A Life Outside the Ordinary

Some thoughts on music, travel, creativity, and the strange paths life takes us down.

I've been thinking for a while about finding a way to share more of my experiences, thoughts and stories. Not necessarily through music, which has always been my main way of expressing myself, but through writing, photographs and perhaps the occasional video.

I've had a rather unusual journey through life so far, and I feel there's quite a lot I'd like to reflect on and share.

I grew up in a remote cottage in the Welsh countryside, living off-grid, homeschooled, and in many ways completely removed from the outside world. It was a childhood full of freedom, imagination and adventure, but also one that came with its own difficulties. Growing up outside conventional society, within a very close-knit family with its own particular ways of doing things, has shaped me in ways I'm still discovering today.

At seventeen, I found myself travelling to Mali in West Africa, spending time with the extraordinary kora player Toumani Diabaté. That experience opened up an entirely different world and began a journey that has taken me to some remarkable places, introduced me to extraordinary people, and shaped much of the life I lead today.

Music, and particularly the kora, will naturally be a thread running through these stories, but I don't want this to be purely a blog about music. I'm interested in the wider experiences of life: the people we meet, the conversations that stay with us, the things we learn, and sometimes the things we have to unlearn.

I'm also increasingly interested in what it means to be a musician and a creative person in today's rapidly changing world. With technology and AI transforming how we create and consume music, I find myself thinking more and more about the importance of genuine human connection.

In some ways, I feel we're moving back towards something wonderfully simple. Small concerts with thirty or forty people, sitting together and sharing an experience. Workshops where people arrive as strangers and leave with friendships that can last for years. These moments remind me why I've chosen this rather unconventional way of life.

And it hasn't always been easy. I've never really followed a conventional path. I didn't go to school, I've never had a nine-to-five job, and I've spent much of my adult life travelling between different places and cultures. There is an enormous amount of freedom in that, but also uncertainty, insecurity, and the challenge of maintaining relationships, friendships and a sense of belonging.

I suppose that's partly what I'd like to explore here. Not just the beautiful moments, but the complicated ones too.

I don't have a particular plan for where this will go. Perhaps that's part of the appeal. It will be a collection of stories, memories, observations and ideas, some from many years ago and others from wherever I happen to find myself today.

If any of that sounds interesting, I hope you'll enjoy following along.

Josh