Artist Spotlight: mustbejohn
In the age of online placidity and zombified commercialism, finding an artist whose sound wholly encapsulates who they are as a person is rare. Someone who doesn’t exaggerated or romanticise themselves online or through their music, but instead remains grounded in their individualism. Meet mustbejohn.
An instinctive and free-flowing creator, John’s musical nuance is elevated by his demeanour and persona. Really, he’s just a fucking good geezer. Defining himself as a glass half full kind of guy, the uplifting energy of the sonics is impactful, but it is the candid and hopeful realism that overwhelmingly resonates. John is a voice of the generation; the vanguard of cheeky pints, hazy raves and weekend romance.
Having burst onto the scene with indie-tinged dance groover Jenny’s House back in 2019, John has been swiftly building an eclectic and colourful discography, with two EP’s dripping in dynamism and features from UK underground OG’s Joe James and Feux. Most recently, John unveiled his latest rager, New Gen, epitomising the tepid insipidness felt by his age group, whilst maintaining his unique faculty for optimism.
I spoke to the man himself about his new single New Gen, his unwavering drive for creating, and the intricacies of his style and musical outlook.
Who are you listening to right now?
I’m listening to a lot of Jeshi, he’s really cool. A lot of new music that we’ve been making too, just to check that we are still feeling it. Whatever they are playing at work, the same playlist going on and on and on. One day I’ll hear myself on there.
Where does your hunger to create come from?
I’m at my happiest when I’ve made something that I’m really proud of. That moment in the studio when you are really feeling something you’ve just made. For me, nothing matches the feeling of something clicking when I’m with a producer or by myself writing at 3am. It’s dopamine, I struggle to replicate that feeling in other scenarios.
How often does that feeling come along?
It’s hard because sometimes I’ll make something and not be too sure of it, then go back to it and it might hit you after a couple of days. I might be listening to it in the evening and think I don’t like it and then wake up with fresh ears and a whole new mindset. It doesn’t happen as often as I’d like, you can’t be onto a winner every time.
Did you have that feeling when you dropped Jenny’s House?
I genuinely didn’t! We had no idea what that track would do. I thought it was a vibe and I was enjoying it, but I never had any preconceptions about what that track would do and the way it connected with people.
After Jenny’s House being such a success, were you worried that you wouldn’t be able to recreate that hype with other releases?
100%. We dropped a couple more singles after and then the EP and it didn’t do anywhere near the numbers. For a long time, people were telling me I needed to make another song like Jenny’s House and they just don’t understand that it’s not the way it works. I definitely tried to, but it was never what I wanted to make. Eventually I made Raining Colours which is a different vibe but it did well in a similar timeframe. Once you try and chase something you’ve already made you just get stuck in a loop. Now, I’m just trying to make what I want all the time.
How would you define your style?
It’s hard. It would probably be a lot easier for me if I just stuck to one pocket, in terms of marketing myself. I’d describe my music as having a chat with one of your mates. It’s a diary entry, me just letting go of whatever is on my mind at the time, or telling stories of people that I know. I like to say things that I’ve seen or been around. It’s hard to pinpoint. If you listen to the music, you get to know me.
When and how did you find this sound?
I’ve gotta large up one of my mates, a producer called Tyjay. When I started university he introduced me to a lot of new music, a lot of new sounds. I turned 18, I was older, was living life more and had more to speak about. I knew what I wanted to say and how to say it. I wasn’t feeling like I had to make what was popping in the UK, I just wanted to think it was sick myself.
For me, there is something inherently British about your music, where does that come from?
I’m influenced a lot by bands back in the day, like Blur, Gorillaz and Arctic Monkeys. Even the stuff my dad used to play in the car, the classics. A lot of the melodies that I come up with nowadays have come from being sat in the car listening to whatever was getting spun by my dad. When I was a teenager, people were listening to grime and rap so I got introduced to that. Even if they were speaking about something completely different that I can’t relate to, I just felt like it was a bit of me. They were always making me feel a certain way by telling their story. That’s kind of what I aim to do.
Would you define yourself as a rapper?
People often ask what I do, if I’m a singer or a rapper. I’ll just say that I am whatever I feel like doing on a beat that day. I definitely started off rapping, I was trying to write rhymes and say how I felt. The singing came a bit later when I got more confident. I’m not the greatest singer you’re going to hear, but I feel like I’ve got some tones and melodies. I just want to push myself to make something that people wouldn’t necessarily expect.
The alternative scene is really congested, how do you stand out amongst it?
I plan on making the best music that I can and not watching anyone else, apart from when I’m appreciating their craft. It’s easy to get caught in a loop with what everyone else is doing and where they are going. I just try stay in my own head, I’ve got my own targets and I’m progressing myself. I’ve got confidence in the music, my ability and the ideas I’m trying to push for the next year. I’m not too worried, the music is definitely getting better. The next EP is definitely levelling up in terms of production, vocals, recording equipment etc. I’m proper excited, I think after this year, when people hear my tracks they’ll know it’s me.
Do you think there’s too many artists trying to replicate other artists?
The only thing I’ll say in defence is that you might start off replicating but if you can go from there and find out where you should be going and make your own thing. If you’re inspired then progress onto your own thing then it’s okay. I could name about 10 artists that I wanted to replicate when I was younger, until one day I realised I was making tunes like John.
I really loved the collaborations with Feux and Joe James on the last EP! Why did you opt for those names?
It was quite natural. Me and Feux had been speaking for a bit, I sent over Lucy knowing that it was very different to what he normally does. He was proper vibing with it, he sent his verse back and I was proper messing with it, it was a different side to him for listeners to see.
I’ve know Joe for a while, my manager is good friends with him. I’ve been a big fan of him since the Soundcloud days; for me he is one of the legends of UK chill Soundcloud rap. He altered his usual style to fit with the track which is something that he is really talented at doing. I never knew how it was going to sound, but when he sent it through I knew it was right, it was something different. He’s a talent, not many are like him.
Is there anyone you’d love to work with in the future?
Yeah loads! I’d love to get in the studio with Mike Skinner, Maverick Sabre, Jay Prince. I’ve been in a few sessions lately with sick artists that I’m excited to share. I’ll get in the studio with anyone, I just love working with other artists. Some of the best advice I’ve ever been given is to network sideways, not upwards.
New Gen is a banger! What are you trying to convey with the track?
Welcome to the New Gen! It’s a track about being frustrated, being stuck in a loop. When I was recording that track I felt like I’d been working towards something, and just maybe when you think things were on the up they can always go back down. I think that’s the same for a lot of young people, not really knowing where you are heading but fingers crossed everything will be alright. Even when I’m speaking on something slyly depressing though, I always try and put a little bit of hope in there. I’m a glass half full kind of guy.
If you were introducing yourself to a new listener, what track would you play them?
I think I’d go Raining Colours, it’s one of my more unique sounding tracks. That or New Gen to give them polar opposites.
How do you plan on reaching the next level in your career?
To put it bluntly, the music is improving. I can sense it. Better ideas for videos, meeting new people and doing more collaborating. I’m going to focus on making better music and pushing myself out there. Maybe get a little bit more involved with what is going on in the popular world, I’m bad on the socials! More music, more shows, more cities!