Alternative Rock from Noel Johnson

Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, Noel Johnson (NDJ) cut his teeth as the frontman of the alternative Americana indie rock outfit The White Oaks. In 2014, the artist’s wildly unique genre-bending creative vision looked set to come to fruition with the band’s record titled I Wont’ Answer, with track’s such as “Lost in Love”, “Lord Look After Me”, Crime and Religion” and the title track showcasing his songwriting talent and lyrical depth, drawing comparisons to legendary artists such as Beck and Leonard Cohen.

With the band seemed poised for success pending the release of their magnum opus, the project began to sadly disintegrate and the release eventually abandoned by the record’s producer and label. Noel retreated underground to focus on recovery and the wellbeing of his young family.

What ensued was a period of spiritual transformation and personal evolution up to the lockdowns of 2020 that saw Noel dive head first into music with a new outlook. Immersing himself in his home studio, he worked on the material that would form his upcoming new album Electrotherapy, set to drop next year.

Bringing us the lead single from the album, he shares with us his latest release with “Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride”. The new single takes inspiration from Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing ins Las Vegas as well as the artist’s own experiences with the mind-altering Ayahuasca.

Laying down a psychedelic alternative rock vibe full of spacey sonic textures and laid back pitched down vocal work, with his new single Noel Johnson (NDJ) delivers a subtly grooving dreamy track. Full of airy synth lines and a slow beat, he crafts a stunning and mesmeric sound that serves to build excitement for his upcoming full-length release.

Listen to Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride below