With misty synth layers and a jagged drum march, Josh Levi pushes love’s collapse into a chant of survival on Hold On.
Why it hits
Josh Levi comes in like he’s steering through storm weather, both hands tight on the wheel. Every “hold on” lands like a call, steadying the space between ache and defiance. He keeps the delivery measured, each line pushing the tension forward, and the hook gives the verses a place to circle back to. It’s controlled, but it never feels stiff—there’s motion built into the chant.
What it sounds like
The opening sets the tone on the shadowy side. Digital-piano chords stretching long, while a sharp chirp—part birdcall, part chopped vocal—pings with reverb. Then the floor drops, and a rumbly kick stomps in, dragging a heavy tail. The snare rattles with metallic buzz, its sharp crack cutting through while the pad swells blanket the mix. Underneath, a ghosted piano phrase flickers low, almost hidden, shaping the groove.
When Josh steps in, his style leans rhythmic first, melodic second. He sing-speaks the verses with bounce and slides into tone when the line needs more lift. The hook spreads out; guitars bathed in chorus glow and drift underwater, as the drums keep fizzing on that off-kilter lean. By the time it all fades down to silence, the last “hold on” hangs in the air like unfinished business.
The cut-through
A big part of what carries the record is how Levi flips his delivery back and forth without losing focus. He moves between rhythm and melody like it’s second nature, giving the vocal a street-serenade tone—up close, stripped, and honest. The writing cuts blunt and plain: “queen of the damned,” “you love yourself,” “feel like a boy up in mummy’s room.” Each line drops like a marker, tightening the stakes.
Repetition becomes the driver here. Every call of “hold on” shifts meaning—first as want, then as shield, finally as a point of clarity. That looping structure becomes the track’s backbone, mapping the themes that will run through HYDRAULIC: personal weight, tight framing, vocals at the center. The pads and guitar keep the record glowing, while the kick and snare march it forward. “Hold On” moves through frayed affection, constant pushback, and the stubborn hold that stays even when it hurts. It also doubles as a glimpse of where Josh Levi is headed, a sharp taste of the mood and weight his upcoming HYDRAULIC album promises to carry.
Credits
Producer(s): Eydren, G40, Impede, Oscar, Puku • Label(s): Raedio LLC; Atlantic Recording Corporation • Release: 09/2025 • Album: HYDRAULIC