Until 2010, Johan had never seriously listened to any kind of popular music–he was fully immersed in the world of classical, as an award-winning composer and self-taught pianist. But then Johan was introduced to Kanye West’s symphonic 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, while on acid at a house party in the suburban Massachusetts town where he grew up. Captivated, he immediately began teaching himself how to sing and produce contemporary songs.

In 2016, Johan became the composer for Yeethoven–a concert featuring the music of Kanye West and Beethoven juxtaposed and combined by a 50-piece orchestra. Johan’s work soon caught the attention of Mike Dean and No I.D., both of whom he’s worked with extensively since then on albums for Travis Scott (Astroworld), Teyana Taylor, Nas, Kanye West, Vic Mensa and others. His contributions on these records range from writing and production, to composing and singing grandiose choral atmospheres to orchestrating symphonic interludes.

Now, Johan is releasing new music of his own, featuring the same vocal and orchestral textures he contributed to these artists. They appear not as background components in his work, but as a central compositional feature–something Kanye West personally encouraged him to consider when working on Teyana Taylor’s album.

Johan’s songs, which he produces largely himself, explore a feeling of suburban ennui and anxiety about growing up, often viewed through a darkly humorous, self-deprecating lens.