FRANCHISETAGGED

The first time I ever had the opportunity to listen to John West’s music was back in 2006 when he did a small show at Lestat’s Coffee House in San Diego. 6 years later, Mr. West finally made it big and has since been given the opportunity to work with some of the hottest names in the music business today (most notably G.O.O.D. Music artists Big Sean and Pusha T).

Though John’s sound has been slightly altered to suit mainstream tastes, the folks at Mercury/Island Def Jam have done a good job in leaving the spirit of his music intact. Rather than change West’s style altogether, they’ve simply dropped catchy beats underneath his trademark soulful piano and acoustic guitar rhythms, which, combined with his smooth voice, should do more than enough to keep John’s original fan base wanting more while attracting newer audiences.

If you aren’t too familiar with this man’s work, I definitely recommend sitting down and giving it a quick listen. Also, feel free to look up one of his older tracks “Keep It Together” if you have the opportunity!