Artist Of The Week #168 - John Myrtle
This week’s Artist of the Week is London eccentric John Myrtle - who has just released his debut album ‘Myrtle Soup’ via Sad Club Records. The indie-popper takes you on a journey of sunny anthems and heartfelt ballads to create the perfect soundtrack for a summer’s day. He took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey John, how are you? Your debut album is finally here, how does it feel to have it finally out there in the world?
Hello! I’m doing just fine thank you, although I keep forgetting I actually need sun cream. I don’t know why it’s in my head that I can wing it.
It feels great. This album has been a labour of love and took a lot out of me to get it all finished. I guess I can now finally sit back and enjoy the fruits of my work…provided I have sun cream on.
It is called ‘Myrtle Soup’ - what is the meaning behind that?
I always wanted to do a record that had some sort of concept or theme running through. I kept making bowls of soup in lockdown, like it became some sort of weird obsession: ‘what veg am I using today’, ‘I wonder what blender this person uses’. It became apparent that I was making more and more soup to help me get through writing the music and recording it. I thought it was only right to call the album that, and to also document my magic bowls of soup being created in a couple of tracks!
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
So it was done mainly at home, though for some songs I wrote and recorded in this hut my friend has in the countryside! That was a great time, and also had me write the most reflective of songs on there ‘Remember Holly Park’. When we were teenagers, my school band used to rehearse at this hut so it got me feeling very nostalgic, which led me to this track.
I’ll tell you one - I very much got creative with the sounds you hear on the record. The bubble noises in particular. I’ve been asked what synth pad I used or where the sample is from… but it’s just my lips and my finger. Now imagine me doing that on my own in a bedroom into a microphone.
How has your music grown since your debut EP?
I’ve always tried to be honest with my songs and I think my music has grown in a way that tries best to capture that - particularly with how I choose to record things. I could never really bring my character out in a studio, so learning more and more about recording from home has been great.
A lot of these songs are about overthinking - is that something you deal with personally? And how do you channel that into your music?
Yes! I overthink a lot and writing is good at helping me channel that. Songs like ‘How Can You Tell If You Love Her?’ and ‘Just Can’t Seem to Say Goodbye’ are aimed at being your classic love song, with my obsessive mind thrown in. It’s like I’m trying to turn a bad thought into a good tune, almost like it was worth pulling my hair out for that day as now I have this to show for it!
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
Love and contemplation - what if’s. Even Spider on the Wall is just a tune about me wondering how I would feel about us people if I was an insect. Love plays a huge part in the whole thing, even love of places.
So love, contemplation..oh and soup!
Emitt Rhodes influenced this album heavily - the true pioneer of psych pop done from home!
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
‘It always seemed like love was made for the stage,
People playing parts they learnt off a page’ - Just Can’t Seem to Say Goodbye
I really like this lyric and the whole song being really cynical about love and not believing anyone can really be completely honest about their feelings - like actors just saying they love each other in a play. But as the song progresses, for some reason you can’t leave the person you’re with (aww). Now that is true love!…err I think.
Now the debut album is out - what next for you?
We have a bunch of great gigs lined up and I’m going to be recording in a fortnight. I’ve really enjoyed watering my new crop of songs, I’m looking forward to bringing them to life!