Q&A: Watch This Space: Joshua Raw on the Making of ‘SASQUATCH’
WRITTEN BY FAITH LUEVANOS
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Photo by Jade Ivy
Joshua Raw is an artist who thrives in the space between vulnerability and defiance. In his latest EP, SASQUATCH, we see his artistry take on a new life and build a world of its own. The project’s central figure, the sasquatch, is a nod to a common rap title, “the biggest stepper,” but Joshua Raw reimagines it as something more personal: a symbol of power, presence, and permanence. Through his character, he’s sending a clear message that this is not a game and he’s here to stay.
Never one to remain still, his contribution to the indie trio Biking with Francis has been a way for him to hone in on his storytelling instincts, but with his solo work, he fully steps into his own. SASQUATCH radiates intensity, one that grabs listeners by the collar, looks them in the eye, and tells them, “And what about it?”
As his artistry continues to evolve, Joshua Raw is paving a lane that’s entirely his own, one built on experimentation, raw emotion, and an unwavering sense of purpose. Life On Jupiter sat down with the rising artist to discuss the making of SASQUATCH, his evolution as a solo artist, and his hope that listeners hear the album and feel, in his words, “larger than life.”
LIFE ON JUPITER: How does this new EP separate and differ from the work you’ve been doing with Biking With Francis?
JOSHUA RAW: The project feels like a means of me proving a point. “Biking” stuff is more of an amalgamation of stories and ideas, but SASQUATCH is my attempt of showing what I’m made of and flexing my muscles. So the project is that feeling kind of personified.
When you first released music under your solo project, what was the main intention behind doing so?
JOSHUA RAW: It was self-serving. I wanted the freedom to display my thoughts and feelings without compromise.
Who were some of the first artists who inspired you to create music of your own?
JOSHUA RAW: Embarrassing my friends who made music in high school that I was jealous of. Alongside the Kendricks and Tyler, the Creators of the world.
What inspired the title of the EP, and how do you resonate with it?
JOSHUA RAW: You always hear rappers using the phrase “the biggest stepper,” referring to how large and impactful they are. I just wanted to use that to literally create a character based on the idea of being larger than life and stepping all over anyone in their way. And Sasquatch is the epitome of having a big foot, thus the name was born.
What were some of the key moments you remember while making the EP?
JOSHUA RAW: The beginning and end. The recording of the song “SUBURBIA” birthed the idea of the character Sasquatch when I reference being the biggest stepper for the first time. This was the first song I finished for the project. And singing the outro on the title track was really confidence-building for me because it’s probably my best vocal performance ever, not being much of a singer.
Specifically diving into “ALL AMERICAN,” can you walk us through the story behind that song and how it became such an anthem for the EP?
JOSHUA RAW: In our current political climate, it’s difficult for me to ignore what makes the United States what it is. On top of that, some dude got killed in my neighborhood before I recorded it, pool of blood and all. That being said, I couldn’t help but voice some of my grievances about how I view the nation and how it affects me.
From your first solo release in 2022 to SASQUATCH now, how would you say your sound and you as an artist have evolved since then?
JOSHUA RAW: I really embraced hip-hop as a genre and being a rapper on this project. I’ve always been and always will be a rapper, but I truly built so much confidence as a lyricist through the process of making SASQUATCH.
As you continue to branch out and nourish your solo career, what can fans expect to see in the upcoming months?
JOSHUA RAW: Physical media and other forms of media that will enrich the listening experience.
If listeners could take away one feeling from this EP, what do you hope that is?
JOSHUA RAW: Just the feeling of being larger than life. Kind of like the old Japanese kaiju Godzilla movies where the guy in the suit is stomping all over the city.