The music landscape in 2025 is very different from what it once was. Back in the day you'd write a record, record it, release it, tour it, and repeat. But now we live in the digital streaming age where fans of the biggest acts in the world barely listen to their favourite artists album right away. So, one strategy to try and keep any new music from being missed is called the "waterfall rollout": a method of releasing music where an album or EP is broken down into individual tracks and released gradually over time, rather than all at once. The hardest thing to compete for these days is visibility. There are so many artists trying to capture your attention it can become a bit of a rat race.
I don't want it to sound like I'm jaded or frustrated because I'm not. This waterfall strategy also means that it's never a dull moment. As an artist, I'm getting into the habit of releasing music and sharing my art more regularly. The music I make becomes less and less music that I "throw into a time machine", and then put out years later. It means I get to share a more current version of myself with the world, rather the version of me I was 3 years ago when I wrote "that" song.
All that to say, here's my latest release "MERCY RULE"!
If you don't know what the mercy rule is, it's a regulations that ends a game early if one team has a significant lead, typically to prevent further humiliation or injury for the losing team. So this song is my take on that term told through the lens of a failing relationship.
I love the way this song came together. It started with a drum loop that I distorted, and then began playing that acoustic guitar line over it (the one you hear off the top). It just felt raw and emotional, but also ruthless. And that's when the images of a boxing ring started flooding my mind. The first demo had the raw energy but it took about 4 more sessions to really dial it in. Once I got my friend Saveria (@saveriamusic) to sing on the final bridge I knew I wanted it on my project.
I love this song so much that I created 2 videos for it. The first one goes along with a series of videos of a similar nature. You can find it here:
The 2nd visualizer is coming out this week, which goes back to the original imagery I saw when I created the song... hint hint nudge nudge.
PS - my song Broke Skin is still rotating on Virgin radio across the country and has been Shazamed over 1300 times. If you hear it on the radio, don't hesitate to reach out to me on instagram and let me know!
Finally - My debut EP "CROSSROADS" is coming to all the streaming platforms on May 9th!
If you're still with me, thanks for reading this and for being a part of this journey!
Lots of love,
John <3