Oakland songwriter Joshua Barnhart is probably best known as a member of the acclaimed Bay Area band Port O’Brien. Now working under his own name, last year saw Joshua self-release his debut album, Turn Out The Light. Today with work on the follow-up album almost complete, we’re premiering Joshua’s new single, Dance With Me.

Joshua recalls how he played the track to his friend Katelyn who suggested the track is about, “the relinquishing of the logical in favor of the physical, as a response to the impending end of the world.” An idea that Joshua agreed with, as he explains, “in a way it’s a personal song, about my own internal struggle at times (depression, anxiety), but then the lens shifts to try to encompass a sense of societal dread and how to try to deal with it. You can’t fully confront the dismal realities at every moment, and sometimes it’s necessary to try to have a good time even though everything seems so terrible.” 

Musically, Dance With Me is a shuffling slice of dreamy-psych, nodding to the likes of Ultimate Painting or Chris Cohen. The drums and acoustic guitar tick rhythmically in the background as the lead guitar plays out like one long, slow solo, and pulses of piano add bright, bursts of sonic texture. Dance With Me is a track that invites us to a party for the end of the world, and even if we’re all going up in smoke, at least it’s going to sound this good.

Dance With Me is out today. Click HERE for more information on Joshua Barnhart.