Some artists chase fame. Others chase feelings. John Engel is firmly in the second camp.
A seasoned singer-songwriter with a storyteller’s soul, John’s music sits somewhere between California skies and late-night heart-to-hearts. Drawing from decades of experience, a life rich with twists and turns, and a love for raw, organic sound, he’s crafting songs that don’t just sound good—they mean something.
A Life Lived, A Voice Rediscovered
Music has always been the quiet constant in John’s life—the heartbeat beneath everything else. Even when he took a detour into the world of filmmaking in his twenties (because, let’s be real, the music biz looked a little cutthroat), songwriting never stopped calling.
“I didn’t have any solid role models in music back then,” John recalls. “Everyone around me was either high-strung or flaky. Meanwhile, the film world looked a little more grounded.”
So he leaned into that world—working in production, paying New York rent, and building a career. But time has a funny way of circling back to what you love. In 2021, John finally returned to music full force, recording 15 original tracks with a full band. Since then, the releases have trickled out, one heartfelt piece at a time.
The result? A body of work that’s deeply personal, gorgeously melodic, and impossible to ignore.
What Sets Him Apart? Realness, Basically.
John’s music is steeped in Americana, folk-rock, and dreampop, but his greatest asset might just be his honesty. He doesn’t write songs to chase trends—he writes them to chase truth. Sometimes a song pours out in a single sitting. Other times, it lingers for months, waiting to find its voice.
Whether he’s layering harmonies or sitting alone with an acoustic guitar, John’s focus stays the same: real instruments, real voices, real emotion. It’s music that evokes freedom, love, and self-empowerment—without ever preaching about it.
And if you’ve ever caught him live, you know exactly what we’re talking about.
“I’ll never forget this one night at a club called Montana Mike’s Feed & Fuel Co.,” he says. “Someone told me my acoustic set brought them to tears. That’s the kind of connection I’m after.”
The Road Ahead: Intimate, Raw, and Open to You
2025 is shaping up to be a milestone year. A new album is coming—recorded on vinyl, steeped in that same stripped-down energy from John’s early solo shows. Think late-night living room vibes, with melodies that linger and lyrics that land deep.
But here’s the twist: this time, you get to be part of the journey.
Through fan-supported opportunities, John’s opening up the process. Listeners can contribute to choosing the album cover and title, snag behind-the-scenes access, or even be credited as co-producers. It’s a rare invitation into the heart of the music-making process—raw, collaborative, and beautifully transparent.
There’s even talk of a covers album in late 2025 or early 2026. So yeah, things are just getting started.
No Flash, Just Feeling
John Engel isn’t chasing superstardom. He’s not trying to be the next viral thing. He just wants to make a living doing what he loves—and bring people some peace, joy, or catharsis along the way.
If you love harmonies that hit just right, lyrics that feel like conversations, and music that sounds like it was made by someone who truly gets it—John might just be your new favorite artist.
Join the journey. Feel the music. Be part of something real.
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