Johnny Payne
Vancouver, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2015 | INDIE | AFM
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Vancouver-based singer/songwriter Johnny Payne has shared his first solo effort 'Lazy Love'. Recorded in Denver with Pat Riley and Alaina Moore of Tennis and James Barone of Beach House, 'Lazy Love' is the first track to be released off his upcoming debut EP 'Johnny'.
A piano led ballad, 'Lazy Love' has all the throwback tropes harking back to John Lennon and the schmaltzy production of current Father John Misty hits. Opening with simple piano chords, Payne's vocal takes centre-stage throughout the initial sparsity of the instrumentation. It's here where Payne sounds at his most vulnerable and endearing.
Johnny says, "There is nothing wrong with being lazy. Especially in love it is a virtue." The song echo's this sentiment with lazily played beats and a sometimes simple vocal melody. The tune is a slow builder, but when it finally kicks off it really slaps. The production here is fantastic. The dreamy string sections, rhythmic acoustic guitars and sparse drum beats build throughout to a wonderful climax with an infectious guitar solo and beautiful female led backing vocals.
On 'Lazy Love' Johnny Payne has released a song jam-packed with beautiful moments. The overall sound of the piece is breathtaking and with the new EP slated for release on September the 28th, we're already incredibly excited to hear more.
'Lazy Love' is out now on all good streaming sites, or you can listen below. - Not Another Music Blog
Johnny Payne, formerly of The Shilohs, will soon release his debut solo release with his 5-song EP simply entitled Johnny. The EP was recorded with Tennis at their home studio in Denver and featured Beach House drummer James Barone for the studio sessions. The five songs on the Johnny EP find Payne “pushing his craft into full-on adult-contemporary mode, channeling the visionary spirit of Harry Nilsson, Laura Nyro, even Carole King.”
“Lazy Love” has a chill, laid-back retro vibe that reminds a bit of the work of Tobias Jesso Jr in the way he took classic songwriting sounds and gave them a modern spin. It’s a great entry point for Payne’s solo career, one that makes us excited to see what else is waiting for us on the EP.
Stream “Lazy Love” below and find the track available to buy here. - We All Want Someone To Shout For
Easy swaying listening for your Monday from the dreamy Johnny Payne. - Ride The Tempo
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
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Bio
Do you remember rock and roll radio? The harmonies, the hooks, the choruses? Johnny Payne does. Or more specifically, he remembers that beautifully fucked up arc of let’s say ’70 to ’76, that time when the impossibly bright lights of an entire generation’s youthful idealism gave way to the muted amber glow of adult burn-out. You might know Johnny Payne as co-frontman of shaggy-pop auteurs The Shilohs. You might even know their three largely unheard albums of impeccably rendered pop rock. But this is something else. Where The Shilohs are a working rock band in the classic sense (remember when there were working rock bands?) Payne has ditched the band to strike out on his own as a bona fide solo singer-songwriter and the result is the almost self-titled EP Johnny.
Craving an escape from the endless parade of yoga mats and craft beer culture that defines his native Vancouver, Payne accepted the invitation of Pat Riley and Alaina Moore (of indie heavyweights Tennis) to record in their home studio in Denver, Colorado. Working closely with Riley and Moore, trading instruments and ideas, and with Beach House drummer James Barone in tow, Payne came out the other side with the solo EP Johnny. These five songs find Payne pushing his craft into full on adult-contemporary mode, channeling the visionary spirit of Harry Nilsson, Laura Nyro, even Carole King. Remember a time when even a weirdo like Todd Rundgren could score a soft rock top hit? Johnny Payne does.
On Johnny the vibe is all chipped champagne glasses and smeared bathroom mirrors, all the busted stuff that collects in the wake of one’s life. Standing alone at the microphone, Payne shows himself for who he is on these songs – a grown man having to let go of the past. There are tears of regret, tears of joy. There are red roses, blue oceans, and slow golden mornings spent staring out the window as the world drifts by. So light a smoke, have another sip, and enjoy the good times while they last - here comes Johnny.
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