Artists like Josie Cotton are priceless. Unlike many of her peers, she didn’t follow the path to becoming a household name. Instead, she embraced cult hero status early on and did the work of becoming a legend.

Bomp! Records, founded by Greg and Suzy Shaw in 1974, became a pivotal force in launching bands like 20/20, The Romantics, and countless punk, garage, and power pop acts. And their best-selling single of all time? Anybody? “Johnny, Are You Queer?” by Josie Cotton.

Josie burst onto the scene with an energy that couldn’t be ignored. Her blend of talent, beauty, and bold spirit quickly landed her in the pop culture moment of the 80s with an appearance in Valley Girl, the Nicolas Cage classic that also featured The Plimsouls (man, what a time to be alive!). She released two albums during the 80s, then, after 1993’s Frightened By Nightingales, she stepped away from the spotlight to hone her craft behind the scenes, opening her own studio and working with artists like Elliott Smith. But by 2006, Josie was back to making music of her own, and she hasn’t slowed down since.

In a digital world where so much of today’s music vanishes from memory as soon as it drops off the charts, Josie Cotton’s catalog remains a physical and emotional bridge between eras. Her iconic albums, Convertible Music and From the Hip, still transport us back to the 80s, while her new releases (still on vinyl!) point toward the future with a sense of purpose few artists maintain after four decades in the industry. Josie Cotton not only stays relevant—she keeps pushing boundaries.

In this crazy world, I find that bridge to be as comforting as it is exciting. As long as we have Josie Cotton, things are going to be ok.

Break out the bubble wrap!

The post Break Out the Bubble-Wrap! appeared first on Pop Rocks Radio.