Genre/Influences: Dark-Wave, Gothic.

Format: Digital. 

Background/Info: This formation is a duo featuring Johnathan Mooney (USA) and Christian Granquist (Sweden). They already released several productions together and now strike back with this EP featuring seven songs. 

Content: We get 3 new songs plus 3 remixes of these songs and a kind of outro track. The sound is getting us back to Dark-Wave music driven by slow rhythms mixing guitar play and electronics. On top you’ll notice a singer with a deep timbre of voice. Remixes have been accomplished by John Bechdel, Leather Strip and Stoneburner.  

+ + + :  Speaking for myself I definitely prefer the remixes instead of the original songs. That’s not really a surprise as you realize the great and renowned artists they’ve asked. My favorite one is the title song remixed by John Bechdel (Ministry) who injected a dreamy and passionate touch to the track which evolves in a great, crescendo, way. 

– – – : I’m always disappointed a work where I prefer remixes instead of original songs. It doesn’t mean the originals are that worse but they’re missing substantial elements which you can find back in the different remixes. 

Conclusion: The remixes are making this EP interesting. 

Best songs: “Strip Me – John Bechdel Remix”, “This Too – Stoneburner Remix”. 

Rate: 6.

Artist: www.jchristianmusic.com / www.facebook.com/jchristianmusic 

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Los Angeles-based Johnathan Mooney and Stockholm’s Christian Granquist otherwise known as the Trans-Atlantic post-punk project, Johnathan|Christian have released their latest EP, “Strip Me”.

The 7-track EP tells a story through a trilogy of songs, “Strip Me,” “Sway Back” and “This Too”. The topics addressed in the trilogy include acknowledging the fear of rejection, love’s often finite nature, hitting bottom and trying to find ways out. The EP is augmented with remixes by Ministry’s John Bechdel, Leæther Strip, and Steven Archer (Stone Burner/Ego Likeness). The 7th track is called “Cela Aussi (épilogue)”.

The music video for “Strip Me” was produced by Purple Tree Creative’s Nick Van Dyk and takes a subliminal approach in terms of the cuts and imagery addressing the challenges of a relationship.

The band explains: “The animated video aims to explore the different emotions and experiences that come with the life cycle of a relationship in a unique and visually striking way. By using abstract imagery, the video aims to create a powerful and thought-provoking response that can help those going through challenges to understand better and process their feelings, even if it may be on a subconscious level. The video’s goal is to convey empathy and the chaos that comes with the experience of a relationship.”

You can check out the full EP below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Post-punk duo Johnathan|Christian announce the release of their newest EP, “Together We’re Alone”. “Together We’re Alone” features appearances by Machinery Of Desire’s Adrian Auchrome, Italian singer Elisa Mammoliti and 45 Grave drummer Tom Coyne (“My Dying Words”). The EP closes it up with a cover of the Adam & The Ants song, “Never Trust a Man (With Egg on His Face)”.

Johnathan|Christian are a Stockholm based duo consisting of writer/vocalist Christian Granquist, along with Johnathan Mooney, currently living in Greater Los Angeles. Their sound mixes romantic death-rock, 80’s gothic and post-punk but with a modern production.

Check out the video for “Together, We’re Alone” below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Transatlantic darkwave act Johnathan/Christian (Johnathan Mooney and Christian Granquist) have released their new single, “Every Day it Rains”, featuring lead vocals shared jointly by lead singer Christian Granquist and North Wales recording artist Marianne Holland.

“Every Day it Rains” was an original idea by Johnathan Mooney about a family member waiting for a loved one who never came home from a war. However, the original idea changed completely with the start of the global pandemic followed by tragic murders that resulted in social unrest and protests.

Singer Christian says: “I wrote lyrics just coming home from traveling in Europe when the lockdowns started. (At the same time, my stepfather died). I started thinking: who am I if I don’t interact with other people? Who am I without my children, my friends, my wife, my colleagues? We all had our personal hell. And for some people, there’s no escaping the rain.”

“The world has become entirely too disheartening,” adds composer Johnathan. “We’re all seeing the same scenes depicted in real time and it’s wearing us all down. I wish the video had a happy ending but I believe real change is coming and that’s something we can all look forward to.”

You can watch the video for “Every Day It Rains” below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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