Josh Semans - To Will a Space Into Being (2023) Hi Res

Following his debut album and two EPs, Hidden Notes Records are proud to announce the release of Josh Semans’ sophomore full-length album; To Will A Space Into Being.

Released on September 15th 2023, the album comprises ondes Martenot, Juno 6, and a string quartet, represented visually by manipulated AI imagery.

For his latest project, Josh has created a world that is entirely his own; combining the retro-futuristic sound of the vintage Juno 6 synthesiser; the classically-coded string quartet; and the otherworldly ondes Martenot - one of the earliest electronic instruments, born in the trenches of the First World War.

The artwork for this album has been created by Miriam Bean as part of her ‘These Places Do Not Exist’ project. Working collaboratively with artificial intelligence, she carefully prompts imagery into existence to then be curated and manipulated using a variety of digital and manual techniques. Almost 300 versions of the album artwork were made, and carefully examined before a selection was made to be worked-on.

Adam Hinks’ (graphic designer and Hidden Notes co-founder) graphical contributions to the vinyl packaging utilise similar techniques; digital text made physical, distorted by hand on the way back into the computer.