American singer-songwriter John K is one of the most irresistible voices on the Monster playlist these days, offering slices of pure pop happiness for days like these – to reference two of his catchy songs.

Monster RX93.1’s Features and News Director (and original host of Heard On Thursdays) Rafael P. Reyes attended John K’s virtual press conference held from Florida, USA, on the morning of November 26 (Manila time). The event was arranged by Sony Music Entertainment International and Sony Music Philippines. 

In a studio, with a big “John K” lighted sign behind him, John chatted excitedly about having “no Plan B” when he started on his music career before delighting the media personalities present with exhilarating live performances, backed up by a guitarist, of “parachute” and “days like this”, two songs from his new album love + everything else. (John seems to love stylizing all his titles in lower case.) 

John called “days like this” his first quarantine song and hoped it would be likened to a day in the beach with people you love. He said it was “about where you want to be, instead of where you are”. Later on he sang a third song off the album, “cheap sunglasses”.

The congenial Florida native (real name John Poulson) eagerly welcomed questions from the DJs, journalists, and media personalities from the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, and other Asian countries. John was visibly delighted and profusely thankful when Raffy Reyes told him how his songs were played constantly on Monster RX93.1 and loved by the listeners. 

His face brightened up even more when Raffy shot his question. (Sony Music executives were also smiling and nodding in approval.) Raffy expressed how he enjoyed the one-take videos for “parachute” and “days like this”, then wondered if John was familiar with (one-take master) movie directors Brian De Palma and Alfred Hitchcock and asked how much input John had in the making of those videos. 

John revealed how much he enjoyed 1917 (the much-lauded Sam Mendes war movie) and how he wanted to do something like it.  While shooting “days like this”, his team and he mutually came to a decision to shoot the video in one take. John enjoys the process of making “one-take” music videos immensely even if it takes six hours to shoot a video. 

In the course of the presser, replying to other questions, John disclosed that his musical influences included artists that were introduced to him by his parents: soul singers, The Eagles, The Beatles, and Elton John, and as he grew up, John Mayer and Maroon 5. He said the artist he really wanted to collaborate with was Ed Sheeran. One of the guests asked him what he does to get out of a creative slump. John revealed that, among other things, he goes to the gym, he has to do something physical. John further mused, when you’re surrounded by great people, that’s the key to happiness. 

John concluded the event by assuring his fans that if they liked his first album (apparently referring to the if we never met EP), this second album represents growth on his part. He grinned, “I cannot be more excited about the future”.

 love + everything else includes the Monster hits “if we never met”, “6 months”, and “happiness”, as well as future hits “parachute”, “let me let you go”, “days like this”, “ilym”, and more.  Experience love + everything else with John K from Epic Records. Listen to John K’s songs (and vote for them!) on Manila’s Hottest Monster RX93.1.