The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 5 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on February 19, 2021.
By Kacie Whitman ’21
Features Editor
On February 10, the Nashville-based indie artist Huron John released his anticipated single, “Arthur.” From writing and producing his own music to self-publishing a magazine, Huron John is the definition of a music entrepreneur. His music is youthful, reminiscent, and vibrant in both its sound and visual production. Stentor staff spoke with Huron John to learn more about the inspiration behind his latest single and how vulnerability plays an integral part in the making of his music.
Stentor: First of all, congratulations, your single “Arthur” is out. From listening to the song, it seems that your lyrics are a moment of honesty with your audience. Are there specific moments in your life you seek to capture within your music?
Huron John: My music, including “Arthur,” has a strong use of storytelling from specific influences or experiences on my own. I want my work to be inclusive, empathetic, and relatable to others. Music can be a bridge to connect with just about anyone. Since this past year, I am working on generalizing my lyrical topics, so a larger audience can identify with my songs. Though I may have a single moment that my lyrics are premised on, I believe everyone can have similar feelings arise when listening to a song.
Stentor: How did you originally get into producing and performing music? Was there a specific artist you initially gravitated toward?
Huron John: I’ve always tended to write lyrical stories of being a young kid. After not finding much reward in playing sports or the typical childhood avenues of success, I felt pretty lost at a young age. It was confusing to not know what my passion was. I was exposed to the guitar at 8 and found an appreciation for classic rock music. From there, I found inspiration in playing music from the ’90s alternative band, The Smashing Pumpkins. The moment I knew I wanted to produce my own music was when I watched a YouTube music video in 2011 of Tyler the Creator. With a background in playing instruments to seeing what creative music projects could look like, my career started there on out.
Stentor: From your social media, it is evident you have a well-crafted visual aesthetic which is colorful, wholesome, and has an alternative touch. How does your social media play a role in bringing out the vision of your music?
Huron John: It [is] important to me to maintain a cohesive aesthetic in whichever creative project I’m working on during a given timeframe. Since releasing my music in 2018, I look to execute a specified vision across all my social media platforms, including weaving in visual hallmarks from previous projects for my audience to see. In addition, my self-published magazine has been an avenue to extend my music projects into a new creative space. I’ve wanted to make a magazine since I was 16 and now have the opportunity to inform my audience more on the intricacies of my projects further through my consistent publication.
Stentor: Has your avenue of promoting your music changed due to COVID-19?
Huron John: My route of promoting my work has not changed, but rather the actual process of producing music itself. This pandemic has impacted my mental health along with many others deeply. I’ve found that my creativity is heavily intertwined with my mental health. The “genesis” of music production has become much more intimate for me. I understand the power of music and how it can make a difference in how you feel internally, especially in these times.
Stentor: How has your move to Nashville from your hometown of Chicago impacted your music?
Huron John: Nashville has definitely impacted me in ways that you might not think. For the most part, I don’t use the studios or general music resources here. There are typically many pop country writers who gravitate here because of the city’s musical reputation. The usual trajectory for how any Nashville artist makes music does not apply to me. However, I found an underground indie community while attending Belmont University. The college has helped me meet plenty of new people and provided me with inspiration and encouragement to make my music on my own terms.
Stentor: Where do you see yourself and your career five years from now?
Huron John: That’s a pretty big question. While my dreams may change ever so frequently, I am confident that I will always be making musical projects and striving for my work to be further shared. My heart truly lies in giving back philanthropically as a mentor by utilizing my background and education in this industry. I want to further the general D.I.Y. music world and make it more accessible for all. From the opportunity to learn how to play instruments to how to record music at home, I am excited to be a helping hand.
