FOLK-ROCK SINGER-SONGWRITER
JOHNNY STANEC
TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM
A LINEAR HISTORY
DUE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Combining elements of Britpop and Americana, folk-rock singer-songwriter Johnny Stanec’s introspective catalog seamlessly fuses the different genres into something entirely new. On Friday, February 23, Johnny will continue to connect with fans on his new album, A Linear History. With stories of the passage of time, alienation, death and hope, Johnny speaks to the lost souls of his listeners with passionate vocals and driving instrumentation.
PRE-SAVE A LINEAR HISTORY ON SPOTIFY HERE.
PRE-SAVE ON BANDCAMP HERE.
In this latest project, Johnny embarks on a journey of looking back on experiences and relationships. He notes, “In the last few years I lost a few people close to me, and that sort of shaped these songs. This life is finite, and it gave me the idea for the album title. In a way it is about death, but also the feeling of hope.” Ending on an optimistic note with the track “A Light Ahead,” Johnny closes this contemplative saga with the promise that there is always a new day ahead.
A sneak peak into the record, “A Wind That Carries” released November 2023, almost didn’t come to fruition. “That song sort of grew out of an acoustic track I wasn’t sure how to finish,” Stanec admits. “I was listening to some Johnny Marr solo records and liked his use of electronic beats and slinky guitar parts. I think [this is] my version of that type of song.” Channeling the unique approach of Marr, Johnny pulled together the nostalgic chords and captivating melodies that characterize the long-drive ready single, setting the mood for self-reflection.
Born and raised in Youngstown, OH, Johnny started out on a drum kit at the age of 10. He later taught himself guitar and bounced around with a few bands before deciding to embark on his solo career. In 2018, he released his first record, The Future of Nothing, completely on his own. During the pandemic he dug his heels into recording in lieu of playing live shows — resulting in a vinyl collection highlighting a year of isolation entitled Never Met A Stranger (2020). Late 2022 saw a follow-up conceptual album, Sunrise Sunset, which takes listeners through a day’s journey from morning until night.
After a decade of shows throughout the U.S. under his belt, Johnny knows just the right melody to entrance a crowd for his set, hooking them with familiar stories of life through his skillful guitar. He takes every lived experience on the faces of his audience and channels them into every word he utters on stage, believing that every show provides a new perspective.
Honing the same melancholic rock akin to Tom Petty, Johnny is often likened to the legends of the 80s and 90s, while still crafting his own sound unlike anyone else. He takes inspiration from Petty’s varied genres, Nirvana’s punk spirit and Neil Young’s warm acoustics, while combining the British elements of Oasis and The Smiths. Pedal steel guitars and hearty acoustic riffs accompany twinkling piano keys and bright harmonies — Britpop distilled and driven through an Americana-focused lense. Johnny individually crafts every element of the track before the mixing and mastering process, creating a seamless blend of distinctive sounds that define his unique style.
Upon first listen of A Linear History, Johnny suggests taking a long drive to immerse in the sounds and the words; reflect on the themes of life and notice the varying instrumentation that expertly crafts the feeling of each track. Johnny Stanec is the folk-rock songwriter who uses every element of a song to his advantage — constantly evolving his sound in harmony with the ebbs and flows of life.
A Linear History Tracklisting:
“It’s All Bittersweet”
“Shine On (That’s Just Life)”
“A Wind That Carries”
“I’ll Never Sink”
“In The Dark, In The Clouds, In The Rain”
“If I Ever Return”
“Scrawled Out My Name”
“Life Ever Changing”
“The Distant Past”
“A Light Ahead”
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