Even though it’s only been three months since we heard Johnny Rain‘s last track “Stellar”, it seems to have taken an eternity for him to release his latest project, Villain. The LA native, who’s last full project Lullaby Of Machine was only released back in February, has been hard at work in the months leading up to this day, and the fruits of his labour are really, really ripe. To call this a mixtape would be completely outrageous and unjust to the work of both the artist and his fantastic team at 6J Recordings. Villain is not just a project from another artist; it’s a complete work of art from start to finish.
From the breathtaking yet haunting vocals on “Isis” to the more upbeat indie-like vibes of “Roll With The Ocean”, right through the unplugged acoustic nature of “La Jolla”, there isn’t a stone that Johnny leaves unturned on what is possibly his best album to date. It’s no secret that artists such as Frank Ocean and The Weeknd pushed the more alternative side of R&B, which has since seen a massive renaissance in recent times, but it’s up to the artists themselves to forge their own path. One thing that sets Johnny Rain apart from the rest of the current crop singer/songwriters coming through is his ability to collide all of the different vibes that inspire him and create a unique sound. Be sure to keep an eye out for my full review of Villain coming soon, but until then you can stream the album entirely from his Soundcloud and if you’re feeling the project you can also download it for free or by donating to 6J Recordings via Johnny’s website.
Johnny Rain
Villain
- 6J Recordings
- 19th November, 2013