Axis Neptune: Tracks That Shaped My Sound

Axis Neptune, the brainchild of producer and sound designer Josh Cotterill, is making waves with its soulful blend of jazz, indie, and synth-pop. Hailing from Scarborough, UK, Josh's love for music began early, inspired by legends like Jimi Hendrix and John Frusciante. After studying history and Chinese, he shifted focus to his true passion—creating music. In 2021, he launched his debut album Reasons, with the standout track "Cherry Red" earning BBC Introducing’s Pick of the Week. From performing live sessions while stranded on a Chinese island to rocking Beijing’s music scene, Axis Neptune is breaking boundaries and turning heads.

Bloodlines is a reflective track that explores my deep sense of nostalgia for my hometown, Scarborough. It captures the feeling of being constantly drawn back to where you come from, even when life takes you far away. Blending indie, dance, and electronic elements with falsetto vocals and layered synths, the song embodies the emotional pull of home and the memories tied to it.

1. Rhye – “The Fall”

Something about The Fall has always captivated me—the falsetto vocals, the intimate and groovy yet heart-wrenching vibe… It’s subtle, but the depth is there, and I love with how it balances softness with a strong emotional core. When I was working on Bloodlines, I wanted to capture some of that same feeling, where the vocals are up close and personal but still supported by a rich, atmospheric sound.

2. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “Honeybee”

I can't emphasize enough how much I adore this song. Honeybee has this lo-fi, dreamy vibe that's effortlessly groovy, and although the instrumentation is different, I do something similar with Bloodlines. The layered guitars and that hazy, nostalgic groove are just brilliant. It’s got this mix of indie and pop, but with a psychedelic twist that makes it stand out. I’ve always tried to bring a similar sense of atmosphere and texture to my music.

3. Her’s – “Cool With You”

Her’s Cool With You has such a laid-back groove, and the vocals just glide effortlessly over it. The smoothness and minimal production really let the emotion come through, which is something I tried to apply in Bloodlines. I wanted the rhythm to be chilled, but still leave room for the vocals and synths to shine. I just love how these guys programmed their drums and wrote songs. 

4. Al Green – Let’s Stay Together 

I've probably listened to this track more than any other. I'll never be able to sing as well as this man, but I consider this to be the gold standard of vocal performance. The chord changes and simplistic percussion have also greatly influenced me. If the song is good enough and the chords are well written, you don’t need to overcomplicate things. It's the greatest love song ever written.

5. JMSN – “Addicted”

JMSN is one of my all-time favorite artists. I could pick so many songs from his discography, but I chose 'Addicted' because it was one of the first songs of his that I heard and it had such a profound impact on me. The layering in that track is beautiful, and it really builds up emotionally as it moves. The drums are so well mixed, and the snare is just gorgeous. I guess I took on a similar approach when making “Bloodlines.” Really, I chose this song because more people should know about JMSN. I don’t know why he isn’t headlining Glastonbury or something.