_{By Madeline Harris}

The first time I listened to the 2024 EP Nothing Lasts, Nothing Ends, I went in completely blind. Right off the bat, I was transported into a whirlwind of artistry that dives and meanders throughout the psyche of Josh Carlin. It’s a powerful and contemplative independent project that blew me out of the water.

To become fully immersed in Carlin’s world and absorb every bit of this EP, giving it the focus it deserves, is essential. It would be a disservice to let it shuffle in the background; there’s a lot to pay attention to, a lot to dissect. It’s entirely self-produced and Carlin plays every instrument heard, going so far as to take drum lessons to achieve the sound he wanted. This orchestral depth is a marvel. The EP’s fluid and freethinking structure allows Carlin to fully embody himself as an artist, rejecting conventional expectations of what constitutes a song. He brings to the table a rare and unparalleled authenticity.

The first track, “Spinning,” is immediately mobile with a multidimensionality that takes your hand and leads you headfirst into a prism of Carlin’s inner monologue. It directs and refracts your attention, wavering between the freedom of expression and the depths of introspective rumination. It’s simultaneously euphoric and existential, and it finds freedom in existing without creative constraint. The eight minutes are adorned by airy vocals bearing a resemblance to that of Thom Yorke’s and are backed by theatrical, Coldplay-esque piano. It evokes a complex emotional response that is hard to pinpoint but teeters somewhere along the line of bittersweetness. The lyrics strike me every time they repeat and grow in urgency: “The world’s still spinning— It’s just without you.” They are broadly applicable but delivered in a cinematic vibrancy that is anything but muted. I truly love this track and can’t imagine tiring of it any time soon.

The next track, “Everything I Wish I Didn’t Hate,” is a thorough self-reflection and the satisfying result of layers of inner workings ticking in their own time. Similar to the first track, it is striking, philosophical, and once again explores the unconscious mind and translates the findings into art.

Things settle down a little bit in “Does It Matter?,” which provides a more conventional listening experience without sacrificing its originality. This song, congruent with the EP’s overall paradoxical ambiance, pairs the sound of bright and exuberant piano with mystifying lyrics that encourage reflection. While straightforward, their content is heavy and leaves the listener reevaluating the way they interact with the world. It feels subtly apocalyptic and walks the line between panic and peace. 

The final track “Perennial Depression” wraps up the EP with a more upbeat sound than what has come before, but doesn’t stray from the trademark perplexity that paints the entire project. The chord progressions are unexpectedly buoyant and pair with vocals that sail brightly atop the song’s heavier themes.

All 22 minutes of this EP absolutely flew as I studied this project. The fact Carlin did it alone is altogether stunning and demonstrates how fluently one can express themselves when they ditch expectations. Pursuing creative projects alone is daunting, but by all measures I believe this one is a success. I hope that this EP gains the traction it deserves, as a tremendous amount of thought and talent went into every bit of it. It is a work of art that, from front to back, is packed with complexity and swims freely through the boundless realm of abstract thought. 

Keep tabs on Carlin’s work via his Instagram and check out “Spinning” below!