VIBRANT TONES FOLKSY TUNES. Despite a busy modeling career, English singer songwriter Josh Beech is able to harmonize both worlds to shine in the colorful garbs of the season
Outfit by Salvatore Ferragamo
The stories of some of the world’s greatest models often start in other paths—sports, music, theater and even manual labor. Naturally, once they’re in the biz, modeling comes first and their earlier livelihoods or passions descend into the realm of hobbies, occasional pastimes and memories. That’s not, however, the case with Josh Beech.
This London-born model’s first love was music, and he never let it go—not even when Burberry booked him for a campaign not long after he was first discovered. His portfolio kept expanding with projects for the likes of Givenchy, Moschino and Tommy Hilfiger, to say nothing of the countless editorials he’s done. Yet, his music career hasn’t suffered from it. If anything, it has grown as Beech continued to experiment with various genres, formed his own band and introduced several major releases. How does he do it and how far will he go? Let’s hear it from the man himself.
DA MAN: Hi Josh, thanks for having us. What are you currently busy working on, music-wise and modeling-wise?
Josh Beech: Hey, I am currently writing new music and have been shooting a bunch of cool stuff that will be out later this year. Watch this space!
DA MAN: Let’s talk about music first. Following the release of your EP, “Fight Strong,” are you going to focus more on being a solo artist instead of playing in a band?
Josh Beech: I actually have a couple of projects/records that I am working on right now. One of them is more of a band and the other is just me! It’s going to be a fun year for me as far as music is concerned. I can’t wait for you all to hear what I have been working on…
DA MAN: In terms of genre, it seems that you’re playing more of acoustics and folky sounds, which is quite far from your punk band background. Will you switch genres in the future, or you intend to stay on this path for now?
Josh Beech: I have no idea! I just make the music that feels right to me at the time. I never really want to be put in a box; I just write what I write! For me, music is about expressing emotions and we have all different emotions at dierent times. So, for me just writing in one style seems strange and almost unnatural.
Outfit by 3.1 Phillip Lim
Outfit by Etro
DA MAN: Ultimately, what kind of musician do you want to be? How do you want to be heard?
Josh Beech: I guess I just want to be recognized for my music and have my music heard by as many people as possible. I am not on a mission to be a big rock star; I am just on a mission to be heard!
DA MAN: Juggling a modeling and a music career sounds nearly impossible, what with the short notice for modeling gigs that might take you to all sorts of faraway places and the need to tour for music. How do you actually do it?
Josh Beech: I have been lucky and managed to make it work for the last nine years. It does come with some sacrifices, but it’s all worth it. You just need to have priorities, and as long as you do what’s most important to you at that time, it will all work out as it’s meant to.
DA MAN: Let’s go back to the moment when you were scouted back in 2008. Did Sherrill Smith tell you what made model material?
Josh Beech: [Laughs] I can’t believe it was that long ago! Wow, time flies. Yeah, Sherrill just asked if I was a model, I said no and then she said, well, you should be!
Outfit by Moschino
Outfit by Louis Vuitton
DA MAN: You also got on the cover of Vogue Hommes that year, shot by Hedi Slimane. Did that become some sort of “aha” moment that convinced you that you could make a living as a professional model?
Josh Beech: Yeah, I guess so. At the time and even today it all felt surreal. Life can bring you the unexpected, and sometimes the unexpected is f*****g awesome!
DA MAN: But in all honesty, do you think modeling is an easy job?
Josh Beech: I think it’s easier than laying bricks or being a doctor and lots of other jobs out there, yeah. The hardest bit about it is the traveling and the long days. Apart from that, yeah, it’s not the hardest job in the world and I feel very lucky.
DA MAN: Since now you’re living in Los Angeles, does it make booking modeling gigs any easier?
Josh Beech: I think that living in L.A. actually makes it harder for me. L.A. is quite a commercial city, so most of the jobs out here are that way. Generally, I book more high fashion jobs. so it means I do a lot of traveling while living in L.A. I can’t complain, though—I love to travel!
DA MAN: A couple of years back, your wife and you launched a clothing brand, “Two Halves.” How was it like to work in the fashion business other than posing in front of a photographer’s camera?
Josh Beech: It was really fun. I loved being behind the camera and building a brand. It was a really good experience. Unfortunately, we just didn’t have the time to make it grow, so we decided to sell the company. I would definitely do something like that again in the future, though, now that I have more experience.
Outfit by 3.1 Phillip Lim
DA MAN: You’ve done a lot of modeling. Still, do you still have any goals that you haven’t achieved yet in that career path?
Josh Beech: With modeling, I think I have exceeded all my original expectations and I am grateful for any jobs that come my way. Outside of modeling I am definitely going to explore TV presenting at some point. It’s something I would love to do and once I have the time, I am going to give it a shot.
DA MAN: By the way, you’re also known to have a lot of tattoos. How many so far, and what was the last one you added?
Josh Beech: [Laughs] Too many to count! I lost count years ago. The last one I added was a palm tree.
DA MAN: Who is your most favorite musician, dead or alive?
Josh Beech: I would have to say Jeff Buckley or Kurt Cobain.
DA MAN: What are your favorite song lyrics? And could you recite the parts you like the most?
Josh Beech: Jeff Buckle’s “Grace”:
There’s the moon asking to stay.
Long enough for the clouds to fly me away.
Well it’s my time coming; I’m not afraid, afraid to die.
My fading voice sings of love.
But she cries to the clicking of time, oh, time.
Wait in the fire, wait in the fire.
Wait in the fire, wait in the fire.
Outfit by Givenchy
Photography Mitchell Nguyen McCormack
Styling Lauren LaRocca
Grooming Grace Phillips using Shiseido and R+Co
Model Josh Beech/Next Model Management