Berlin-based, Indian artist and producer, Johnny Kulo is the bridge between old-school soul and modern R&B. The son of a reverend, he was inevitably playing drums in church before he could form sentences, exploring several other instruments until eventually realizing his love for songwriting and production. He uses his sultry-smooth voice to tell personal and perceived stories of love, heartbreak and unsettled identity.
His latest single ‘Poseidon’ delivers raw emotions, and notoriously detailed retrospection. It’s barely been three months since the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter released his compelling debut EP, Desire. With no intention of running the clock out, he’s back with a fresh sound, an instant R&B classic.
An ode to choosing ignorance, ‘Poseidon’ revolves around asking questions about past relationships, through a rhetorical sentiment. It explores the feelings of arrogance and confidence that arise after one gain’s hindsight overtime in regards to their past. The track also portrays an overall sense of apathy for the future stemming from exhaustion.
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.”
Listen below.
