Singer/songwriter John-Robert was discovered by the Grammy-nominated producer Ricky Reed after posting an Instagram video of his cover of Chance the Rapper’s “Same Drugs.” Now, the 20-year-old Virginia native just released a new EP Adeline, titled after his adored hit. For “Neighborhoods,” he performed the song on his front porch in LA’s Boyle Heights.
He cites The 1975, Jeff Buckley, and Childish Gambino as influences, but the most evident one he mentions is Sufjan Stevens. John-Robert’s acoustic ballads are intimate and twinkly in the same way as Stevens’, reminiscing on earlier folk inspirations like Elliott Smith or Nick Drake. Listen to John-Robert’s private performance of “Adeline” below—and watch more from “Neighborhoods” here.
