Written by Sam Blackman
Photographed by George Kitching
An emcee who appears just as comfortable spitting calculated introspection in the booth as he does side by side to some of the industry’s most exhilarating selectas.
From making ground as an artist in his own right, to his more recent excursions as a notable arm of the Bristol- based conglomerate Invicta Audio, Johnnie Darko’s infectious appetite for positivity and personal growth has been resonating across the South West soundscape for a number of years.
We caught up with the Johnnie Darko one cold night in the bleakest of Bishopston mid-winters. This was familiar territory for all of us, but we were quickly lead by John’s keen nose into the unknown- otherwise known as the “Mark Alleyne Stand”, on steps to seats 74 to 97.
It was hard not to ask, given the word-play, about Donnie Darko. The cult- classic, cryptic cinematic has had a clear influence on the Bristolian emcee, and it should come as no surprise that it is indeed one of his favourite films. At which point, we shared a moment of collective genius in the idea of recreating the iconic cinema scene in the stands. Johnnie’s energy is hard to refuse, it’s a genuine warmth that he seems to have you unconsciously pull from deep within yourself, an innocent joy he is able to transcribe onto others.
We eventually decided to leave the publicly accessible and wide open Cricket Ground to go on a new quest for a bowl of something delicious to eat. We eventually found ourselves nestled in a small corner of Gloucester Road in StreatWok. Johnnie was keen to point out that he had never tried tofu before - which we decided was as good of an excuse as any to order 3 hearty bowls of noodles. Safe from the harsh November air that lay beyond the sanctity of our fortress of Asian delicacies and bean curd, we opened our hearts and mouths in unison to discuss the music industry in greater detail.
Johnnie effectively fights a war on two fronts, through his endeavours as a more traditional emcee and as a warrior on the mic shoulder- to-shoulder with DJs. I remember being fortunate enough to lay witness to his eclectic lyrical prowess at Anaïs B2B Euphonique at Boomtown ‘22. Since then, he has made this scene a second- home - collaborating increasingly often with other members of the Invicta clan, being a guest at events, or even expanding their collective discographies (but more on that later). We spoke at length about the importance of spreading love within a scene that can oftentimes be a difficult space to occupy. He opened up to us about how respecting your fellow artist is extremely important to him, and how this helps to circumvent the competitive nature of the industry that can leave both sides dragging one another down.
Now, it would be remiss to not mention what I have already alluded to with Johnnie’s discography: the absolutely ubiquitous tune that is his collaboration with Anaïs on Bullet in the Dance. This tune was everywhere, and marked a landmark moment in both artists’ careers to date. For Johnnie, this acted to cement and evidence his ability to occupy those spaces of UK rap and Drum and Bass emceeing simultaneously - proving himself as a highly capable artist without compromising what makes his sound uniquely his own.
This ability to transition across spaces (the booth, the stage, the music video), whilst remaining identifiably himself is what helps Johnnie transcend the temporal distance between himself and the listener - not simply being an artist, but becoming familiar. No matter in which space you encounter him, it’s always the same Johnnie translating his energy into that same universal, unspoken yet spoken language.
If his dexterity on the mic is best demonstrated through his live performances, the man’s personality necessarily shines within his own projects. I first encountered his music through the work of another Bristol collective: InGoodTime. Their affiliate Spotify playlist undeniably put me on, and left me certain that this artist would be one to add to our wish list of guests for our own upcoming events. I’m not ashamed to admit, that when Johnnie stealthily appeared next to me at our Sent West Halloween event (mic in hand), I did have a bit of a fan moment - not to excuse the clang which followed.
However, it was still those initial projects which caught my attention, and again, it is due to Johnnie’s ability to coerce the listener to suspend their own distancing from the artist, and the familiarity that follows. This is, in large part, due to the prevalence of his own personality which pierces through his lyrical constructions.
Johnnie Darko released his second full-length EP Smoke and Mirrors in September 2022, followed by the music video for leading single Jack the Lad on the 3rd November, 2023. Taking a step away from Johnnie’s usual upbeat tempo, Jack the Lad is a darker tale from the project. The song is an expression of men’s mental health issues. Listening to this track allows you to see a different side to Johnnie as he details the darkness of depression and addiction. His empathy and ability to talk about such a serious issue at a time when it is most needed demonstrates the layers to this mans incredible character.
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