Unca John – How The Hell? (2023)
Before we go any further you need to know that Unca John is not your average rock star. In his words, he is “a middle-aged economics professor living in the Baltimore suburbs with all the fashion sense and charisma you would expect from an economics professor. I’m an average singer at best. I can’t even play guitar or piano…” So, I hear you ask, what the hell is Unca John doing here? The message is in his music.
A band nerd with skills in jazz and choral music, John Shea (also known as Unca John) knows about the clarinet and saxophone. In recent years, after discovering the joy of creating music with audio software in the privacy of your own home, the US-based artist dipped into the realm of rock. Influenced by the likes of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Costello, REM, The Buzzcocks, Nirvana and Steely Dan, you can expect a pop/rock/punk genre-diverse sound to ooze from his discography. Come with us as we delve into Unca John’s single ‘How The Hell?’
The debut release from rockstar Unca John, ‘How The Hell?’ is an introduction to his “kitchen table rock” style. Preceding his upcoming single ‘Your Opinion’ and debut album Midlife Crisis Vanity Project, ‘How The Hell?’ is filled with pounding drums, bold guitars and dashes of bright keys spattered across the track. Pumped full of pop-rock passion, there is a nostalgic flair to this debut track leaning toward the best of 90s rock. Interestingly, while the vocals bring a raw innocence and immaturity to the song, there is a sophisticated charm slithering beneath.
The melody may be harmonic, light and charming, but the lyricism presents the profoundness of this introspective song. Setting you adrift on a glistening sonic river, you see the surface as smooth and comforting; however, ‘How The Hell?’ shows you all the turbulent waves beneath ready to swallow you whole. Touching on the loss of innocence, passing of youth, a realisation that you’re in a situation where nothing seems to matter and you have barely lived, ‘How The Hell?’ really asks “how the hell”? Filled with despair, fear, inner conflict and frustration, Unca John has found the theme song for the midlife crisis.
For more from Unca John, check out his official website, Facebook and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
