☆Q&A with Josué Josué!☆

Josué Josué on Tacos from Mexicali, Embracing His 'Silly' Side in Lyrics, and Dropping New Music This Year

Growing up in the Imperial Valley holds many meanings. It’s about the close-knit family connections, the chance encounters with elementary school friends at the store, and the scorching weather that makes us valley natives unique.

Border boy Josué Josué captures these influences vividly and lightheartedly in his music. On "98 West," he exclaims, "Forever love you though, you are the hottest to me / 110 fuck shit I mean that literally," a testament to the blistering heat and intense affection for his roots. In "Cotton Candy Clouds," he raps, "Man I’m on my mission / paper and pluma / por mi culpa, por mi culpa, por mi gran culpa," seamlessly blending English and Spanish, reflecting the duality of his cultural experience of growing up in a Latino household with a deeply ingrained sense of religion.

Josué weaves all of these aspects into his lyrics with effortless transitions, making his music resonate on a personal level. His ability to switch between languages in every track adds a unique texture, bringing to life the small details of everyday life in the valley and San Diego.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Josué about how his diverse background influences his music, his admiration for icons like Prince and Juan Gabriel, and his favorite A24 films. We also had a quick photo shoot at Vinyl Junkies in South Park, San Diego. Keep an eye out for those shots throughout the Q&A!

Scroll down to read our conversation and get to know Josué Josué.

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Ale: Hiii so to start things off, tell me a bit about you and any activities you enjoy doing outside of music!

Josué: I’m from Calexico in the Imperial Valley. I’ve been there since I was 19, and then moved out to San Diego. It’ll be 10 years in August. I like to binge watch soccer and hang out with friends and family. Man. . . it’s hard to think of hobbies outside of music [laughs}. I like to game, watch movies, collect vinyl, books, and bobbleheads [shows bobblehead]. Honestly anything creative.

Ale: Nice! I also love collecting vinyl. Do you have any favorite record stores?

Josué: There used to be one out here called Record City. They have a cool selection of hip-hop. They just vacated the building, and I am not sure where they moved. I recently went to Amoeba. Anytime I’m in LA, I go there. Also Vinyl Junkies in South Park would be one of the best in my opinion.

Ale: I love Amoeba! So in your TikTok and Instagram, you have Calexico, Mexicali, and San Diego in your bio. I was wondering how your background in these areas shape your musical style and the stories you want to tell?

Josué: I keep it pretty silly when it comes to my music. It’s just a reflection of me, because I’m overall pretty loose. Mexicali and Calexico influence a lot of names of tracks and also the jokes I have with my friends. I don’t think I can write without thinking about back home. I love San Diego, and it influences me a lot too. I can relate the Mexicali thing to how people from San Ysidro cross. I know a lot of people don’t have those types of experiences. It’s cool to be able to share those little stories. I mean you’re from El Centro, so I feel like you get it. I feel like we always look from the inside out like, “Oh New York is so cool,” or “I wonder what it’s like to grow up in LA.” A kid from New York is never gonna know what it’s like to cross the border.

Ale: How has that influenced your visuals for things like cover art?

Josué: The visual of the charro like that comes from seeing my dad compete. Also the radio DJ in my first EP. Since my parents don’t speak English, I knew they were gonna be metiches enough to listen to the tape so I wanted to give them something they could understand. The radio DJ came from being influenced by, I don’t know if you remember, “Escucha escucha la poderosa!” Spanish is just my comfort zone like even right now I’m nervous, and I feel like switching to Spanish [laughs]. I don’t think my music would be the way it sounds if it wasn’t for Mexicali and the Imperial Valley. Everytime I go out there, I just wanna stay. My parents are there and stuff. I already built my foundation here in San Diego when it comes to music though.

Ale: I totally get it. How has living in San Diego influenced your music career so far?

Josué: All my shows are here and in LA, so it’s way easier. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining at all, but I think if I didn’t bring my music here to San Diego and actually gain traction here, I don’t think back home would have caught on. Not that I was slept on, but I was just doing my own thing and it caught on more here and then traveled back home and became a full circle thing. I think I’ve only had one performance in the valley. The set was cool like the spot where it was at was nice.

Ale: You described your music as silly and loose, which I feel are good descriptors. How do you approach writing your lyrics?

Josué: It depends on the song honestly. With “KANYE ASADA”, I’ve had the opening line since my sophomore year. I used to battle rap before I took making music seriously. My whole goal was to make my friends laugh. So like the original line for Kanye was, “I got Tostitos in my bag / jamaica in my cup / horchata ain’t that bad.” I could have kept it like that, but I wanted to make it broad for more people so I thought like I got weed in my bag so I changed Tostitos to doja. Sometimes just having a conversation influences my lyrics. I know at one point I’m going to reference this interview in a track and shout you out [laughs]. I think a lot start as jokes. The track “I’m a Player”, my producer and I made it while on Playstation. He was joking around saying, “I’m so cool that when this happens, this happens” and so I was like “I’m such a player that if all girlfriends meet each other, they’re gonna like each other.” We all started laughing and knew we were onto something. 

Ale: Do you have a favorite line you have written?

Josué: That’s hard. I want to say one of the new ones that haven’t dropped. I think I’m gonna go with “Border baby til the casket drop” or “Too gringo for the primos, too paisa for the hynas”.

Ale: Have you always gravitated towards hip-hip?

Josué: When I met my engineer, I had already recorded some hip-hop tracks that were horrible [laughs]. But I was doing some indie rock projects. I’m really into like Beach Fossils and stuff like that. Even though I’m a major hip-hop head, and I bump it everyday, I’ll bump stuff that’s not that. I don’t know what I was on before [laughs]. I was doing stuff like Jerry Paper like pitched voice stuff which was fun. I think a mutual that makes hip-hop was recording with my engineer, and he had heard me rap so he was like “You should hop on this track.” My engineer looked at me like, “You rap?” and I was like “Um yeah!” and then after he was like, “Why aren’t you doing this?” and I was like “So are you saying my other stuff is bad?” [laughs]. Then he was like “No, you just seem more comfortable.” Honestly, if it were up to me I’d be making pop music. I just can’t sing. I rap, because I can’t sing.

Ale: Can you tell me a bit about the creativity behind your 2022 EP, “Sorry For The Lag”? The clown cover is cool!

Josué: Yeah so the reason why I did the clown cover on “Sorry For The Lag” was because I was thinking like, “Okay no more clowning around Josué. You need to drop music.” Originally I wanted a picture of me painting my face or taking off the paint, but I thought that picture was really funny. I think it showed who I am like a pinche payaso you know like just having fun and making music [laughs]. I just felt like I always take forever to drop. I am dropping one in three weeks though. You’re like the first person I’ve verbally told. 

Ale: Are there any current artists right now that are influencing your music?

Josué: Earl Sweatshirt, he’s like my age. At the time when I wanted to drop music, I was too scared so it was nice to see him do it. Also Vince Staples. I love Frank Ocean too and Juan Gabriel. Prince too! Look, I have a little Prince figure [shows Prince Funko Pop]. Blou shaped me with how I rap. He’s a more mature emcee though. Yo digo puras pendejadas like the way I watch Spongebob is the same way I want someone to enjoy my projects. I want them to have a couple laughs here and maybe be like “Oh that’s a cool little reference.” Even in my saddest songs, I want someone to feel good.

Ale: I feel like you’re doing a good job of doing that in your music! So we are halfway through the year, any upcoming projects that are going to drop in this second half?

Josué: So I have enough to drop two projects this year. I’ll probably do it if I’m not scared. I’m excited for anyone who’s interested in checking them out. I also have some opportunities to do some shows outside of San Diego. Couple shows in the valley, do a little homecoming show. Few shows outside of the state. Chicago and Seattle, I’m for sure gonna be there. Mexicali and Mexico City as well. Those are the few I can think of off the top of my head. I’m excited for my friends’ projects too. Everyone’s dropping music from here and back home. I heard Juni’s dropping music, so I’m excited to see what he’s got cooking. Maybe we’ll have something coming out too, who knows. Me and him just click like somos iguales I don’t know [laughs]. That dude’s really really cool.

Ale: Yeah I love his [Juni] music! I’m excited to hear whatever you guys come up with. So for the last few questions, I like doing some get-to-know-me super short ones. To start off, favorite album of all time?

Josué: “Channel Orange” by Frank Ocean or “The Minstrel Show” by Little Brother. Wait! No actually, we’re gonna lock in “Below the Heavens” by Blu and Exile, because if it wasn’t for that album, I wouldn’t be making music.

Ale: Dream collaboration?

Josué: Working with The Alchemist like having something produced by The Alchemist. Rapping on one of his beats. . .like I’d just quit like I’ve seen it all. 

Ale: You mentioned to me that you like movies, what is one movie you’d recommend that everyone should watch once? 

Josué: Everyone should watch Shrek [laughs]. A more serious answer is The Darjeeling Limited by Wes Anderson. His cinematography is fucking great. It’s about three brothers who link up with their mom in like India. 

Ale: Yes, Wes Anderson is cool! I don’t keep up with directors too much though. I keep up with certain production companies like A24. Do you like their movies?

Josué: Yuuup. Look [shows A24 Logo Lighter]. I just started at this new brewery and a guy opened up this drawer and it had  hella lighters and was like, “Hey do you need a lighter?”. I saw the A24 one and I geeked out like it’s so sick. I love their movies. I just saw Iron Claw and I really like Past Lives and Moonlight.  

Ale: Those are all so good! So what’s your go-to food spot?

Josué: There is nothing like being back home and crossing over for some tacos in Mexicali. Even if I don’t cross, they’ll call and be like, “Aqui estoy en Mexicali quieres algo?” I think Acatlán [Asadero Acatlán de Juárez] has a drive through now too [laughs]. That or In-N-Out. You can’t go wrong with that. 

Ale: So last question, what quote or motto do you live by?

Josué: Si la vas cagar, cagala chilo like if you’re gonna do something might as well go all out. I can say I make music, but I don’t wanna be on my deathbed like “I should’ve dropped or made something better.” I’d rather look back and just laugh like, “Yeah I made that.”

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I have immense admiration for Josué’s writing, especially in a landscape where Latino representation in the writers' rooms of Hollywood television shows and movies remains scarce. His authentic use of Spanglish truly reflects our everyday experiences, and I’m looking forward to seeing where his music takes him!

Be sure to listen to Josué Josué’s music and follow him on Instagram to stay updated on his upcoming projects! Also, check out the new @keeponurradar Instagram! I will be creating posts for all future articles, so make sure to check them out!

Featuring: Josué Josué @itsjosuesfault

Photographer: Martha Moreno @marthaa.22

Writer: Alejandra Moreno @alejandrmor