Luxembourg artist Josh Island has returned with Artemis, a poetic and myth-inspired new single that blends folk textures with rich imagery and cinematic indie-pop ambition. The track was released today and received its live debut earlier this week as Josh opened for Katie Melua at Rockhal.
“Playing it for the first time in that specific setting, in the main hall, was a little nerve-wracking,” Josh admitted in conversation with Sam Steen on Today Radio. “But I think we did a good job, and people enjoyed it. It was a nice teaser and a fun way to use that show to launch the song.”
Inspired by Greek mythology and Josh’s time living in Athens, Artemis is named after the goddess of the hunt and the moon. The track tells the story from the perspective of an unseen onlooker who is punished for watching Artemis bathe, a haunting image that Josh says stuck with him as he walked through the city’s historic gardens.
“I wrote this song in Athens. I find the city very inspiring, and of course, Greek history plays a big part,” he told Sam. “There’s something magnetic about Athens… The myth says that anyone who watched Artemis bathe would be turned into a stag. I took that myth and told it from the first-person perspective, as the observer.”
Musically, Artemis carries echoes of artists like Hozier and Ben Howard, but with Josh’s own warm delivery and lyrical craft. The song was produced by Nelson Canoa in Portugal, with contributions from musicians affiliated with The Black Mamba.
Josh is following Artemis with a handful of acoustic shows this summer, and is steadily building toward the release of a new album in early 2026. Artemis follows his first single Courage, a reflective track on fear and vulnerability, and offers a more mystical and narrative turn.
There’s no full video for Artemis, but Josh teased that short visual clips will accompany the release. “All you need is someone walking through a field,” he joked. “That’s the secret to every good video.”
Artemis is streaming now on all major platforms and don’t forget to check out Josh’s bandcamp!
