Johnny Dango – “Strange to Change” (audio) (premiere)

Gearing up for a brand new album release,
Dear Everybody, I Love You, Johnny Dango continues to flesh out his psychedelic folk-rock sound. This much is evident on his newest single, “Strange to Change”.

On it, the Austin-based singer-songwriter envelopes himself in mellow and ethereal guitar and pedal-centric tones. A toned-down tune of yearning and reverie, it evokes a melancholic, cosmic vibe that can yet again be called a “reflective honky-tonk in outer space”.

Yet, there’s something more here, too. As the
Dango grows deeper into this particular sound that he’s been developing, he is more irreverent, more relaxed and assured that what he’s doing feels as right for him as it always has for our ears.

This newfound confidence beats through the track, especially as it builds in its calming intensity. Near the track’s end, Dango‘s backing vocals layer on top of one another in a Sun King-esque manner as he pleads with himself and the world to “try to smile”. It won’t be surprising if many do when giving this track a listen. He is, after all, growing more into his shoes as folk-rock’s answer to Sturgill Simpson.