), is a quest for identity.
Other songs have a positive upbeat vibe, including the synth-driven summer song Patio Blues, the mysterious tale of a human submariner (Pieces Of The Ocean), or looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (Rainbow). Josh proves to be a genre-bending storyteller and entertainer.
The album was produced by Nelson Canoa (Mariza, Carminho), with whom Josh already worked on his second EP, Love Don’t Come Easy. The 10 songs were recorded across a period of a year at Nelson’s studio, nestled in the vineyards of Torres Vedras, an hour north of Lisbon. Musicians of The Black Mamba (Eurovision 2021) were his studio band.
Josh Island will embark on a European tour this fall with 20 dates in Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. The tour will conclude with an album release party at Opderschmelz, Dudelange on 11 November, where he is accompanied by an 8-piece band.
The stage is where Josh feels home: “Performing is the best thing there is. The goal is to break down the invisible barrier between artist and audience, create a memorable moment, and feel like a community.”
Tour dates
27.09 – Kulturfabrik, Koblenz
28.09 – Wohngemeinschaft, Köln
29.09 – Alter Schlachthof, Eupen
30.09 – APEX, Göttingen
04.10 – Kulturforum, Kiel
05.10 – Hebebühne, Hamburg
09.11 – FZW, Dortmund
12.10 – Bar Bobu, Berlin
14.10 – Kunst & Bühne, Celle
15.10 – One World, Reinstorf
25.10 – Kresslesmühle, Augsburg
26.10 – Stadtteilkultur 2411, München
28.10 – Kufa, Bamberg
02.11 – Effenaar, Eindhoven (Steffen Morrison Support)
11.11 – Opderschmelz, Dudelange
17.11 – Grenswerk, Venlo (Steffen Morrison Support)
I like his music, I’m curious about the release ??
Somebody has to win, somebody has to lose. Sadly, it is the latter one with this song.
Playing it a bit too safe, I’d say.
The song is boring.
Luxembourg, come back with a bang, please.
Worry not, a Lux-Swedish bäng in SVeurovision is likely to happen!!
It’s more likely to prefer a Lux-Belgian, Lux-French or Lux-German bang.
Better than most songs this year in the ESC! Allez Luxembourg!
If “How does it feel” is the quality we can expect, then Luxembourg has potential to make a powerful comeback
i Cant Help but Notice the Biased Wiwiblog Postings lately . What ever Artist/Lable pays the Most to Wiwiblog , they get Worshipped such as Theodore, Random Luxemburg Man, Ronela , And Many More…. and the people Who Dont need Payola like Blanka are Atacked Constantly for being True
you probably forget the massive rigging allegations back in february. and how the polish broadcaster randomly decided to give the jury more power.
Why is it Always you who Haraseses Me .? What I said it’s true Weather you like or not
That was far from harassing lol
You Replay to all My Comets and Speak Down on me . Find A Diffrent Person to Pick on
haters keep hating but Blanka keeps on slaying
same with Emma Muscat, whom is doing Europride Valletta 2023 btw, supporting act for a famous american called Christina Aguilera, alongside fellow support acts like Ira Losco, Katerina Stikoudi
you don’t see wiwi reporting on that either, despite it having two ESC alumni names in it
Everywhere where “Bejba” is, you’re also there. That’s no coincidence anymore.
I slowly start believing that you’re the same guy who’s just rage-baiting
So let’s stop this conversation.
So Funny Big Brains . We are not the Same , I disagree with Anonymouse before . We are the Only Two Logical Minds Who See the Foolary here and in the ESC
“Only Two Logical Minds Who Dee the Foolary here” yeah sure, your truth is the only one, sure
Dont Asume my Gender . Im a Woman .
I just happen to agree with most of her opinions on here
It started last year and made me leave wiwi .I was hoping things would be better right now, but no. Please you guys, stay Independent or you will loose the wiwi-magic ??
If that Song is Best that Luxemburg will offer for us , they will be Non Qualified . Snoring Festival
Is this sponsored by Luxembourg labels?
An artist releases song that may or may not take part in a national selection. OK?
I know its still a slow news week but there has happened more interesting stuff than this
What a strange standalone article published under the “news” tag.
Is it the only ding worth mentioning in the SEurovision realm?
As read elsewhere, it looks like Monaco is eligible to compete in 2024!!
Lol! That wiwi bias…
But it’s a song in english coming from Luxembourg, so not interesting at all, next.
He could very well represent Luxembourg next year, so I think it’s worth mentioning. If f you want actual news, go to Eurovoix.
The main language Luxembourgish artists sing in tends to be English. Shouldn’t come as a surprise really
paid article alert. gather them coins wiwi!
Easy to listen but I don’t think it is enough to take Luxembourg back to the final. A good NF filler though.
Looks like paid article .. the guy is good, the song is not. that’s pretty much it.
This article reads like a paid ad. A guy from Luxembourg released a song? Alright.
Who might be participating in the NF next year.
This screams NQ, I hope they’ll have stronger songs in the national final
This feels auspicious as a first taste of what we can expect from Luxembourg– a well-produced, serious effort from a guy who seems to have the right kind of connections.
Not familiar with Josh Island but checked out the song and it’s very beautiful actually, and he has a nice voice. Would imagine his ESC song to be something else, but certainly wouldn’t be mad it it was “How Does It Feel”.