Formula Indie Sessions – Interview with John Muirhead 

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

Listening to CDs in my dads car on the way to school…Canadian classics from Neil Young, Bruce Cockburn, Blue Rodeo, Barenaked Ladies that still inform my songwriting to this day. I remember being so curious about the songs and the stories behind them. This was years before I ever picked up a guitar, but my obsession with songs definitely started on those drives to school. 

How did your passion for creating music begin?

I spent a summer getting really good at Guitar Hero 2, when the fad was at its peak. I was obsessed with that game – it introduced me to so many great songs. At some point, I started wondering what the real thing would feel like. To my disappointment, it was a lot harder than the video game version. But still, I was hooked from day 1. 

What’s the story behind your current music project?

This project got rolling somewhat accidentally. I wanted to write songs and play guitar in a band. When I went off to university, I didn’t have a band, but I was writing a ton of songs that I wanted to workshop. So I started going to open mics and coffeehouses and testing them out. Before I knew it, I was working on a solo EP…then another one….then an album. The rest is history.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music

before?

The indie-folk soundtrack to a summer road trip after a heartbreak: freeing and fun, with melancholy moments mixed in.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

On The Nomad & The Never Ending Road, I learned the value of collaboration. Before this record, I only wrote solo. I found that my old processes were feeling a little stale – so I reached out to some incredible writers to make some music. Learning from others and collaborating has added a new life to my music and made me approach writing with a beginners mindset again.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

An acoustic guitar and a phone.

Almost every song I’ve ever written starts with acoustic guitar and vocals. Then, I record a “rough sketch” on the voice notes app of my phone, where it will sit for a while before I properly demo out the song with some arrangement ideas. 

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

Michigander. Jason and I wrote “Don’t Mind” together. He just put out an awesome new record called “Over Before You Know It”. Highly recommend.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

Everything you hear on the record is inspired by my life and what’s happening around me. Because of the nature of my life as a touring musician, I’d say that travel is the biggest inspiration – meeting new people, visiting new places, and the internal battle of homesickness vs wanderlust. 

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

I hope that The Nomad & The Never Ending Road can become a comfort album for anyone who’s feeling a little lost right now. I hope that it feels like a good companion on a long journey. 

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

Music has taught me that I’m never alone. It seems that the deeper I dig into my emotions as a songwriter and the more I show my authentic self, the more people relate and see themselves in my work. It’s so special to be able to share this with people.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

To headline Massey Hall has always been a big dream of mine. I used to work right down the street and walk by it daily, dreaming that one day I could play there. I’ve played once as a guest artist, which was a dream come true…but to headline would be surreal. One day 🙂 

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I’d have to say John Prine. Mostly because I think it would be a really good hang. Maybe we’d write a good song together too. 

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

They can sign up for my email/SMS list here: https://laylo.com/johnmuirhead

And check out my socials here:

https://www.instagram.com/johnpmuirhead

https://www.facebook.com/johnmuirheadmusic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgly0MpQ9uhwP-_8eDauo2g

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical

journey?

I did a lot of growing in this record cycle, and I made some big leaps in my abilities as a songwriter and as an artist. My dream for the next chapter is to keep that momentum going and see what I can create next. I truly feel that my best work is yet to come and I can’t wait to hear what the next record sounds like. 

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

I hope they discover the amazing community that’s building around this music. There are real friendships being built around these songs and shows, and everyone’s invited. You can find the community on discord here: https://discord.gg/syZgDz2pRn

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