Middle Name John emerges as a faceless expression of everyday, mirroring the uncertainty of life in his ramblings. Phoenix-born and London-based for the past decade, the artist has immersed himself in local music scenes, becoming heavily involved in the Love Music Hate Racism campaign as a musician and organiser. Rooted in a belief in a future without oppressed people, poverty, war, borders or oligarchs, his music sets on a mission to promote unity across the planet.
Debuting with the single ‘Different’, Middle Name John dives into a world of jazz, lo-fi, rock and electronic music, meeting at a futuristic and unshackled crossroads of the genre with an extremely unique sound. The track’s vocals bounce between unsettled spoken-word and infectious vocal cries of the line “Everything is different”. The track then emerges from the electronic subtleties with a gentle guitar melody, the notes pushing through a cloud of experimentalism. It’s an exciting debut, creating serious anticipation for his forthcoming album Obviously Confidential.
Middle Name John shares, “The recording process for this album was the most scattered of any project I had embarked on before. We were all locked down in a global pandemic but I knew I wanted to start a new project. I wanted it to be lyrical while reflecting on the strange times we were all experiencing as a society. I also knew that I wanted to work with a couple of close friends in whatever capacity I could, to somehow reach a level of interplay while embracing the bizarre limitations laid out in front of us.
The limitations of recording during a global pandemic inspired the music. Rather than trying to create a band sound I wanted to have a crack at creating something “in the box” or quasi-electronic. I was using contorted guitar sounds on wacky drum samples to ignite lyrical sparks that reflected the confusion and uncertainty of a time. And I don’t think the feeling of that time has gone away, thus it feels relevant to put it out.”
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