Josh Pyke

Josh Pyke
Pyke at the 2012 APRA Music Awards.
Background information
Birth name	Joshua Jon Pyke
Also known as	Josh Pyke
Born	(1977-12-18) 18 December 1977
Origin	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Indie
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Ivy League Records
Website	www.joshpyke.com

Josh Pyke is an Australian singer-songwriting musician.

Biography

Beginnings and Feeding the Wolves (2004–2005)

Josh Pyke was in his first band by age 12 and played his first performance in front of 650 parents and students at his primary school graduation. Playing guitar and initial song writing efforts came aged 14. Despite his aptitude for song writing and performance, he stayed 'under the radar' throughout his high school years at Fort Street High School.

Whilst part of Sydney band An Empty Flight he successfully applied for a grant from the Music Board of the Australia Council under the Buzz Project to remix a number of his own demo recordings to be released as an EP Current Works Volume 1, under the name of Night Hour. The lead track, "Kids Don't Sell Their Hopes So Fast" received wide-ranging radio airplay, on national youth broadcaster Triple J and on various community radio stations including 3RRR in Melbourne and Fbi in Sydney. In 2004 Pyke won the Jaxter Music Award for his single "Kids Don't Sell Their Hopes So Fast". The proceeds went towards a home studio, which enabled him to concentrate on his solo output and songs that were to become his debut mini-album Feeding The Wolves.

Pyke signed to Australian indie label Ivy League Records in 2005 and his first release on the label was a mini-album entitled Feeding the Wolves. It features the single "Middle of the Hill", as well as second single "Private Education". Josh toured early in 2005 with Jebediah frontman, Bob Evans, aka Kevin Mitchell. Feeding the Wolves was nominated for 'Best Pop Release at the 2006 ARIA Awards.

Pyke appeared in his first Triple J Hottest 100 in 2005, where "Middle of the Hill" was voted as number 19 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2005;

First studio album Memories & Dust (2006–2007)

Pyke released his debut album, Memories & Dust, on 10 March 2007 and it debuted at no.4 on the Australian ARIA Album Chart. He also guest programmed rage on that date. The lead single from the new album, entitled "Lines on Palms", hit Australian airwaves in mid-January. When fans pre-ordered Memories & Dust through the fanclub website, they received a bonus CD of the live private show Josh did at The Wesley Anne in Northcote, Victoria in 2006.

Josh Pyke performed at the 'Escape to the Park' concert in King's Park, Perth, Western Australia alongside The Panda Band, Tex Perkins, Sarah Blasko and Augie March. He also performed at the 2006-2007 Falls Festival in Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania on New Year's Eve.

He also sang a cover version of "Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush for No Man's Woman which was released in 2007.

In April 2007 his debut album, Memories & Dust, was nominated for a J Award by Triple J.

Pyke also picked up an ARIA for best adult contemporary album at the 2007 ARIA awards.

Pyke features in the Triple J Hottest 100 countdowns. "Memories and Dust" and "Private Education" were voted number 38 and 57 respectively in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2006, "Lines on Palms", "Sew My Name" and "Forever Song" finished in 79th, 91st and 97th place in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2007.

Second studio album Chimney's Afire (2008–2010)

Pyke performing in 2009.

Pyke's second album Chimney's Afire was released 4 October 2008 and was recorded at Sydney's Linear Recording studios. It made its debut at #3 on the official ARIA Album Chart, and #1 on the ARIA Australian Chart. He recently conducted a small tour to showcase songs off this album. The first single off the album was "The Lighthouse Song", and the second was called "Make You Happy". In 2009 Pyke reclaimed the best adult contemporary album and was also nominated for best male artist.

Pyke was featured in the Triple J Hottest 100 in 2008 for the fourth time, where he placed "Make You Happy" at 29 and "Lighthouse Song" at 27 in the Hottest 100 of 2008

Basement Birds (2010-2011)

Josh Pyke is a member of Australian Indie Rock group Basement Birds who released their self titled debut 16 July 2010 and toured the album in Australia in August 2010.

In 2011, Pyke collaborated with Australian rapper 360 on the song "Throw it Away" from 360's album Falling & Flying.

Third studio album Only Sparrows (2011–present)

Pyke's Third album "Only Sparrows" was released 19 August 2011 and debuted at #4 on the ARIA Charts. Written on the road and in New York City and recorded back home with ARIA Award-winning producer Wayne Connolly, Only Sparrows is an album that saw Pyke take a leap as an artist.

In late November 2011 Pyke released a new song off his album, singing harmonies with Katy Steele from Perth, now living in New York, in the intimate new song 'Punch in the Heart.' Its video sees both singers in a split-screen view performing twin one-take recordings singing to the camera.

For the 2011 annual ARIA Awards, Pyke was nominated for 3 awards: Best Male Artist, and with Wayne Connolly- Engineer Of The Year and Producer of The Year

Discography

Josh Pyke singing at Royal Theatre, Canberra, in December 2011

Albums

• Memories & Dust (2007) #4 AUS
• Chimney's Afire (2008) #3 AUS
• Only Sparrows (2011) #4 AUS
• The Beginning and the End of Everything (2013)

EPs

• Current Works Volume 1 (2004)
• The Doldrums (2004)
• Recordings 2003–2005 (2005)
• Feeding the Wolves (2005)
• Memories & Dust (2006) #39 AUS
• Lines on Palms (2007) #33 AUS
• Beaks of Crows (2007)

Singles

• "Kids Don't Sell Their Hopes So Fast" (2003)
• "The Doldrums" (2004)
• "Middle of the Hill" (2005) - also appears on the 2007 compilation album, The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show
• "Private Education" (2006)
• "Memories & Dust" (2006) - #39 AUS
• "Lines on Palms" (2007) - #33 AUS
• "Fed & Watered" (2007)
• "Forever Song" (2007)
• "Sew My Name" (2007)
• "The Lighthouse Song" (2008)
• "The Summer"(2008)
• "Make You Happy" (2008)
• "Don't Wanna Let You Down" (2009)
• "No One Wants a Lover" (2011)
• "World Is A Picture" (2011)
• "Leeward Side" (2013)

Other album appearances

• "Wuthering Heights" - No Man's Woman compilation album (2007)
• "Bachelor Kisses" - Write Your Adventures Down: A Tribute to The Go-Betweens compilation album (2007)
• "When We Get There" - The Black Balloon soundtrack album (2008)
• "What You're Thinking" - Passenger - Flight Of The Crow
• "Throw It Away" - 360 - Falling & Flying

External links

• Official website
• Josh Pyke on Myspace
• Josh Pyke discography at MusicBrainz
• Perth Music Interview
• Official video for 'Make You Happy' featuring a guitar boat
• Josh Pyke writes about his favourite songs by other artists