MUSTBEJOHN - “LOSING BALANCE”
( EP/Album Reviews ) - Tuesday 21st November 2023
Words by Isaac Solanki. Photography by Amy Lindsay.
Over the past four years, Mustbejohn has begun to develop both a unique and captivating sound that’s slowly starting to build him a loyal close-knit fanbase within the young generation of today. Since we last spoke at the beginning of this year, the Hertfordshire born and raised talent has continued to develop his resonating lyrics and catchy beats to distinctively knock down doors in the industry. His music transcends boundaries and strikes a chord with fans, continuing to leave a lasting impact on many. His unwavering dedication to his passion and his ability to connect on a deeper level with his audience certainly makes Mustbejohn an artist to watch for the coming years. His spoken-rap flows effortlessly over infectious melodies to create a mesmerising sonic experience that’s hard not to like - with his undeniable talent and captivating stage presence, it's no wonder that Mustbejohn is starting to make waves in the industry.
Losing Balance is his most ambitious project to date. The seven-track EP invites listeners on an immersive journey deep into the psyche of a young, talented creative battling his way through the ever-growing and increasingly competitive modern day music industry. With heartfelt lyricism and mesmerising melodies, Mustbejohn often delves into his own experiences; the joys and struggles he’s faced personally, as well as those faced by his close inner circle of peers over the past year and a half. However, the story he weaves is not only exclusive to his own world but often finds itself resonating with many of us younger individuals. The project is an ode to the pursuit of dreams, the highs and lows of young adulthood and the constant battle of trying to maintain equilibrium while navigating the everyday challenges of the current world we live in. Almost a year on since we last met and just over a month after the project was released to the world, I caught up with John and went through Losing Balance, track by track to explore the deeper meanings and overall processes involved in creating the EP.
Introduce yourself and briefly take me through the story so far…
“So, I go by the name of Mustbejohn, I’m currently twenty three years old. I was born and raised in Hertfordshire and I’ve been making music since I was young; from the age of about fourteen. Then, these past four years or so, I’ve been taking it a little more seriously. I suppose you could describe my sound as a combination of dance, electronic, singer, rapper… that’s the vibe really. I think that’s all I can really say about myself to be honest; I feel like the music I make is very honest; it often talks about things me and my mates, close ones etc are going through. I feel like you’ve got to listen to the tunes to find out the rest haha.”
Talk to me about the EP “Losing Balance”…
“The theme is pretty much just my life for the last year and a half, to be honest. I’ve been working a lot, in particular with a guy called Sam Ellwood. Sometimes I’ve been going out a lot, then at other points not going out much at all and it felt like with whatever I was be doing, I seemed to be losing balance a little - whether that be musically or sonically. It’s experimental with new sounds as well; it’s me just trying out different things, digging a little bit deeper and trying to show the fans another side of me - something they perhaps haven’t seen before, that’s what this project was about. I feel like it’s a slightly more introspective body of work than some of the previous stuff I've done. It all happened quite naturally too; it’s not like I purposely set out to make a more introspective project, it just kind of happened. It’s a real reflection of the past year and a half I’ve had and I feel like it’s been quite a relatable story, in a good way - a generic story that I feel like a lot of young people can relate to at the minute. For me, making music is and always has been about leading up to connecting with people - I love being at shows and hearing about how people stumbled across the music or how they feel listening to it; for me, that’s the pinnacle, the bit where I get to really appreciate what I’ve built up and done so far.”
TRACK 1: “Lose Your Head” - Spoken-word lyrics flow with a sense of raw honesty as Mustbejohn recites a personal journey that resonates so well with the listener as if it’s been pulled from a diary entry. Each line is carefully crafted, illuminated by his charismatic delivery, pulling you deeper into the story he shares. Combine this introspective rap with the hypnotic and infectious beat and you have a recipe for an EP opener that demands attention in a testament to his unique style and versatility as an artist.
“I was thinking I could really be a better me, cheap drinks aren’t therapy - that’s it really, that’s the slogan haha. I think this was one of the very first ones we made for the EP, a while back with a really talented producer called Mom Tudie in Peckham - it might have been the very first time we met up actually. I think the track as a whole sounds like a diary entry in terms of what I’m saying; it’s almost like I’m just speaking with a mate about my thoughts. I also got to experiment a little bit with the chorus too - I haven’t really done that whole pitching the vocal down kind of thing before and it’s a proper vibe. I feel like it’s one for people of all ages, everyone can sit there and relate when they listen to it.”
TRACK 2: “Just A Glimpse” - With pulsating beats, infectious melodies and a vibrant atmosphere, this track transports listeners to a world of pure musical bliss. Mustbejohn effortlessly combines elements of electronic music, pop and dance to create a sound that is both unique and captivating, offering listeners merely a taste of what this talented artist has to offer.
“This was actually the very last track I made for the project, I just knew it had to go on there. I didn’t necacerily put it out thinking it was gonna go the way it did; for me, the track was just something different to anything I’d made before - there’s just something about it that I love; when we play it live, it goes off. It’s about understanding that whatever you’re going through at a specific time, is always just a glimpse of what’s happening when you look at the bigger picture, so don’t get too caught up in it. We actually brought Poppy Daniels in on the trumpet for this one; the first time we’d brought someone in specifically to play one thing like that and I think it came out sounding really good.”
TRACK 3: “Lonely” - With a spellbinding beat that carries subtle layers of spoken poetry, it immerses you in a sea of nostalgia, prompting you to reflect on cherished memories of times gone by. Each line of the song skillfully tickles your brain, evoking a deep sense of connection to the artist's personal experiences. Mustbejohn's evocative delivery adds an ethereal touch, enhancing the song's beauty and leaving an indelible impact on your soul.
“I feel like this song captures a little something that everyone feels at some point in their life. Whether it’s a friendship, a relationship something else breaking down, you feel lonely when they go. I feel like this track is perhaps something that people wouldn’t expect from me but I proper love the tune - my only regret about this one is not putting it out as a single. Oh and it doesn’t directly link to track seven, despite the similarities in the title haha.”
TRACK 4: “Thinking About It” - An addictive track that captures the essence of overthinking with its repetitive beat and catchy chorus. The song instantly hooks listeners with its infectious rhythm, making it impossible to resist tapping your feet along. Mustbejohn's smooth array of vocals captivate as he delves into the complexities of a mind consumed by endless thoughts and worries. The song's relatable lyrics evoke a sense of empathy where many listeners can easily relate to the spiralling thoughts and self-doubt that often plague us. With it’s memorable chorus, the track lingers in your head long after the song has ended and serves as a reminder that sometimes, overthinking can be both a burden and a form of art.
“A lot of these hit the nail on the head, this one especially. The chorus says “thinking about it, I’m not sure that thinking about it ever did help me still.” - I tend to overthink a lot of things in life, even the minute things and it’s not always the best way to be. Sometimes when I don’t think about things too much, they turn out best - when I overthink things, that’s when it starts to get messy. Being able to get things like this out of my head and on to paper helps me so much - I thinks it’s mainly why I do what I do. It doesn’t necessarily happen all of the time but even if it just lets a little bit of what I’m feeling go, it helps me out a lot and as a result hopefully helps other people too. I love listening back to tracks like this and reflecting on how I was at the time of writing compared to how I am now.”
TRACK 5: “Buzz” - A classic example of Mustbejohn’s signature style, a freestyle-like three minutes that works so well. With his raw and gritty delivery, Mustbejohn effortlessly captures the essence of the underground scene. The track is filled with infectious energy that hooks listeners from the very first beat. The lyrics are cleverly woven together, showcasing his knack for wordplay and storytelling.
“We put this one out as a single right at the beginning of the year - we contemplated a little bit about whether we do or don’t put it on the EP but in the end, I think we had to - need me a buzz… it just represents this past year or so perfectly. I made the track at a period of time where I was almost desperately searching for a big tune to release and to me, Buzz is more like a freestyle - I just loved it so much and wanted it out there, so I went with it and I think it’s now one of my biggest tunes. I was proud of that one when we put it out because I was able to say exactly what I wanted in the moment and people have resonated with it a lot since.”
TRACK 6: “Waiting” - Calming drum and bass, if that’s a thing - the song showcases the beauty of this genre in all it’s glory. The soothing vocals, delicately layered on top, add a touch of tranquility that rounds off the composition flawlessly. Waiting is definitely a personal favourite of mine.
“Yeah, waiting just feels proper don’t it? Me and Sam made it by starting with the keys, chorus and then a bridge before finishing it and sending it off to ZDOT and Krunchie, two producers who are proper talented and they just took the track to a whole new level with drum and bass etc. Listening back to it, I almost feel like I’m the main character in a film haha. It was sick hearing the finished piece for the first time, I loved going backwards and forwards with other talented people, you know, the more I do in this industry, the more I seem to learn that collaboration is everything - I’ve always thought that two heads are better than one and it’s great to have that extra opinion and/or input when it’s needed.”
TRACK 7: “Happy Lonely” - Beautifully rounding off the EP with it’s quiet and reflective nature, this soul-soothing composition takes listeners to the very end of a deeply introspective journey, gently wrapping them in a sense of tranquility. The artist's thoughtful lyrics skilfully convey the bittersweet essence of solitude, acknowledging the delicate balance between happiness and loneliness.
“If I’m being honest, sonically, this one perhaps shouldn’t be on there. It was just one of those tracks that I knew if I didn’t get it out the the world now, I’d never get around to releasing it - that would have been such a shame, just because of how proud I am of it. More spoken-word verses and a ballad-like chorus where we even managed to make it sound like there was a whole choir on there which was sick. I think it just shows people that I can dip into other pockets/genres and not just stay in that party rap style.”
To finish… a chance for you to step back and look at the EP as a body of work, how do you feel about the project as a whole?
“Super proud of it. Obviously, I’ve heard the tracks a fair few times whilst making it but every now and then, I go back and listen through it; it makes me feel so proud. I feel like it properly represents where I’ve been for the last year and a half and even slightly resembles where I’m at now. I wouldn’t change anything about it - I’m a strong believer in the idea that when you’ve made loads of big decisions in the build up to releasing something, even when some things could have perhaps gone a little bit better, making sure you don’t change anything last minute is really important. It then wouldn’t lead you to exactly where you are now; I know it sounds a little cringe and everyone says it but it’s true. There’s so many times where I’ve made a mistake but then it’s led me to something different and often good happening. I think it’s one of those projects that I’m always gonna be proud of when I look back at it; it’s a proper body of work, it has a real relatable theme to it and it’s always going to remind me about that period of my life. Hopefully other people can feel a similar feeling when they listen back to it in years to come. Moving forwards from the EP, we’ve got the Losing Balance tour starting at the end of February 2024 - bigger venues and a better setlist. I’m proper looking forward to it, consistently putting things out, touring etc; the future is exciting, even if it’s moving fast. It’s all just about elevation and new projects, for us both perhaps, we’ll catch up in a year or so and I’m sure we’ll both have been through so much exciting stuff.”
