In this interview feature, we get to know the most radicalist up and coming stars on the planet. 

This time we had a chat with Sam Johnson, a British singer-songwriter with a talent for writing subtly anthemic tunes. 

Lyrically, Johnsons tracks are often heartfelt and emotive, taking influence from his own circumstances and turning them into resonating journeys. His voice is the centrepiece,  able to move between passages of delicate softness and loud power without ever seeming to struggle. His most recent singles have all turned heads in their own way, with ‘Medicine For My Brain’ appearing as August’s track of the month on BBC Introducing Shropshire, ‘Trip On Gold’ being co-written with Irish songwriter Iain Archer, and ‘Stuck Under The Surface’ showing off the talents of producer Elliot James.  We’ve managed to speak to him following a recent UK tour and just ahead of the release of his upcoming Eastcote EP.

TMR:  How does it feel to be dropping the Eastcote EP?

Feels great. Some classic pre-release nerves mixed up in some of that, but overall very excited and happy to be putting it out. 

TMR: Your music been compared to both George Ezra and Bon Iver, but are there any unexpected artists from totally different genres or styles who have also influenced your work? 

Good question. I have a pretty wide taste in music, I can listen to anything from Slipknot to Buena Vista Social Club so I'm sure I've been influenced by more than just folk music. I've really got back into Radiohead recently and realised how much their melodies have inspired me in the past. I also think Kurt Cobain's nihilistic lyricism and melody has had a big effect on me throughout the years too. 

TMR: Obviously ‘Stuck Under The Surface’ is based on very personal circumstances. Is this how you like to write normally, or do you allow yourself to create fictional scenarios and stories in your lyric writing? 

I often write up little character's in fictionalised scenarios, but they will often be loosely based around true events and then exaggerated for effect. I'm inevitably drawn to write from a personal angle a lot of the time because I genuinely feel like the emotional resonance of a song is far more affecting when it comes from real life experience. 



TMR: How do you try and reflect the meaning of your lyrics in the sound of your music?

That usually comes down to the production of any recording I'm working on and the producer I'm working with. With the Eastcote EP, I littered each song with lots of voice notes and clips that I'd found on my phone. I wanted it to provide the EP with the kind of personality and identity that I've loved in artists like Jamie T's music over the years. There's moments where those audio clips really reflect the emotional sentiment that I'm trying to convey within the song, like in ‘Stuck Under the Surface’ where you can hear a worried voicemail that my mum had left on my phone. As soon as I heard that I thought it would be a perfect little easter egg to hide in the recording for the listener. 

TMR: Which track (which we haven’t already heard) from the EP are you most excited for your audience to hear? 

I suppose the only track left from the EP that you won't have heard yet is the next and final one to be released. It's called ‘Lost In the Mail’, and I'm definitely excited to be putting that out into the world, finally. I wrote it over two years ago now and it's always been one of my favourites so it feels like it's been a long time coming.  

TMR: If you had to choose just one track to introduce someone to your music, which would you choose?

One that I haven't released or even finished writing yet called 'Peter Pan'.

TMR: What was your first experience actually making music? 

Writing my first song I suppose. I remember doing it on a cheap little nylon string guitar and it repeating the word “irony” a lot. 

TMR: What was it like to work alongside My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields?

Amazing, although luckily enough for me I was quite young at the time and hadn't discovered their music yet, so I wasn't star struck or shy around Kevin which I think worked in my favour. It was great to be exposed to his wisdom at such a young age and was definitely an experience that has helped form my backbone as an artist. 

TMR: You recently went on a UK tour with Ferris & Sylvester. How did those shows go? 

They were great. Ferris and Sylvester are honestly so nice and talented and their fans really reflect that kind of good energy too, so it was pleasure to open for them each evening. 

TMR: Do you get more satisfaction from the response to your studio releases or the reactions of fans at live shows?

It's really balanced I'd say. Obviously nothing beats having that affirmation in person after a show, but it's still really nice getting messages from new fans discovering my music too. I'm still getting used to people even being able to find my music, let alone like it enough to get in touch. Anyway, long may it go on. 

By Dan Peeke