Based in Berlin, Johnny Kulo is a singer-writer-producer extraordinaire who is well versed in crafting commercially leaning R&B offerings loaded with soulful sensibilities and old-school flavors. Using ‘Poseidon’ as his latest vessel, the Indian-hailing artist has an ear for neat guitar licks and mesmeric vocal layers that flow freely over grooving baselines and nostalgic synth work. Discussing themes of personal and perceived stories of love, heartbreak, and unsettled identity, ‘Poseidon’ is as ambitious as it is accomplished.
On the creative direction, Johnny Kulo openly shares:
“When I’m writing something it almost always starts with the electric guitar. Even if the original idea was a melody in my head or something I came up with on the keyboard, I first gotta lay it down on the guitar first. I was messing around, layering, chopping and flipping up guitars I recorded and that ended up serving as the base for the track. I sent it over to a childhood homie of mine who hit me back with a hook and a verse within an hour or so. And that was it for me, the hook drove everything else, the direction was clear. The rest of the production was just as simple as putting together pieces to a puzzle cause the song already existed in its entirety as soon as I had the hook. I decided to leave enough space in the mix for me to say what needs to be said in the verses. The drums and the keys came easy but I just knew I had to have Big Vik on the bass to complete the track. No track of mine is complete without August Ingram’s production and sonic design. I also got to collaborate with the one and only Johnny Ganta who created the incredible album art.”
The single is Johnny’s first venture of 2022, and follows his ‘Desire’ EP which dropped in the latter half of last year. ‘Poseidon’ is by no means a sharp gear change or even a firm change of line, but is more so a continuing of a particularly hearty chapter of Johnny’s career thus far. We’ll certainly be reading on to see what Johnny is capable of this year, and look forward to bigger and better.
