So many lockdown albums carry with them the echoes of confinement – but not Josh Pyke’s latest release, To Find Happiness. The songs are infused with the vibe of lying in a field on a summer’s day, being warmed by the sun. It’s sweet, expansive and lovely, about finding moments of happiness in everyday life.
After a long hiatus, Pyke is keen to get back on the road to play it for crowds: his struggles with anxiety saw him take a two-year break from touring before the pandemic. When he finally felt well enough, Covid hit and the lockdowns began. It is reminiscent of what happened to US performer Bo Burnham, who took five years off to deal with his severe panic attacks before preparing to tour in March 2020 – just as everything was shut down.
