9PLAYLIST | JOHN NEWMAN
Read the MAY ISSUE #89 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | John Newman in mag.
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FEEL THE MUSIC | JOHN NEWMAN
This month, our cover is Tomorrowland artist, EDM DJ/Producer, Singer/Songwriter and Composer, John Newman. Coming off of his recent Tomorrowland Winter performance when he debuted his latest song, Hold On To My Love which has been added to our playlist, we wanted to know more about how he came to the music industry, his sound, how he approaches his projects, his collaborations and of course what we can keep on eye out for as we continue into the Spring and the Summer.
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?
JOHN NEWMAN: I grew up with music around me as a kid. I was introduced to Motown and soul by my family and once I hit my teens I was obsessed with hard-hitting house and Clubland productions.
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to work in the industry?
JN: I had a pretty tough upbringing to be honest mainly from social issues and fitting in and being totally different to others in the town I grew up in. I didn’t come from money in any way at all either so, yeah, music was my escape, creativity was a way of releasing everything.
AM: You have an amazing background as you are a singer/songwriter, composer, DJ and producer! Musically, where do your inspirations come from and how did you hone your skills for each one?
JN: Thanks! DJing and producing dance music was something that I had spent a lot of time practicing as a teenager, so it was almost like revisiting that younger version of myself and just brushing up on my skills.
Inspiration varies, but I’ve always admired the 90s rave sound, with a touch of soul, which I think came through on Holy Love.
AM: How would you describe the John Newman sound?
JN: My sound is always evolving but, right now, I want creative emotively charged dance bangers. I want people to hear a track and feel a surge of energy and euphoria where they can’t help but move their body.
AM: How do you approach your projects in terms of seeking inspiration for your solo projects?
JN: These days I have a new set up, my at-home studio is tailored to electronic music production and it’s somewhere I can lock myself away to for hours kinda just see what happens. Inspiration can hit anywhere really. I try not to stick to the sitting at a piano vibe, funny fact I wrote Love Me Again and If You Really Love Me both whilst having a shower.
AM: You have collaborated with Calvin Harris, Kygo, David Guetta, Nile Rodgers, and more, how do you approach collaborations?
JN: Each collaboration comes about differently. The link-up with David Guetta and MistaJam on If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know) was particularly crazy as Guetta himself reached out to make the first move for us to work together, I had been a fan of his work since being a little kid! He’d wanted to collaborate on something for a while, so I sent him the early version of the track, he loved it, and the rest is history.
AM: You just performed and released your latest single, Hold On To My Love at Tomorrowland Winter where you DJ and have live vocals. Tell me about this song and what was it like to perform there?
JN: Hold On To My Love came about backstage at Ushuaïa Ibiza. I sang the melody and some lyrics into a voice note on my phone as a rough idea, so to see the track go full circle and perform the final version at Tomorrowland Winter was incredible. It was an unforgettable weekend.
AM: This song was released on Tomorrowland Music and you have already confirmed that you will be at Tomorrowland Brasil later this year on the mainstage. What does this mean to you to be on such a platform?
JN: I’m incredibly grateful to be starting this journey with the Tomorrowland Music team. They have so many talented DJs and producers on the roster so I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
To then also have the opportunity to perform at their world-renowned events is huge.
AM: With the summer around the corner, what other festivals or clubs are you excited to be performing?
JN: This summer is going to be so much fun. In July, I make my Tomorrowland mainstage debut in Belgium alongside the biggest names in dance music which is surreal but very exciting. It’s the holy-grail of festivals so I plan on bringing my absolute A-game to the stage.
AM: We’re based in NY, but will you be performing in the US this year?
JN: You’ll have to stay tuned for that one! I really do love the US and the amazing crowds over there so hopefully I’ll be back soon.
AM: When it comes to touring and being on the road, are there any routines that you do prior to a show when you’re a few hours or moments ahead of hitting the stage?
JN: There is a routine, I don’t eat one and a half hours previous to a show so that I don’t throw up whilst on stage, hah! The next big one is I generally like to chill and stretch and listen to classical music, then get hyped to Limp Bizkit and Rage Against the Machine about 15 minutes before show time.
AM: When you have finished your set, are there any routines that you do to come down from all of the energy and adrenaline from performing?
JN: Hmmm not really, I do struggle with the silence after being full of that adrenaline, usually a beer takes the edge off.
AM: Are there additional projects that you have that we should keep an eye out for?
JN: My focus right now is on really immersing myself in the dance music sphere, continuing to work on new tunes and honing my live hybrid set of DJing and vocals to make it bigger and better with every show.
AM: Are there 3 artists on your bucket list that you are interested in collaborating with that you can share?
JN: Honestly my interest is totally varied, Florence Welch would be amazing, Fred Again, Swedish House Mafia, another Calvin Harris collar, just throwing ideas out there really.
AM: What do you want your legacy to be in the industry?
JN: I guess, as an artist who made music on my own terms. For the pure joy of making people feel good, feel elevated, and be able to escape reality for just a moment. Whether that’s through my tracks, or the energy people absorb at a live show.
AM: When you’re not on stage or in the studio, what do you do to take time for yourself as self-care and mental health is something that we prioritize here at Athleisure Mag?
JN: It’s different for everyone, but I find taking a break from social media to be a big help for mental wellness. We consume so much information, a lot of it pointless, so it’s no wonder it can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
I now work closely with a therapist on a weekly basis which I cannot recommend enough and my main thing is getting in cold water.
Also spending time with my wife and family helps to keep me grounded and makes it all worthwhile.
AM: In terms of working out, what are 3 workouts that you do that we can consider to include in our routines?
JN: Each to their own I guess and I’m not really the picture of the pinnacle of fitness, however, for me personally I like to get out with music in my ears and do whatever I can. Whether that be hiking, running or cycling. I also used to love that Shaun T exercise video, I used to do it before every show!
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | COVERS Front/Back, INTERVIEW + PG PG 26 9DRIP Tomorrowland
Read the APR ISSUE #88 of Athleisure Mag and see FEEL THE MUSIC | John Newman in mag.
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9DRIP | JOHN NEWMAN
ATHLEISURE MAG #88 | JOHN NEWMAN
In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with EDM DJ/Producer, singer/songwriter, and composer, John Newman. We talk with him after the release of his latest single, Hold On To My Love which he released at Tomorrowland Winter as a Tomorrowland artist. We talk about how he got into the industry, how he stays creative and his upcoming Tomorrowland Brazil performance later on this year! From a DJ/Producer, we go to Jesse McFaddin of RIZE and The Bonez. Jesse is a singer/songwriter, composer, guitarist, rapper, philanthropist, and fashion designer in Japan. We talk with him about his passion for music, his creative process, and upcoming projects that he is involved in. We love gaining various perspectives through food and this month, we sit down with Chef Yia Vang who shares his love of Hmong food, is a chef/owner of Union Hmong Kitchen and Vinai, is a TV Personality and host of Feral and is a multi-nominated James Beard Award winner. We talk about his success and trailblazing is an homage to his parents legacy, creating a safe space for his team to be able to add themselves into the landscape and the importance of identity. We love a good comfort meal and one that we can order ahead so that we can always have it is even better! We talk with the founders of MiLa who are known for their soup dumplings that ship nationwide. We talk about how this brick-and-mortar business included shipping their dumplings across the nation during the pandemic, their growing assortment and bringing Marvel's and upcoming Barbie star, Simu Liu onto their team as their Chief Creative Officer.
We also catch up with Case Walker who starts in HBO's The Other Two. We talk about the parallels between himself and his character as well as how he takes time for himself when he is bouldering and rock climbing. We always enjoy catching up with those in Bachelor Nation and this month we talk with season 21's Danielle Lombard. We talk about sustainability and the role it plays in her life as well as her partnership with Astral Tequila. She also talks with us about what her experience was as a contestant on the show, the group chats and who are her girls in Bachelor Nation.
This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from guitarist, rapper, singer/songwriter Jesse McFaddin. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Celebrity Fashion Stylist and Founder/designer` of Aliette Jason Rembert. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Leah Van Dale who wrestles under the name Carmella in WWE as well as Chef Yia Vang. Our 9DRIP comes from EDM/DJ John Newman.
Our monthly feature, The Art of the Snack shares a must-visit to Luthun in NYC. This month’s Athleisure List comes from Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure Experience and Mimi Cheng's. As always, we have our monthly roundups of some of our favorite finds.
Read the APR ISSUE #88 with John Newman.
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