Petal Motel : Josh Kimbrough

Petal Motel Podcast

We interviewed Josh Kimbrough, the fingerstyle guitarist and composer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Josh put out his fantastic solo debut record, Slither, Soar, and Disappear last year on Tompkins Square, as well as a Christmas EP entitled Yule Chime.
I wanted to know a bit more about Josh’s history of being immersed in the Chapel Hill-area music scene as a young adult which he obliged filling me in on. He also described how his interests and proclivities shifted from his math rock roots to where he is now as an established acoustic guitar instrumentalist, influenced by labelmates on Tompkins Square as well as Fernando Sor and Freddie King.
Josh’s story about the inspiration behind these songs is incredibly sweet and striking. The album is rooted in nature and inspired by fatherhood. It ponders the depth and meaning in simple rituals, like how a daily walk through nature seen through your newborn’s eyes can become an intense, eye-opening, and extremely touching experience.
If you haven't heard this acclaimed collection of songs - a cycle, if you will- please do. What a gift this record is to us, the listeners, and for Simon, to have this trove of sonic moments that his dad so lovingly created and preserved for him.