Joshua Idehen - Learn To Swim (Mixtape)

Striking whilst the iron is hot, having just commenced his support tour with The Comet Is Coming, as well as announcing his own UK headline tour, Joshua Idehen releases his debut solo mixtape “Learn To Swim”, this April 21st.

Despite the mixtape being Idehen’s first solo project, the wordsmith already has a wealth of tracks to prop up the release of “Learn To Swim”. Having previously released collaborative projects with LV on “Routes”, “Islands” and “Dub Ends” and Daedelus on “Holy Water over Sons” (as featured in the Guardian), Idehen was also a founding member in bands Benin City, Hugh and Calabashed, his musical manifestations are endless.

To accompany the success of these releases are many applaudable accolades to Idehen’s name, including being recognised by NME as a ‘One To Watch’, having contributed vocals to two mercury award winning albums, worked alongside Kojey Radical, D Double E, Sons of Kemet, Jordan Stephens (of Rizzle Kicks), and supported Jacob Banks as a solo artist, to close Idehen’s very enviable 2022.

“Learn To Swim” takes shape around 10 individually characterised tracks, from the whirring beat and gospel undertones of “Don’t You Give Up On Me”, to the playful, percussion-layered offering of “Best Kind Of Lost”, the project displays the innate musicality and natural versatility of Joshua Idehen. Remaining consistent throughout, is Idehen’s distinct spoken-word delivery, affirmative, yet reassuring, his vocality invoking sincerity and trust in his narrative.

Speaking on the mixtape, Idehen explains; ““Learn to Swim” is collection of songs written and recorded in the middle months of 2021, around the same time, I started learning to swim. I'd convinced myself my bones were too dense to float, and actually, they are, so I'd given up for decades, until an old Swedish teacher told me "so you’re not a jellyfish, you're a shark, keep moving or die ". Still can't float, but I'm still learning.”