Q&A: John-Robert Returns with Sweet Tribute to Family in Indie-Folk “Other Side”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY IVONA HOMICIANU ☆
Photo by Ethan Hickerson
WITH TOUCHING LYRICS AND A SOOTHING VOICE, JOHN-ROBERT RETURNS WITH “OTHER SIDE” — a tribute to the artist’s late grandmother inspired by finding home videos after returning to his home state of Virginia. Mainly composed of strings, the melody brings forth a nostalgic atmosphere of knowing your family’s older generations as the people they were, independent of who they are to you. Love transpires through the words as John-Robert lays down the hope that he will reunite with his grandma “on the other side.”
Born and raised in Virginia, the 25-year-old artist moved back home this year after living in Los Angeles for six years. After creating his previous project Garden Snake, he confessed, “it was like trying to make a Virginia record in LA.” John-Robert figured out what he needs for the betterment of his mental health and his music career is to return to the place that made him who he is, showing a notable and necessary attribute as an artist—being in tune with one’s self.
With his newly announced EP titled Cross Stitch, John-Robert is putting together a patchwork of experiences that show his sensibility to the world, love for his roots, and newfound wisdom. Opening the project with “Get Help,” he uses his artistry as a means for a better understanding of himself and the people around him. “Other Side” isn’t the only ode to a family member, with “Mama You Don’t Gotta Work That Job” being dedicated to his mother. “Set It Off” is the latest single off the project, detailing an experiment of sorts to get more comfortable with being perceived.
Throughout the EP, John-Robert’s authenticity prompts the listener to show more bravery regarding their own life. Luna spoke to John-Robert about his upcoming release Cross Stitch, out on November 14.
Photo by Ethan Hickerson
LUNA: You spoke about how the inspiration behind “Other Side” was finding home reels. How did you feel back then and how did you transfer those emotions to the song?
JOHN-ROBERT: You've only ever known your grandparents as elderly your entire life, so being able to watch footage of them in real time, being first time parents, kind of bridged that gap and felt like I could see more of myself in them. It was really emotional. If hell comes to high water and none of this works out, at least I have an art project that is very personal to me and my family. It’s just nice to have digitized. If something only exists in one place, then it doesn't exist, which is basically like back up all your files. It was really beautiful to share and to remember and to see the reactions of my family, it just fit the song perfectly. I'm glad that they were willing to let me share that.
LUNA: I love that, it's a beautiful tribute song. The guitar is so particular in there, it feels nostalgic and at the same time, it really has an undertone of happiness that you got to know the person that was your grandmother.
JOHN-ROBERT: Interesting, I felt my take on that song—because we got one shot to record it—I felt like maybe I was too haunted house with it, or dreary instead of calm, but okay, that’s cool.
LUNA: Who are your folk influences?
JOHN-ROBERT: I pivoted to folk because I was learning Ableton ,and I wanted to keep it simple, and also I wanted to be able to represent the music I make stand alone with myself and a guitar. That's primarily why I pivoted to folk. I've been listening to a lot of Nora Brown, fabulous folk player. I really related to Blaze Foley. He just keeps it really simple, but it feels really impactful. Also, how much wit is in his writing. As far as modern folk… I would call Adrianne Lenker modern folk. Her tunings, her writing is so visual, it's like I'm jumping into a picture. Or Courtney Barnett, also a fucking fabulous lyricist. I would say Blaze Foley, Courtney Barnett, Nora Brown and Adrianne Lenker.
LUNA: You've toured with artists like Madi Diaz and Leon Bridges. Who would be your dream artist to tour with?
JOHN-ROBERT: I would say Alice Phoebe Lou. I'm still waiting for her to become the biggest artist in the world. I feel like she's the best kept secret. I would say Alice Phoebe Lou, and Tyler Childers. I like a lot of his messaging, or if he doesn't use a proper term, he walks it back. He started foundations for, I think it was like his area for hurricane relief. Tyler Childers and Alice Phoebe Lou would be my dream.
LUNA: I hope that becomes reality! Congratulations on your new EP, Cross Stitch. The cover is gorgeous. I feel like it represents perfectly what coming home is like. I've also noticed that your covers in general, with Garden Snake too, they have this particular homely vibe. I was wondering how involved are you in the creation process of these covers?
JOHN-ROBERT: I made the Garden Snake cover. Garden Snake was supposed to be a pet project that would never see the light of day (laughs). The former label I was on, when I told them I wanted to make a folk project, they were game. I don't know why, because this was before Noah Kahan, but they trusted what I wanted to make so I'm beyond grateful. That was just like, “Oh, I'm gonna upload these secretly to Soundcloud and share with my parents, it should have a cover.” So I just made that. With the rollout, I didn't do a photoshoot before making the art, so it's like, alright, what are all the candids I have? My friend Robbie has a cabin in Covington, and that was my favorite place to go because there's no internet and it's in the middle of nowhere, like you have to drive thirty miles to get into town. When I was in LA, I was just like, “Damn, if I could just live in a cabin.” That would be the dream. So yeah, I just wanted to be there. I was like, “That's the cover.”
[For Cross Stitch] I worked with an artist, his name is Jeremy Leasure, so he did the artwork around the photo, and he really tied everything in. In the vinyl, it'll be very “I Spy” inspired. I made an HD project, and now I'm like, “Oh, I don't want to feel that night after night.”I'd rather feel, I don't know, like an inner child, something fun and light.
LUNA: Could you tell me more about the title, Cross Stitch?
JOHN-ROBERT: It should be called Patchwork, which is more the proper term. I felt the songs thematically weren't cohesive, but with being the writer, it automatically kind of has a through line. And so it's like, “I wish I earned enough so my mom doesn't have to work. I really miss my grandmother. Also, I was crushing on somebody, and they didn't come to this art show I invited them to, and I felt butt hurt about it.” It didn't match. I love the idea of patchwork and cross stitch, just something handmade. My great-grandmother used to make these quilts. It was a bunch of random patterns and fabrics that were all kind of mixed-matchy, but they all came together into one cohesive art piece. I like that as the concept, as far as trying different flavors, but it's all still one whole EP.
LUNA: There's a lot of love for family and roots in this project, with “Other Side” being about your grandma, then “Mama” about your mother. How do you feel sharing these vulnerable aspects of your life?
JOHN-ROBERT: I was in songwriting circles in LA, and it was always like, “Who has the most trauma and is willing to talk about it?” I was kind of rolling my eyes at it sometimes because it felt melodramatic, but it's also beautiful to share so it's two sides of the coin. I felt like songs weren't just for your love interest or purely your depression. I felt like songs are gifts you could give people. Just to let them know that you're thinking about them and you care. It doesn't feel as much like open heart surgery as it is kind of sewing up the wounds. I don't feel naked by it. I feel more, not camaraderie, but a sense of connection.
Photo by Ethan Hickerson
LUNA: What inspired “Set It Off?”
JOHN-ROBERT: It was one of the few days I had a full band, and that was what we made that day. I really liked the feeling of it. I felt like the music was really interesting. Post breakup, you go out by yourself to prove to yourself you're still fun and you really try it. I went to Akbar, which is a local bar. I guess the song is more so what I wish I did. I feel very uncomfortable dancing, that is not my medium. We had the idea at the end of one day, and then the next day we came in and just kind of ironed it out. Drew T. Sheen, he's a drummer in LA, and drummers make for the best music directors in my opinion. It just easily came together. The hardest part was writing and doing additional production, we were all in the same room, there was so much bleed. The more work you do in pre-production, the less you have to do in post. This was a behemoth in post production, but it was like lightning in a bottle. I can never shake how much I loved it.
LUNA: How long have you been working on this EP?
JOHN-ROBERT: I want to say it came together in eight months, but then it's been mixed and mastered since February, and then I was tied up legally, so I wasn't able to share it. I've spent enough time away from it to where I can appreciate it. Right after I make something, I've heard it a million times and I'm sick of it, but coming back to it, I'm like, “Oh, man, I can't believe I did that.”
LUNA: In your song “Road Trip,” you say, “Yet wherever I go, I'm still the same person, just in a new place.” Has your mindset changed since moving back or is it even more present of a realization?
JOHN-ROBERT: Thank you so much for that question! That was my favorite lyric from that. There was an SNL bit where Adam Sandler is like, “You're with your family, you're gonna go on vacation, you're still the same sad you, just in a different place.” That was a short stint with my brother on a road trip, and I thought I was gonna be able to heal in two weeks. It takes longer than that, and you should actually move somewhere different. A one week road trip, no, I don't think it heals much. Moving home, I'm surrounded by friends who want more for me than from me, and I get to feel the seasons, and that time is progressing and also it's affordable. I lost like twenty pounds when I moved back, in a good way. Every night, you get to talk with your family. Just having someone in your life who loves and cares about you, and you get to say, “Oh, this happened today,” that actually allowed more change. There's some validity to both.
LUNA: How would you describe Cross Stitch in three words?
JOHN-ROBERT: I'd say charcuterie, homemade, and good. Not to be an egomaniac.
LUNA: I mean, when putting out a project, it's better if you're proud of it.
JOHN-ROBERT: Oh, I’m 100% proud of it. I just don't like being like, It’s better than [blank]!
LUNA: What advice would you give to your past self who still lived in LA?
JOHN-ROBERT: I'd probably tell him it's a long life. You’re worried now? You could always do something different. Life is short, but it's a long short.
