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With a fresh soulful swagger and over 30 million streams independently, Orlando based sensation JOHN.k recently signed with Epic Records and is now truly on the move!
The singer just dropped his debut EP “if we never met,” its four tracks of pure sonic goodness that will leave your ears yearning for more.
GroundSounds recently caught up with JOHN.k to talk about his latest project, musical inspirations and more, check out the exclusive interview below.
For those just discovering JOHN.k can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started with music?
This project is a long time coming. Music was everywhere around me growing up so when I started singing it happened very organically. John.k started as a project when I met Rob (my now manager) at his wedding, from that point it took 5 years to put it all together.
What was it like growing up in Orlando?
Growing up in Florida really is sunshine all the time. That’s probably why I wake up most days in a good mood.
You recently signed with Epic Records, what was this whole experience like?
It felt like coming home after being away for a long time. It felt right. Timing is everything and Epic is a great fit for what this project is now and what it will (hopefully) become.
Can you tell us about working on your latest EP ‘if we never met’ and bringing it to fruition?
I feel like I should say this EP wrote itself and was super easy to put together. But truth is, it took 3 of us quitting our full time jobs and moving in together, building a home studio and locking ourselves in there for days, countless hours away from our families, little bit of tequila, and digging through some really personal shit to get this package ready. I would do it all again.
What made you decide on the EP title ‘if we never met’?
Obviously If We Never Met is about a very special person in my life, but it also encompasses the story of this entire project. If I never met Rob, if I never met Donte, if I never met Fvces, if I never met Ian, if I never met Brent, if I never met the team at Epic, this project wouldn’t exist. Its very special for me to begin this journey by acknowledging the people who made it possible to begin with. It was a no brainer that this was the title of the debut EP.
What musicians/bands are you currently listening to?
My music taste is like my mind. All over the place. I’ve always been a very eclectic music fan. From The Beatles Abbey Road album to Mac Miller (RIP), music that moves me is honest music. Some things I’m listening to now is the new Sia/Labrynth collab, Miguel, Charlie puth, John Mayer, Daniel Caesar, Jon Bellion, to me these are true artists and innovators that inspire me to push the boundaries and make my own path.
Can you tell us about the writing and creative process involved with your track “Rum n Tequila?”
Rum and Tequila was written and recorded in what we as a team called ‘kitchen studios.’ It’s a tiny mother in-law suite turned studio in my back yard. We flew some buddy’s in from LA to write and hang and the chorus of rum and tequila was written outside on an acoustic guitar around a fire. I was in inside cutting vocals for another song and I heard a knock at the door and opened it to hear “life sucks a little when you’re oceans away.” I immediately stopped what I was doing and jumped in on the fun of creating what is now Rum and Tequila.
What is it about soulful synths and smooth vibes that attracts you to this sound?
Music is feeling. My goal is to connect to people on a personal level, and the only way I know how to do that is to get personal. We start with melody and lyrics usually, and then ask each other “how does this make you feel?” That leads us in the direction of the sounds we ultimately choose in the production. Also, FVCES is a bad ass.
What’s next for JOHN.k, what can fans look forward to?
The next group of songs is already finished. We will never stop writing new music. The team loves to push the boundaries of what they think I can do. The other day my manager Rob challenged me while working on a new song by saying, “I don’t think you can sing this one, it’s too hard for you.” When we finished cutting vocals I said, “oh I can’t sing it huh?” He responded by saying, “You’re welcome.”
Safe to say there’s much more music to come.
Get JOHN.k’s debut if we never met EP, today HERE via Epic Records.
