Emphasising all the complexity of emotion that’s wrapped up in this transition
‘Something New’, singer, songwriter and producer Ian Janco laments the past with bittersweet grace.
The indie-folk song is peppered with hazy memories of a past relationship in contrast to the new reality post-break-up; emphasising all the complexity of emotion that’s wrapped up in this transition. Janco tenderly handles this topic, which is based on his real-life experience, as heard through the open-hearted guitar strings and longing violin section. However, the London-based American songwriter manages to lighten the mood with a layered, buoyant percussion and inescapably catchy melodies.
In the quote from Janco below, the artist captures how these two states of being – melancholic nostalgia and subtle hope – can coexist.
“Something New was written shortly after a breakup in the first Lockdown. It captures the feeling of knowing that a relationship is coming to an end, but still having love for a person even though they’ve moved on. On one of the darker days of that time, it just poured out of me – an expression of sadness and longing but also a kind of optimism for what’s to come. I hope that some people resonate with it and help them get through whatever they may be going through.”
The warm, analogue textures and personal storytelling of ‘Something New’ promise to be a consistent feature of Ian Janco’s forthcoming Rapture EP, slated for release later this year.
Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer Ian Janco’s passion and dedication to music have taken him on quite the journey. Born and raised in the remote wilderness of Idaho’s Rocky Mountains, Janco began making music at a young age.
A move to California in his teenage years solidified his calling as a collaborative musician and launched him as a solo artist. Janco played drums, keys, guitar and bass for a handful of local bands while honing his skills as a songwriter and recording artist. A busking trip across Europe at age 18 landed him in Liverpool, where he then attended Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Having honed his craft as a performer on the UK venue circuit, he’s supported acts such as Emmylou Harris, Ward Thomas, Isaac Gracie, Lauren Daigle and Wildwood Kin. His debut single ‘Life’ was premiered by Graham Norton on Radio 2, with subsequent support from BBC Radio London, Radio Merseyside, Wonderland, Clash and Acoustic Magazine.
Instead of returning to America after graduating (and writing a song with McCartney himself), Janco took a further leap and moved to London, where he now resides and works as a full-time musician. Having embraced his role as a polymath creative, he has penned songs for the likes of JP Cooper, written numerous compositions which can be heard on Film & TV programs around the world, and collaborated with London’s dance and arts scene.
Janco’s new music is a culmination of his journey. The forthcoming Rapture EP is a body of work stemming from heartbreak, but glowing with the warmth and richness of an artist finding his sound after a whirlwind of societal upheaval, cultural inspiration and personal tumult.
His sound has drawn comparisons to Ray Lamontagne, Vance Joy, Sufjan Stevens, Stevie Appleton, and early Bon Iver. With a knack for vivid lyrics and memorable choruses, Ian is an artist with a lifelong commitment to his vocation – and he shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.
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