Out artist Johnny Bloom aims to usher in a new age of jazz with a song that harkens back to a post-war era when young people danced the Charleston and the Shimmy.
“Roarin’ 20s” is fun and flirty, with an attention-grabbing groove that mixes elements of blues, ragtime, marching music and African folk rhythm.
“I’ve always been incredibly interested in American music through the generations, and the history of New Orleans street jazz, blues, and bandstand music, in particular,” the singer says. “My main purpose with ‘Roaring 20s” is to help revive a style of music I am passionate about, and to broaden people’s tastes in music. I have discovered that diversifying the music I listen to has absolutely changed my life for the better and I hope it will do the same for listeners.”
Johnny Bloom was born and raised in small-town Auburn, Illinois. His parents divorced when he was six-years old and Johnny found solace in the vibrant world of the marching band and theatrical productions. He learned to play the baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, and tuba and dreamed of a career in music. However, before chasing the dream, he felt compelled to pursue a calling most people would not expect from him.
“Since I was a really young kid, I always wanted to join the Navy,” he says. His grandfather, who helped to raise Johnny for a great deal of his young life, was a welder in the Navy during the Cold War. Johnny wanted to carry on his legacy. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving as a nuclear reactor operator. Johnny, who is openly gay, was out to his officers and fellow sailors. “My grandpa passed away when I was 14, but I know he would be proud of the commitment to the US military that I made through him.”
Now that he has completed his service, Johnny has returned to civilian life with a renewed vigor to pursue music. He aims to make his mark by presenting unconventional sounds inspired by music from the early and mid-twentieth century, but with a modern twist. “I love the older feel from Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and Marvin Gaye, but I’m also drawn to the rugged, belt-y voices of Miley Cyrus, Måneskin, Lady Gaga, Raye, and Adam Lambert,” he explains.
Johnny Bloom’s “Roarin’ 20s” is being released by So Fierce Music and distributed by The Orchard/Sony Music. It is available on Spotify and all major music platforms.
Visit https://www.sofiercemusic.com
Follow Johnny Bloom on IG @officialjohnnybloom and on TikTok @official_johnnybloom
