QPAC

Josh Cohen (b. 1984, Auckland, New Zealand) is an Australian composer, pianist and ambient artist based in Berlin known for a unique style that merges jazz and modern classical music, as well as spirited live performances inspired by electronic music sets.

Josh’s innovative and improvisational approach to playing conjures all the dynamism of iconic electronic music producers, merging it with the rich atmospheres of Impressionist pianists. A unique synthesis of classical and jazz training underscores his sound, but it is the sense of space, simplicity and intensity of emotion that have driven over 20 million YouTube views and granted Radiohead’s approval for songbooks featuring Josh’s idiosyncratic arrangements to be released by their publisher, Faber Music.

Josh’s live performances are also a defining part of his artistry, and his main‑stage appearances in festivals have fast become critical highlights and audience favourites. A series of live‑streamed, improvised events have also enraptured audiences with their audacious energy and dynamism – a vigour which seems more akin to that of a DJ playing a live set than a classical pianist.

In 2019, Josh released his songbook Radiohead for Solo Piano, containing a band‑approved selection of improvised and innovatively arranged Radiohead tracks published by Faber Music and featuring artwork by Stanley Donwood. Josh shared Livestreams from Clifton Hill – a nine‑and‑a‑half‑hour series of ten weekly improvisations live‑streamed between May and August 2021.

After moving to Berlin in 2022, Josh released his debut album of solo piano works in 2023 entitled Weird Time Signature via his new label DNTWIG. Recorded in the Église Saint‑Michel in Lagrasse, South of France, Josh shared Lagrasse Organ Jam in June 2024 – a 27‑minute improvisation exploring the many synth‑esque subtleties and nuances not ordinarily found in traditional organ music. In November 2024, Josh released his second band‑approved songbook Radiohead for Solo Piano II via Faber Music, once again featuring artwork by artist Stanley Donwood. He is currently working on the Emergency Piano Hotline – an online tutorial project for his Radiohead arrangements.