John Dhali has been refining and working on his sound for years. The result is a melting pot of folk, pop and indie - a unique and signature blend. John has had to jump over a few barriers to get into the music industry, he’s had to emerge from illness and rehabilitation, and his work stands as a proud message. His first solo E.P was picked up by BBC Introducing Stoke, 20k viewers and Huw Stephens even picking it up.
His album ‘IN TIME LP’ showcases his unique sound in a well-penned and flowing offering. The album has been produced in partnership with Sam Bloor, who has helped John Dhali come out of his shell and the result is an album soaked with positivity and infectious, hook-laden melodies. ‘Taste’ and of ‘Start Again’ showcases folkier influences. Acoustic guitars fluctuate between each other, whilst groovy drums shuffle underneath and soft vocals lie on top. On the other side, tracks such as ‘Soft Kiss’ is an indie-rock belter, with thrashing drums and raw vocals. ‘Plain Sight’ is everything a lead single should be - infectious melodies, glistening melodies and irresistible percussion. With the extraordinary accompanying video, released with the album on 26th August (embargoed), every word is brought into focus, and John’s skills as a talented filmmaker are also revealed.
Speaking about the release he says: “Plain Sight came about from an intense period of working through my innermost shit. It was one of those rare and beautiful unicorn songs that falls out pretty much fully formed - just easily and naturally. Recording was kind of the same - everything pulled together in three days and just felt good. It was exactly what I wanted to say, and still is. Just gotta push through the dark and shine your light - it's like a mantra I try to live by, not always successfully, but I've got faith in myself and in humanity.”
Experiments with a six-piece band, time spent in India, a honing of live performance through busking meant by 2020 John was working full-time in music. He finally had the sound, the look, the songs he had been searching for. The new album is a crowd-funded endeavour, proving just how unstoppable John is. We can't wait to see what's in store for this exciting artist.