Sam Johnston - “Congratulations”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…John Mayer, Leon Bridges, Delta Spirit

Sam Johnston is a blues musician at his core, but his music stretches in interesting ways on his 2018 EP Longing and “Congratulations”, the first single from the Nashville artist’s upcoming full-length Cannonball. Cinematic, indie rock waves flow through Johnston’s songs, taking smoky riffs and vocal runs and shading them in a wholly different light. “Congratulations” specifically replaces acoustic strumming with reverb-heavy, rhythmic hits, almost industrial in the way each chord strikes. Playing this over dreamy, plucky melodies gives the song a really unique and infectious vibe. You can still hear the blues swing underneath, but Johnston clearly sounds ready to break out of any genre boxes given this first taste from Cannonball. (Kevin McStravick)