In his time, John Garrison has worked with such household names as Christina Aguilera, Robbie Williams, Ed Sheeran, Sting, and Lewis Capaldi, among others, but he’s also a songwriter and artist in his own right.
By Graeme Smith
It’s his new EP Time Trader that’s got him on my radar. The EP is a diverse, four-track collection written on a synthesiser from 1984, so it’s fair to say it’s got a touch of the retro about it. Yet, a modern audience is going to find a lot to love about it, and it’s clear that John knows what he’s doing when penning a catchy song.
And that’s evident right from the off with contemplative yet vibrant A Walk With God. A stripped-back intro gives way to a rich electronic groove in the instrumental, and John’s vocal delivery is beautifully soulful. What stands out most, though, are the lyrics. Full of storytelling and emotion, they had me hanging on every word. As the track progresses, it becomes more experimental, arriving at a dramatic crescendo.
The Time Is Now is captivatingly moody. Mournful lyrics are presented by pleading vocals before we get to an affirming chorus. What Does It Matter? gives us some industrial pop. The vocals are part spoken-word, part rapped in the verse, accompanied by some severe beats, before the track explodes into life during a soaring, throwback chorus. Things are then rounded off by Clear, a quiet, slow-burning moment with classical undertones.
It’s clear from Time Trader that John Garrison is an accomplished musician. It’s also clear that he has a unique point of view and isn’t afraid to share it. He shows us a lot of himself and his style across its four tracks, and the mix of the retro with the modern makes things feel timeless. Few have impressed me as much as John has with this first impression. I look forward to discovering more by him.
You can check out Time Trader below.