Pete Josef – Lifeline EP

Blending soul, folk, synth-pop and gospel influences, Pete Josef’s Lifeline EP is a rich, genre-crossing statement on humanity and connection.

“A statement about our humanity, and a call to reach far outside ourselves and deep within.”

With the Lifeline EP, Pete Josef brings together a body of work that has unfolded over recent years: uniting the socially conscious Defence EP with a new run of singles that expand both his sonic and emotional range. The result is a cohesive and multi-dimensional release, moving fluidly between introspection and uplift, grief and celebration, protest and connection.

At its core, Lifeline navigates the complexities of modern life, personally, socially, and spiritually. Where the Defence EP confronted themes of climate crisis, mental health, ego, and self-determination, the newer material reaches toward connection, community, and resilience.

Opening the EP, The Tree sets the tone with warmth and movement, a celebration of love and togetherness inspired by a wedding in a meadow. The image of the tree becomes both a place of gathering and a symbol of grounding; a quiet anchor in times of change. Driven by Hammond organ, gospel-tinged vocals, and a steadily building, soul-infused arrangement, the track unfolds like a communal procession, joyful, expansive, and rooted in shared experience.

From there, Looking Up leans into hope and human connection, carried by groove-led arrangements and a sense of openness that runs through the record.

On The Big Five, Josef shifts into shimmering synth-pop territory, offering a joyful tribute to the women who shape our lives.
“It is a song for all ages, and a song for all people who recognise the power in the amazing women around us,” he explains.

The title track, Lifeline, delivers a more direct and anthemic moment. Built around raw, guitar-driven energy, it reflects Josef’s dialogue with a younger generation of activists—its refrain becoming a call for unity, courage, and collective responsibility.

A deeply personal centrepiece arrives with So You Should, written in the wake of Josef’s father’s passing. Stripped-back and intimate, it plays like a conversation across time.

The EP’s second half reconnects with the foundation of the Defence EP: Utopia and Defence challenge environmental and political complacency, while Sunny Side Up, Carbon, and Lost Yourself explore vulnerability, grief, and identity.

Across Lifeline, Josef’s musical language remains distinctive. Blending vintage soul, folk, and blues with afro grooves, highlife, synth-pop, and gospel influences. The result is a record that feels both grounded and open, personal and outward-looking.

More than a collection of songs, Lifeline is an invitation to reflect, to connect, and to engage with the world around us.

A reminder that, in uncertain times, we look to each other and sometimes, all we need is a lifeline.

Listen or download Pete Josef Lifeline EP here: https://sonarkollektiv.lnk.to/Lifeline