Setting the tone with vocal add libs, a dynamic guitar riff and textured riser, Josh Tepper opens the Duet Version of Built Me with intrigue and dimensionality as he sings the situational lyrics, “Knew it was over when you closed the door, you walk away, you become a ghost…”
The opus expands into a luscious pop soundscape, as Josh shares his experience with wisdom and authenticity. Speaking on the message of the song, Josh confesses, “I wrote Built Me as an ode to past relationships that weren’t necessarily good for me, but I missed the person anyway.”
We appreciate the intricate production design of the song, and the cohesive way in which his vocals fuse with those of his collaborator, Madisyn Shipman. Built Me is full of relatable prose and poetic prowess, which showcases Josh’s skillset as a songwriter; and we love the timeless melodic elements that evoke a sense of nostalgia.
The star cites Justin Timberlake, Sting, Peter Gabriel, and Phil Collins as some of his influences, which we can feel come through with Built Me, but it is clear that Josh Tepper is creating a universe of his own as he sings the self-realized lyrics, “While you were breaking me down, you were building me up for another…”
We learn that Josh is an alum of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he was a vocal major and attended NYU Tisch, where he received his BA in cinema studies. He has worked for various well known figured such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Cynthia Rowley, Currently his an executive assistant to Kelly Killoren Bensimon.
We love what Josh Tepper is creating and his intelligent songwriting, so we have added Built Me to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream his wider discography, including the original version of Built Me!