Navy Blue Songs and Late-Night Feelings: Inside Joshua Bromberg’s Music

Article by Manuela Bittencourt

From the bustling streets of Manhattan to the intimate corners of his dorm room studio, Joshua Bromberg has been crafting a sound that’s as raw as it is relatable. The 19-year-old singer-songwriter isn’t just making music — he’s telling his story, note by note, lyric by lyric.

The Beginning of Something Real

Josh’s love affair with music began early. Growing up in a musical-theatre-loving family in NYC, he was surrounded by Broadway shows and artistic expression. Yet, it wasn’t until about six years ago that he picked up the pen to write his own songs. “I found that it was incredibly cathartic and freeing to write any emotion I was feeling, and soon I couldn’t stop,” he recalls. Songwriting became his lifeline, a place where feelings found their form. Performing those songs for the first time confirmed his path. Whether at a high school talent show or his first gig at The Bitter End, sharing his music with an audience sparked a thrill that has never faded. And when it came to choosing a stage name? “I wanted to use my actual name,” Josh says. “The artist me and the real me often feel intertwined rather than disconnected. It’s me, without any filter or disguise.”

Crafting a Sound Beyond Labels

Josh’s music defies genre conventions. His songs are personal stories, moments of life captured in melody. Some are upbeat, some tender, but each carries a narrative. “I want people to relate to the music and feel the same emotions I’m conveying, tying it to their own experiences,” he explains. His creative process begins at the piano or guitar, often with a chord progression. Lyrics come next, mined from a constantly updated list of notes on his phone. “Most of my songs are autobiographical,” he says. “An idea usually comes from an experience or strong emotion I felt.” Once written, he records and produces the songs himself, often right from his dorm room — a modern-day bedroom-to-world journey. Influences range from Lizzy McAlpine to Conan Gray, but Josh’s signature is unmistakable: a habit of cramming words into songs, ranting and unfiltered, capturing every emotion. “It’s part of who I am,” he admits.

Moments That Define Him

Releasing his debut EP, NIGHT THRILLER, marked a turning point. “It was exciting and terrifying to release a full body of personal work to the world,” he says. Alongside the EP, his experience at Summer Grammy Camps and the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami have been defining milestones. Setbacks, too, shaped him. Rejections from music schools once left him questioning his path. “I try to tell myself everyday that everything happens for a reason,” Josh reflects. This resilience shows in his music: confident, clear, and unapologetically authentic. His latest single, I DIDN’T REALLY LIKE YOU ANYWAY, exemplifies this, delivering both story and sound exactly as he envisioned. Even in the studio, magic moments arise. Recording NIGHT DRIVING, he hesitated over a third chorus — but his producer’s encouragement led to his favorite part of the song. “Listening to that breakdown gives me chills everytime,” he says.

The Person Behind the Music

Joshua Bromberg isn’t a band; he is the dreamer, perfectionist, peacemaker, and rebel all in one. Offstage, he finds inspiration everywhere: friends, family, film, books, vacations — anything that sparks a story. Before performing, stage fright hits like clockwork, but a deep breath helps him center himself. If his music were a color, it would be navy blue: smooth on the outside, rough and spiky within, with a flavor both savory and catchy. The texture mirrors the duality of his songs — beautiful yet cutting, relatable yet intensely personal.

The Message and The Legacy

At its heart, Josh’s music is about connection. He writes for the listener who feels too much, who says “I’m fine” too often, and needs a soundtrack that calls them out emotionally. Themes of relationships — anger, jealousy, sadness, joy — recur, reflecting life’s common but complex emotions. “I write my music as a form of personal expression,” Josh says. Looking ahead, Josh is working on a second EP and new songs, dreaming of collaborations across his Frost School of Music community and bringing his visual ideas to life in music videos. Success, for him, is simple: making a living from music and seeing people resonate with it.

Keeping The Fire Alive

The flame of inspiration burns daily for Josh. Writing is part of his routine — something he returns to every day to stay connected to his instincts and emotions, while the people around him continue to fuel his creativity. If he could send one song into space, it would be Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles, and I think that says a lot about him as a person and artist. It reflects a sense of hope that never feels forced, the kind that emerges naturally after sitting with the darkness — something his music does with ease. Joshua Bromberg is a storyteller, a cathartic conduit, and an unapologetically authentic voice. His songs are for those who feel deeply, love loudly, and live life unfiltered. Press play — and let the story unfold.

Josh’s debut EP, NIGHT THRILLER, is available now on all streaming platforms and offers a deeply personal introduction to his world as a songwriter. With another EP already in the works and a brand-new single I DIDN’T REALLY LIKE YOU ANYWAY dropping today, now is the perfect time to tap in — because Joshua Bromberg is just getting started. Make sure to follow him on instagram for updates @joshuabrombergmusic