John Splithoff‘s new album Far From Here came out last Friday, on March 21st. His music evokes a plethora of genres and artists from our collective past, all carried together with his effortless vocals. To me, this feels like an album with a kind of timeless quality that could be comparable to Adele‘s 19 in its grace. We conducted an interview with Splithoff to get some more juice on this hell of an album.
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Indy Review: Listening to the first song, I’m immediately struck with your voice. It has this effortless quality that shines through your music. Can you talk a little about your vocal training and your technical and emotional approaches to singing?
John Splithoff: Thank you! I think my growth as a vocalist came from imitation – singing along to a lot of different artists who I listened to and inspired me growing up.
IR: Creating an album is no easy feat. Can you please share some information about your collaborators and what other projects we might know them from to give us some context to your developing sound? How long have you been working on this baby?
JS: I produced about 2/3rds of the album myself at home in LA and in hotel rooms while on tour. Beyond that:
“Far From Here” and “Marooned” were written and produced with Chris Soper and Jesse Singer of Likeminds (Emily King, Q-Tip, Andy Grammer, Goldford, Wu Tang Clan, Snoop Dogg, Yo Yo Ma).
“Way Back” was written with and produced/mixed by Pat Howard of Magic City Hippies (Maye, Felly, Antwaun Stanley, Nombe).
“Tangled” was written with Spencer Stewart of the Band Camino and produced with long-time collaborator Luke Moellman of Great Good Fine Ok (Betty Who, Zara Larsson, The Chainsmokers, X Ambassadors, The Knocks, Yoke Lore).
Luke also mixed the entire album except for “Way Back”.
“Magenta”, “Oh Betty” and “City Days” were co-written with Wallace Tallman, another longtime friend and collaborator.
IR: I notice a nod to The Cure in “Way Back”, there’s a touch of a John Mayer guitar solo at the end of “Magenta”, a reggae backbeat in “Tangled”, and later even the feeling of Boys2Men serenade in “Kyoto Snow”. What would you say are your biggest musical inspirations that have helped you find your voice and your sound?
JS: There’s honestly too many to name but the first album I ever owned as a kid was Sugar Ray’s 14:59. I remember playing basketball to a mixtape that had ‘Sexual Healing’ and ‘Return of the Mack’ and it changed my life. I’m a song-driven person who’s inspired by a lot of different styles of music.
IR: I love how you gave a feature to the talented Chris Botti in “City Days”. That solo at the end of “Magenta” is also a knockout. Who did that? Is that you? Do you play any instruments?
JS: Thank you, yes, that was me 🙂
I played electric and acoustic guitar, keys/synths, and bass on most of the album. Jesse Singer played bass/drums on “Far From Here”, “Marooned”, “Magenta”, and “Oh Betty”. Pat Howard played drums on “Kyoto Snow” and “Plateau”. Davy Levitan of Half.Cool (Amber Mark, Gabriel Garzón-Montano, Rosehardt, Rum.Gold) played bass and slide on “Same Page”.
IR: Michael McDonald (perhaps the unspoken king of Yacht Rock) and Sade (who is a genre in her own right) were both mentioned in your press packet. Can you talk a little more about those particular artists and what they mean to you? Sidenote: If your guiding light is Sade, you’re doing it right (in my opinion).
JS: I love their music and how it makes me feel in different ways. “Glacier” was a result of listening to “Like a Tattoo” a lot. Michael McDonald has been a soundtrack to my life since I was little.
IR: We as listeners often like to relate new music to music we already know. Getting deeper into your album, I feel some similarities with the artist Leon Bridges. What are some qualities in Leon that you adore? And what are some of the qualities that differentiate you from him?
JS: I think he’s also inspired by a lot of different music and isn’t afraid to try new things as an artist. He could’ve kept making music that sounded exactly like his first album but he branched out and has an eclectic catalogue. I’m pulled to do the same thing when I create my own music.
IR: I also want to say, that I just left Kyoto and am currently sitting in a cabin watching the snowfall on Mount Fuji. Can you take a moment to discuss your experience in Japan? How long were you there? How did that place impact you and change you, and how does that come across in your music? Is there anything else you’d care to share about the song “Kyoto Snow”?
JS: Wow, I’m jealous!
It was my first time visiting Japan two years ago. I was playing with Botti for a week-long residency at Blue Note Tokyo and had a day off when I first got there. Spent that day off in Kyoto and saw snowfall at the first temple. It was surreal how it felt like both winter and spring in February and I was there to see this snow fall down at such a slow, calming pace at Fushima Inari. It brought me a lot of peace in that moment, and I heard these chords in my head. There’s a bit of longing and melancholy in the lyrics, but it’s about how love can take a hold of you and make you question everything.
IR: I’ll be out of town when you’re in LA for your tour, which bums me out because I really enjoy your music! Is this your first time headlining? Who are your openers? How is it all feeling?
JS: Sorry to hear that, next time!
Evann Mcintosh and Tonina are opening for me. Tonina is also playing bass in my band!
Not my first time headlining but my first time in a long time with a proper band, feeling incredible.
IR: And I just wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your album. “Same Page” was probably my favorite, followed by “Kyoto Snow” (there’s some Beatles guitar in there as well, I noticed), and I felt like I was being held. I also feel like this is music I could enjoy and share with my parents, who often struggle to enjoy contemporary music. I think your sound has a more timeless quality that bridges generations. “Dancing on the Cliffs” was really peaceful, and I wish more artists had tracks like that. Also, nice high note in “Glacier”! No more questions, just wanted to end with some praise!
JS: Thank you very much for the kind words – I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the album and hope your parents do as well 🙂
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John Splithoff‘s album Far From Here is out now on Pleasant Lane Music. Listen to it here and check him out on tour:
The Indy Review 