Johnny Lloyd has released a new video for the song ‘Rich and Poor’, taken from his forthcoming debut solo album Next Episode Starts In 15 Seconds, out 3 May 2019. You can preorder the album from Xtra Mile on vinyl and CD.
Artful of arrangement, articulate in its observations and elegant in its understated delivery, ‘Rich And Poor’ sees Johnny deliver a crisp and wistful cut that questions whether the rise of the machines may be putting more between humans than just a screen. Watch the video below.
“’Rich And Poor’ is about how we try to retain human relationships within this modern culture we live in,” says Johnny of the track.
“As technology slowly replaces human contact, how does that affect our relationships? That’s been on my mind a lot as I’ve got older. I didn’t have a phone till I was 19, now I can’t live without one…”
Simple melody and avoid of any studio clutter with the assured hand of expert producer Nathan Coen, ‘Rich And Poor’ is a cathartic listening experience that pays testament to the endlessly entrancing qualities of vocal and guitar in true harmony. Adding spine-tingling backing vocal flourishes, The Maccabees’ Hugo White brings even more to the song.
Filmed in a singular take at a North London location, the accompanying video is an intimate performance of the track. Framed only by the fading light that pours in from the weak winter’s sun beyond the window, the footage captured by artist and filmmaker Tobias Ross-Southall adds an engrossing visual tailor-made for this soul-stirring new single.
Speaking about the making of the video, Johnny says: “It’s always amazing working with Toby. I enjoy it as much as making the records. We have been planning to do a performance video for a while and this song seemed to be the right fit.”
Sharing much of the same DNA as the previous single and album title-track ‘Next Episode Starts In 15 Seconds’, here ‘Rich and Poor’ offers another tangible touchstone that point to the depth, quality and maturity of songs to be found in Johnny’s essential upcoming long-player.
A bold departure from his indie-rock roots that leaps weightlessly into lush and dreamy pastures new, Johnny’s debut solo album sees him metamorphosing as an artist to find kindred spirits in alternative-folk peers the likes of Elliot Smith, Nick Drake or Sparklehorse. Rich with personal revelations inspired by a whirlwind of changes in Johnny’s life over the past few years, the intimate and mature songs of the album tackle growth, getting sober and becoming a father, in a record that earnestly witnesses this songwriter enter masterfully back into the spotlight.
Recorded in a 10ft square bunker in north London in late 2018 with producer Nathan Coen, ‘Next Episode…‘ was further mastered at the infamous Abbey Road Studios by Frank Arkwright. Each song that appears on the album was recorded in three takes or less, with the results a raw, pure and endearing listen through and through. Special guest appearances also include Frank Turner, Hugo White (The Maccabees) and Adam Prendergast of Harry Styles’ band.
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