Initially making his way into the industry as part of Los & The Deadlines, the anonymous figure of Middle Name John has also been a key part of the Love Music Hate Racism campaign and been a host of Soho Radio. Rooting his music in his belief in a future without oppressed people, poverty, war, borders or oligarchs, the artist has caught the attention of both labels and press outlets for his experimental songwriting approach and through-provoking lyricism.
Emerging earlier this year with the single ‘Different’, the artist now returns with debut album ‘Obviously Confidential’. On the project, Middle Name John brings in the likes of Alessandro La Barbera (Los Padres, Sans Soucis) and Max Mella (Aphty Khéa, Sheldon Agwu) as co-producers, and on the final track ‘Too Much Too Soon’, audiences bear witness to the drumming expertise of Marijus Aleksa (Joe Armon Jones, Oscar Jerome). Allowing each of these artists to express their individuality, he adds a new dimension to the project.
Across the eight tracks, Middle Name John darts and dives around everyday observations and significant societal failures. The artist takes on a poetic narration, reflecting in both astute spoken word and pulsating ramblings. The production is eclectic and glitchy, pulling from a range of genres, heavily processing their sensibilities and pushing it out the other side as something new, untethered to normality.
The artist shares the ideas and concepts of the album, “There are a few common themes and ideas running throughout the album. Uncertainty is surely one of them. Another would be that it’s okay to reject divisive ideas fed to us by authoritative figures and if that turns people off, that’s okay. Say hello to friends and cherish the people who push you forward when you feel too slow (you aren’t too slow). Everything does feel different, but while the world may be cruel…don’t let it make you mean.”