Guest interview by @kittycat.kollective

Jos River’s ‘He’s a Genius’ first hit my socials in spring 2026 – a commentary on the different societal gender role expectations, delivered with acute observational humour. I was immediately hooked, and thrilled when I snagged a waitlist ticket to her sold-out headline show at Paper Dress Vintage, June 2026.

Everyone got a little keepsake – a painted ladybird that Jos later explained was her own sign from the universe that she was on the right track and should keep going. My ladybird is next to me right now as I work.

Before the show, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting the extended Cheadle-born family. The expression ‘raised right’ sprung to mind. They were all clearly so proud of Jos’ achievements, and rightly so, but they also exuded real warmth and kindness, chatting with all the fans.

The set that night was phenomenal – Jos seemed so comfortable, with pitch on point and the audience belting her own songs back at her – which was also very much her experience at Boardmasters later this summer. I managed to catch her in July, just after the release of her debut EP Thankyou So Very Much.

Jos, growing up in Cheadle and then moving to London to pursue music must be very different experiences. How have they shaped you and your songwriting?

“I think growing in a small town like Cheadle was a proper grounding way to grow up. I think the community and the people around me definitely helped my confidence and they all believed in me from the off which is obviously very beneficial to a young aspiring little artist. Moving to London at 14 was obviously a very different experience.

I was introduced to all different types of people and situations that properly did shape what I wanna say in my music. I’ve definitely been shaped by some of the circumstances that I’ve seen since moving to London.”

Your music has been connecting with a growing audience. But which artists do you connect with and have influenced you

“Definitely artists like Raye, Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, Cilla Black, Lily Allen, Shensea, Cardi B; a big range of people from a lot of different backgrounds and a lot of different genres of music and I think that’s why my music is so a bit of everything because I think it has a little bit of every genre in there that I’ve listened to growing up. My dad used to play me the Pogues when I was a little which has definitely influenced my style. I think it’s really cool that everything I’ve listened to for all my life has been channelled through into what I make myself. It’s like a big mixture of everything I’ve ever loved.”

When did you first realise music was something you wanted to pursue professionally, and what was the turning point that made you take that leap?

“This is a bit of a difficult question to kind of pinpoint when I actually wanted to take music seriously because I feel like it’s always been a quite deep knowing for me. I feel like all of my family have kind of always known that that was what I was gonna do, I never had a Plan B so I think it was really from birth to be honest without sounding like a twat.” 

When you’re creating new music, do you usually start with lyrics, melodies, or a specific emotion, or is it a simultaneous creation?

“I love this question. It happens differently every single time really. I think most of the time I start with a melody and the rhythm and then I kind of fill the gaps in with the lyrics and then from starting in that process, I get a concept, but sometimes I come in and I’m like ‘I really wanna write a song about this’ and that’s how it works. Most of the time though I’m just kind of free-styling and I just fill the gaps with what I’m thinking. I’ve also got a whole word bank on my notes of things that I really want to put in a song - I hate being cliché so I just have loads of random words that’ve never been in a song before and I wanna just stick in somewhere.”

Your music feels both vulnerable and empowering, often delivered with tongue-in-cheek humour. Was it difficult to be so open in your writing, or was it more of a cathartic experience?

“I love this question as well these are really good questions. I think it’s never really been difficult for me to be open. I think I’m quite an open book. You can ask me any question and I’ll tell you the exact answer without overthinking it but obviously when it’s a song that’s gonna be released and a song that me and my team are thinking of putting out, it’s a kind of different feeling - cause it’s like oh, people are actually gonna hear this shit. That’s a little bit scary sometimes especially when it’s about a specific person that definitely knows it’s about them. I feel like my emotions come out in either anger or the humour for me so that’s why my songs are quite polarising in ways. Very deep topics, just a different way of saying it.” 

What did you learn about yourself as an artist while creating and recording your EP?

“To be honest I feel like I’ve learnt a lot about myself over the last year more than I ever have in my entire life and maybe that’s not all down to me solely writing the EP. I think this last year quite a lot of things have happened. I’ve had quite a few breakthroughs mentally and I think being so clear on my emotions and being so trusting with myself which I may have not been in the past. I’ve opened myself up and allowed these songs to become what they are now which I find a very beautiful feeling.” 

Was there a particular song on the EP that challenged you the most, either creatively or emotionally, and why?

“I think every song on the EP has its own special little story. I think the most difficult one for me on there is ‘0749’ just because it’s so fucking embarrassing and at the time when I was calling him so much I literally didn’t tell any of my friends, I didn’t tell any of my family, so telling Ella and Rhys who I wrote it with was devastatingly embarrassing for me, and I think creatively that was the most challenging.” 

How has your relationship with your fans influenced your growth as both a performer and a person?

“With my fans I genuinely do believe wholeheartedly that I have reached such a beautiful little corner of the Internet. Some of the DMs and comments I get on my songs literally make me cry. Genuinely the nicest people in my corner and I couldn’t be more grateful for that. The people that show up to my gigs when I need them the most are obviously just little angels.

My mum’s always been my biggest fan so having a few fans now isn’t all that alien to me and it’s not changed me as a performer in a salient way - but as a person I think it’s just really rooted my belief in myself a little bit more. I love that people are connecting with my songs and feel so honest with me and are so trusting in me to share what they share, and to allow me to try and make them feel a little less alone in their headphones.”

What do you hope listeners take away from your music?

“Well firstly I hope some men take it in the most constructive way possible. Let’s start there. But I really do want people to feel less guilty, less embarrassed. I want them to go away thinking ‘oh so I’m not the only one’, and I think by throwing a bit of humour in my songs it can maybe help someone to take it a little bit less seriously and just remember that we’re all growing. It’s all of our first times living and we are all doing the best we can with the information we have at the time. If I’m woman enough to admit it, anyone is woman enough to admit it. Even when you know you’re being a silly twat calling someone you know isn’t good for you.” 

Now that the EP is out in the world, what’s next for you? Are there any new projects, tours, or musical directions you’re excited to explore?

“I really want a lil support tour, I’ve got SO MANY more songs on the way. I don’t even stress but I’ll keep treating myself kindly, taking care of myself to be the happiest I can be.” 

I have a feeling Jos Rivers will be exactly as happy as she deserves and would make the perfect ready-made winter support act, should the universe be listening again.

Catch Jos Rivers:

29 Aug  Portsmouth Victorious

17 Oct  Manchester Neighbourhood Festival

18 Oct  Birmingham Sunflower Lounge

20 Oct  London Colours