INTERVIEW: New Single from Johan Hoffman

Stockholm-based artist Johan Hoffman continues to make an impact in the world of reflective songwriting, threading memory, identity and transformation through his stirring sonic fabric. Since first arriving with his 2021 debut End of a Beginning, Johan has released three albums, each marked by stripped-back arrangements and poignant lyricism.

With every release, he develops as a singer-songwriter as well as a storyteller based in emotion and minimalist elegance. His 2023 record Transit served as a creative extension of the theatre piece Jules and it closed on a quietly defiant note with “Never Be Afraid.” The track, intimate and hushed, carries what one listener described as “a suppressed howl” beneath its acoustic simplicity.

This year, he returned with “Day One,” the first single from his upcoming fourth album, which felt like the curtain rising on a new chapter. The song captured something delicate and alive via the magic of an artist letting the moment unfold naturally. “Day One” set the tone for a project framed by rebirth, memory and the poetry of everyday life.

Now Johan Hoffman offers the second glimpse into that world with his latest single titled “Just in Time.” Romantic and cinematic in tone, the song captures love as a last-minute rescue, an arrival against the odds. Inspired by a real-life New Year’s Eve reunion, the track recounts its tale through a warm, nostalgic guitar progression that carries both longing and light. It’s a late-night scene rendered in soft focus, one foot in reality and the other in reverie.

The origin of “Just in Time” is as poetic as the song itself; Johan was playing along with George Harrison during Peter Jackson’s Get Back documentary when Harrison introduced a new musical idea to the band. That moment, simple, spontaneous and unguarded, sparked something in Johan and the progression he traced from that scene became the foundation of “Just in Time,” initially titled “George” in tribute.

Set up by gentle guitar chords, Johan’s graceful voice enters to cast a dreamy scene of indie folk music that drifts with tender melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Flowing with stripped back arrangement and wrapped in an alluring atmosphere, it’s a truly charming slice of Johan Hoffman’s timeless songwriting while continuing to build the excitement for his upcoming fourth record.

We caught up with Johan Hoffman to find out more about his musical journey so far, his new single “Just in Time” and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Johan Hoffman below.

Hey Johan, how’s things?

Hi Alex, all good. Hope the same for you!

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

I have a memory of being about 10 years old, visiting my grandparents. I sit at my grandfather’s electric organ, playing with the built-in beatbox and experimenting with the different sound effects. Around the same time, I remember that I had a Commodore 64 where I created songs by programming loops from a sound effects library. My first actual instrument was a recorder flute.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?

David Bowie is one. The music, but also his artistic curiosity and will to move forward. I loved the Moonage Daydream film, and I saw him live at Jones Beach when I lived in New York. In fact, we both lived in the same neighbourhood. Another is PJ Harvey, whose music I was introduced to in the early 90s. Her rawness captured me from the start, and I have followed her since. One of my greatest concert experiences was seeing her in Manchester on the “Let England Shake” tour. She has that air of magic and mystery I love. And Iggy Pop, of course. From the pure energy of The Stooges to the introspective work of more recent years, like “Avenue B” and the film “To Stay Alive: A Method”. I was fortunate to see him live in Stockholm a few years ago, still full of energy.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

I am fascinated by the roots of music we create today, so I seek out old recordings. I often listen to the pioneers of blues, jazz and gospel, but try to find music from other traditions as well. I draw a lot from theatre and cinema, from writing and storytelling to imagery and performance. Travelling inspires me, immersing myself in nature or a crowded city, tuning in to something larger than myself. Or a specific instrument, the songs on my upcoming album are intimately connected to the Stratocaster and the Supro amp I used when arranging and recording. The lyrics are inspired by my own life and experiences, rarely literal but always from an honest place. When I have understood what the song is about, I follow the story as truthfully as I can.

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

I released my first album “End of a Beginning” about four years ago. Before that I played only for myself or with friends. The whole production process was new to me, so I learned as I went. My setup was simple: an audio interface, a condenser mic, an Epiphone Les Paul, a bass, and an electric piano. I relied on Logic for mixing and drums, and I used SoundCloud for mastering. The album was written and produced alone during the pandemic, so it was very much a solitary process. Over the next year, I played a few solo acoustic shows, which gave me confidence in both the songs and my voice. I also regularly jammed with a drummer friend who once joined me on stage. That confidence, and the interplay with an audience and another musician, influenced the second album. “Sketches of Now” relied less on loops, was often minimalistic, and contained more improvisations. In the same period, I wrote and performed the solo theatre piece “Jules”, which inspired my following album “Transit”. This album continued to explore a minimalist approach and let my voice take up more space. For my upcoming album, I took this even further by restricting myself to vocals and electric guitar, with some gentle base or Moog when necessary. I used no loops, no drums, and no click track. This was in part to make the album closer to a live solo performance, but I also found the restrictions quite liberating. I recorded the guitar through a tube amp to get a raw unfiltered sound, and for the first time I did the mastering myself.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

Someone I could learn from, maybe Jack White to catch up on guitar, or Lady Gaga to make it big.

How did you find making your new single “Just in Time”?

This song had been lingering in the background for a while. I came up with the chord progression while playing along with the Beatles in Peter Jackson’s “Get Back”. There is a moment where George, unsuccessfully, tries to convince Paul about a progression in F#m, which inspired me to record a short acoustic piece on my phone that I called “George”. I later used it in a theatre play that I wrote and directed, and then, when life led me to the lyrics, the piece became “Just in Time”.

What can fans expect from your upcoming album?

Ten songs, each with its own personality, all recorded as a live performance.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

To lean in and get inspired.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

First, Miles Davis with his “Kind of Blue” lineup. Then Aretha Franklin. And finally, The Doors to close it out. At the Pantheon in Rome.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of the year?

I release another single in August, then the full album in October. I want to perform the songs live, but the format is not decided yet. And I’ll be working on a theatre project as well.

Listen to Just in Time below