Promising young Liverpool four-piece The Jjohns drop their debut single for the Modern Sky UK label, “Sewn” which should bring them much attention and praise. Some say they sound like The La’s, and they have had comparisons to The Coral, Oasis and another bunch of Scousers who were doing their mop top thing way before any of this lot were born.
We think they sound like The Jjohns and a bunch of cheeky chappies from Merseyside having fun and making a very decent noise. Sound as a pound these lads…There’s perhaps a bit of a nod to The Undertones with the single – with regards to the vibrato and attitude of the vocal and the raw energy and power of the guitars. That’s a positive for us.
The Jjohns are the latest signing of Modern Sky UK, the new label that introduced the world to The Blinders, Catholic Action, The Slow Readers Club and more. The Jjohns deliver hooky melodic guitar pop. The three Dunning brothers are Dom on lead vocals and guitar, Mik on backing vocals and guitar, and Bernie on bass, along with their bezzie Sam Burkett on drums.
Coming from County Road, in the city’s borough of Walton, the band may have come from humble beginnings but they won’t be forgetting their roots any time soon. Outlining their ambitions for the band, frontman Dom Dunning says The Jjohns want to be: “Harmonic, homegrown, but most importantly – a band who write inspiring melodies singing about, what we know, where we live, and who we love.”
They more than held their own supporting Circa Waves, Trampolene, Paris Youth Foundation and Jordan Allen. Following their head-turning festival debut at Liverpool Sound City this year, The Jjohns landed their record deal with Modern Sky UK. They have done their city and themselves proud this summer with a clutch of festival appearances – including a storming set at Y-Not Festival 2018). In September, they have a headline show booked in at Manchester’s top indie venue Jimmy’s, on 14th.
The single “Sewn” is inspired by a Fleetwood Mac listening binge while the band were out on a tour of the Netherlands last year. Speaking about the track, frontman Dom Dunning says: “Writing “Sewn” was motivated by our band’s trip to Eindhoven last year. We had the Fleetwood Mac greatest hits on loop and a song that Mik showed me instantly hit me.
“I felt great… I always write in the notion of trying to create my own version of a particular song or melody, and that was the case with “Sewn”. We got home from the trip and straight away me and Mik picked up the guitars and the magic happened. I always had the hook lines, “you got me bad, got me Sewn girl” for a while, and managed to fit it into the end of that song.”
Fans of R.E.M.’s earlier days may even detect a knowing lyrical wink to one of the classic IRS years singles in the closing bars of “Sewn”. Recorded at the legendary Sugarhouse in St Helens, “Sewn” was produced by Ady Hall and Lee McCarthy.
Signing with Modern Sky UK for a few singles (of which “Sewn” arrives as the first), plus the promise of their debut EP slated for release at the end of this summer, we will be hearing a lot more from these boys and they have a bright future once the stars align and they and their label have all their ducks in a row. (What the eff does that even mean?) They are bloody good, so check ’em out. That’s clearer, eh!
LISTEN ON:
- Who is in the band and what do they do/play?
- Oldest and youngest – and ages please?
- Where and when was the band formed? How did you meet? Where are you all based now?
- What day jobs has each member had?
- Who writes the songs?
- What recordings have been released so far? Singles / EPs / albums. Titles, format, release date and if not self-releases for previous recordings, which record label? Details of imminent releases too please?
- First public performance? When and where, how many people there? How did it go? Any funny or dramatic stories from that gig?
- How many shows has this band done so far, and where (list of countries, or if not played outside of UK yet, the towns and cities).
- Strangest gig you have done? Also, your best gig?
- Main influences of the band? Can split this to one for each member or collectively as a band.
- Bullet points of the band’s music career/achievements to-date?
- Formed 2015
- First EP released: “Stone Across My Cave”
- First gig @ Eric’s
- We were a five-piece band, but let the lead guitarist go.
- Best moment in music so far?
- Do you guys want to be famous? Do you think you will be?
- What is the dream for your band and your music?
- How do you describe your music style to a stranger who asks: “what kind of music does your band play”?
- What do you want your music to say about you?
- Who is the joker in the band?
- Who needs to be centre of attention?
- Who is the bossy one?
- Who hogs the mirror in the dressing room?
- Who is always late?
- Who are you guys listening to right now; bands/artists?
- Choose one album each that you could not live without if you were stuck on a desert island?
- Who would be your dream collaboration; naming one living and one deceased band or artist to record with or to perform on stage with?
- Best compliment you have read or heard about your band and your music so far?
- A: X Factor, B: The Voice, C: Britain’s Got Talent, D: Gouge your own eyes out with a rusty spoon? Choose A, B, C or D!
