Sturgill Simpson Walked Away From Music. Johnny Blue Skies Is Just Getting Started

🌈 Abstract

The article profiles musician Sturgill Simpson and his transition to a new musical persona, "Johnny Blue Skies", as he releases his latest album "Passage du Desir". It explores Simpson's creative journey, including his travels, personal struggles, and evolution as an artist who resists genre conventions.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Sturgill Simpson's Journey to Paris

1. What prompted Sturgill Simpson to move to Paris?

• After a period of intense touring and a vocal cord injury that prevented him from singing, Simpson went through a dark period and decided he needed to get away. He traveled to Europe and Asia, eventually settling in Paris as a creative base.
• In Paris, Simpson found inspiration and a sense of rejuvenation, describing the city as "a breathing masterpiece" that helped him process his emotions and start writing new music.

2. How did Simpson's experiences in Thailand influence his creative outlook?

• During his time in Thailand, Simpson had a restorative experience that provided him with a new spiritual and creative perspective. This included getting a Buddhist prayer tattoo on his back and helping local friends build a bar on a remote beach.
• Simpson describes this period as helping him find "a totally new outlook" and "a new energy" that he is trying to approach life and his art with, though he is reluctant to fully explain this to outsiders.

3. How did Simpson's move to Paris and time away from the music industry impact his songwriting for "Passage du Desir"?

• The album "Passage du Desir" reflects the emotional journey and experiences Simpson had during his extended travels, with lyrics referencing his time in Paris and Thailand.
• Simpson said the album was a "cathartic diarrhea of emotions" that he needed to process through his songwriting, resulting in three or four albums' worth of material.

[02] The Emergence of "Johnny Blue Skies"

1. Why did Sturgill Simpson decide to release this album under the name "Johnny Blue Skies" instead of his own name?

• Simpson felt that the "Sturgill Simpson" persona had become too much of a "commodity or a brand" that he could no longer relate to.
• The "Johnny Blue Skies" moniker allowed him to distance himself from the Sturgill Simpson identity and release the music more freely, without the expectations and baggage associated with his established name.

2. What is the backstory and significance of the "Johnny Blue Skies" name?

• The name originated from a bartender in Lexington, Kentucky who would greet Simpson by saying "Johnny Blue Skies" when he would come into the bar to perform open mics early in his career.
• The name has also appeared in Simpson's previous work, including the gatefold of his album "A Sailor's Guide to Earth" and the anime accompaniment to "Sound & Fury".

3. How does the "Johnny Blue Skies" persona differ from the "Sturgill Simpson" persona?

• While the music on "Passage du Desir" maintains many of the signature elements of Sturgill Simpson's work, the Johnny Blue Skies moniker allows Simpson to approach his art and public persona in a more open-ended, mythological way.
• Simpson describes Johnny Blue Skies as "anybody you want him to be" - a "mythological hero" who can usher in a "new era of love and light".