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Photo by Jon Alan

Life is full of ups and downs, and no one knows that better than singer-songwriter John-Robert. On his new EP Where Do You Wanna Go?, he takes stock of his life, from self-destructive tendencies and hook-ups, to his fate as an artist.

Made in the aftermath of being dropped from his label and moving back home, Where Do You Wanna Go? has an intimate feel. Each song puts you right up next to John-Robert, giving the project the feel of a friend’s house show. 

The songs’ subject matter is just as personal. The singer-songwriter grapples with his self- destructive habits on the excellent “Did It Just Because,” a kiss-off track that sees John-Robert shrugging, “Knew what I was doing // Could potentially ruin it all // it’s my fault,” before admitting, “I don’t wanna lie to myself // I did it just because I wanted to.”

“Anna,” a smooth ode to a woman he’s chasing, is another standout. The track is sparse, allowing John-Robert’s guitar skills and vocals to take center stage as he sings, “If you want me how I want you // you can have me tonight.” 

However, John-Robert saves the best for last — “Low Roller” is a well-crafted 70s folk-rock look at where he stands as an artist following his move home. 

“I was born to be the frontman of a rock and roll band,” he declares at the top of the song, before admitting that now, he’s “an open mic singer in a half-empty bar” and he’s “so tired of living life like a low roller.” 

It’s a frank admission of the disappointment that can come from pursuing a dream, as well as the paralyzing fear that can come from choosing the wrong path — heavy subject matter that John-Robert handles as deftly as he does his guitar. 

On his latest EP, John-Robert might be asking himself where he wants to go, but the answer is clear — with songs like these, he’s only going up from here.

Listen to "Where Do You Wanna Go?" below: