JOHN FOLEY
Spirits EP releases Friday, September 24th and will be available on all streaming platforms. LISTEN HERE.
"If Stevie Nicks joined The Heartbreakers"
FOR FANS OF: The Classic Rock revival, thrifting/vintage, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Dorothy, Harry Styles, Phoebe Bridgers, Halsey
Growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, pop-rock artist John Foley always felt like he didn’t belong. As a teen, John struggled with personal identity issues, and he fended off fears and rejection through retreating to an inner sanctum where he sought solace in singing and songwriting. None of his friends knew he was a songwriter—he kept this secret to himself until college. Today, the young singer-songwriter has emerged a promising artist with two EPs, three singles, and the upcoming EP, Spirits. The 5-song collection represents a milestone in assured artistry.
“Back then, I felt so stifled, and I overthought everything. I used music as a form of therapy,” Foley recalls. “Even today, singing and songwriting helps me process my life. It enables me to talk about things I don’t feel comfortable addressing directly.”
John is a storyteller lyricist who uses narratives, poetic phrases, and metaphors to process complex truths and life struggles. Within his songs, there are feelings of longing, sadness, healing, and escapism. His soulfully emotive vocals, intimate lyrics, and dynamic pop-rock hooks blur the lines between singer-songwriter traditions, pop, and classic rock. John is influenced by such diverse artists as Tom Petty, Brandi Carlile, Eagles, Amy Winehouse, and Black Sabbath among others.
“I don’t set out to write about specific stories or topics. I just let the songs take me. A lot of times, I write songs and think they’re not about me, and then I look back, and go ‘oh yeah, that’s really specifically about me,’” John says laughing.
John literally grew up surrounded by music. His father is an actively performing and recording bassist, and John would often fall asleep to the rumbling of drums rattling his room as his father’s band practiced directly below his bedroom. His father showed him some basics on guitar, and John took it from there. By the age of 16, he was writing original songs. Music became a portal to transcend the tedium and claustrophobia of small-town living. “Music was a solitary thing for me. I didn’t want my dad to give me lessons; I wanted to discover it myself. I felt like I needed an escape, and music was like this magical way to express myself,” John notes. In 2016, he released his debut EP, The Premonition, and in 2018 he released the EP, Specters.
ABOUT SPIRITS
Spirits is conceptually and artistically linked with Specters. The Spirits’ song “What Fades Away” references both titles in the chorus with the lyrics: And I don’t know what fades away/And I don’t know what’s here to stay/Specters come and spirits go/Teach me all there is to know. The sessions for both releases took place at the same time, though Spirits shows a progression of sound and vision. Thematically, Specters is dark and moody, and Spirits is lighter and more enlightened. From a songwriting and production perspective, this release may be John’s finest. The songs are his strongest; his vocals are visceral, vulnerable yet also polished; and the production is crisp and features intuitive ensemble band interplay which dynamically enhance the songs’ sentiments. The musicians on these songs include John’s father, and his dad’s community of seasoned vet musicians.
The EP opens with “Hey Little Witch,” a song rife with 1960s folk-rock mystique including evocative magical lyrics and emotive vocals. Many of John’s songs have sturdy acoustic pop-rock cores delicately enhanced by melodic basslines, tasteful drums, textured keyboard moments, and bluesy lead guitar. The track “Follow the Water” recalls the gritty soulfulness of the Animals “House of The Rising Sun.” It’s darkly imaginative with lyrics that transport you on a supernatural water-themed journey to the unknown. John slips gracefully into Americana and country vibes with the “Another Lover” which smolders with relationship and romance frustrations.
The dreamy and darkly mysterious single, “Aces High,” is a potent down-on-your-luck track. The song features slow-burn bluesy lead guitars and glowering lyrics such as: Take a spin place your bets/Watch the ball dance its roulette/If you’re feeling confident, go all in/But don’t forget the house always wins. “That’s about just feeling out of sync with everything—nothing is lining up—and you feel down, like you can’t catch a break,” John says. The EP concludes with the aforementioned slow-burn “What Fades Away,” an imaginative trip of a song. “That’s about being lost in all aspects of your life, and things feeling fleeting while you try to make sense of it all and find your way,” John details. The song boasts an epic fleet-fingered guitar solo which heightens the pent-up emotions expressed in the tune.
Music has taken John on a profound path of self-discovery that has allowed him to connect with others, and not feel so isolated. “Having people believe in me and my music, and reach out to me through social media is so powerful. That bond with others is so special. That they relate to the emotions I’m expressing is super satisfying,” John says. Up next, John is working on new music which he hints will be more in the folk and Americana spirit and directly address some very personal topics.
THE BOOK
Bringing the stories of Spirits to life, Foley is releasing a photo book along with the EP that features photos for each track that encapsulates the character their story.
