Rising Artist John Blaylock Releases New Single ‘Temples’: The Interview
John Blaylock's Return To Music
John Blaylock is a once again, rising musician, returning to the industry with a brand new single and debut album, in his own right. Blaylock has plenty of experience in the industry. Since the age of just twelve, he picked up a guitar and formed a band, which saw success throughout the nineties, including plays from Zane Lowe across Radio 1. This taste for the industry and genuine love for both music and people, has propelled him to where he is as an artist today.
This newfound artistry, fuelled by heartfelt songs and gritty lyricism, really is a new journey for Blaylock. Our interview together really explores his journey, a brief reflection on his many experiences, inspirations and travels, and a glimpse into the new album, with a star studded production team. Citing names such as, Freddy Sheed, Guy Massey, and Helen Boulding. It’s a very exciting time to be fan of John Blaylock!
The Interview
TTM: The new single is such a success for you, such a great debut, what does the release mean to you?
JOHN: Yeah, so it’s definitely a song about oneness and being connected to everybody and believing that we’re all the same. We’ve just got these structures that divide us where, society tries to put us in boxes and say, ”if you’re in that box, you shouldn’t like that person in that box, or that sort of thing.”. I’m saying, when the temples fall and the idols, egos, societal structures are gone, we’re really just the same as each other.
And my favourite line in the song is, ”If you take away the judgment, we’re just love.”. And I really believe that, man, people are fantastic. I’ve traveled the world and met the most amazing people all over on a community level, people will give you the shirt off the backs. They’re just fantastic people all over the world. We don’t need to be divided. We are humanity together.
TTM: What’s your relationship like with Manchester?
JOHN: Manchester, it means a hell of lot to me. It’s where I grew up. I’ve got so many good friends. I’ve spent a long time away from Manchester. I’ve lived in different places around the world. And so it’s always such an amazing place to come back to, to Manchester and see everyone here.
''We don't need to be divided. We are humanity together.'' John Blaylock
TTM: We know that a debut album is in the pipeline, and we’re so excited for it, what can we expect?
JOHN: Honest, authenticity in lyrics and songwriting, but with some much bigger productions, which I’m really excited for.
‘Temples’ is quite a stripped back, acoustic number, but the next single on February 13th is big. There’s a gospel choir. There’s full live strings, amazing drummer on it as well. So yeah, a lot of the tech. The forthcoming singles are much bigger productions, but proud to say, still have that acoustic guitar, finger picking, style as the core.
TTM: You’ve had such a great journey. So many great experiences, so many wonderful travels, as you briefly mentioned towards the start, how have those experiences and those travels inspired you today?
JOHN: In terms of inspiration for songwriting, traveling is great. The actual experience of just meeting people and having so many encounters. I love to write songs about real life situations. And people are inspiring. I meet so many amazing people, and I have met so many amazing people in different places around the world.
It also gives me a huge sense of positivity, because if you turn on the news, you think everyone in the world is a psychopath and a killer, but in reality, if you go traveling, I mean, I traveled all through COVID. I was in like so many red list countries. They were fine, no problem at all, and I met so many good people in those places. And yeah, honestly, I think the way the world is portrayed to us is not accurate, and really there’s just the world’s full of fantastic people.
TTM: Are you a spiritual person John? I noticed the ‘Om’ symbol, on your t-shirt in the video!
JOHN: I completely believe in spirituality. Completely believe in God or source energy, whatever you want to label it as. And I do genuinely believe that I’m an eternal soul. I’m in a temporary experience as a human being, as ‘John Blaylock’, and let’s just have as much fun with it as I can.
TTM: You’re performing and supporting Wet Wet Wet, which is such a great collaboration for you really, really brilliant stuff. How did that come about?
JOHN: So, that’s really thanks to the team that they’ve got me on the Wet Wet Wet Tour. And the tour starts this Sunday, and I’ve been checking out some of the venues, and they’re just some of the most beautiful theatres up and down the country. I mean, the one nearest you guys, Stoke, like that, Victoria Hall in Stoke. Wow. What a venue that is!
TTM: What’s keeping you motivated today?
JOHN: It’s the determination to enjoy the journey, The most important thing is to enjoy the journey. Because, you know, the only moment is now and right now. If you’re not unhappy with what you’re doing, then something’s going wrong. Don’t get hung up on the negative stuff. Just enjoy the journey and live in the moment.
TTM: John, you have so much experience in the industry, do you have any advice for new artists, just beginning their journey?
JOHN: My biggest piece of advice would be to collaborate. I mean, I’ve learned so much as a songwriter, from writing with other people. Collaborate, get out there, make music with people.
''The most important thing is to enjoy the journey.'' John Blaylock
TTM: If you had to pinpoint the proudest moment of your career what would it be?
JOHN: I used to be in a band when I was younger, and we were signed to a record label, and they weren’t a very good record label. We ended up a quarter million pound of debt to them, but that’s another story. The best thing that happened, though, during that time was I got a phone call once, and totally random. The head of the record label, says, ”Desmond Tutu wants you to write a song for Nelson Mandela.” I was like sounds a bit of a windup, but it wasn’t, it was a legit thing. Desmond Tutu did actually commission me to write a song to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela, and that was given to him as a gift on his 90th birthday, and I’ve now got a lovely letter from Desmond Tutu hanging on my bathroom wall back in Manchester.
