John-Robert honors his grandmother with soulful new single ‘Other Side’
John-Robert returns with ‘Other Side,’ a heartfelt tribute to his late grandmother and a powerful reminder of his Appalachian roots.
Marking his first new release since 2023’s Garden Snake EP, and his debut as an independent artist, ‘Other Side’ finds John-Robert embracing a deeply personal and reflective space. Written as a gift to his mother while his grandmother was in hospice care, the track blends the folk traditions of his native Virginia with raw, minimalist production. Using alternative guitar tuning and rich acoustic textures, the song’s emotional core is underscored by a haunting funeral organ that gently fades in and out—anchoring the listener in both memory and mourning.
The accompanying music video adds another layer of intimacy, stitching together digitized home footage spanning generations. The visual storytelling mirrors the song’s reflective tone, offering a nostalgic look at the family moments that shaped the artist and his perspective on love and loss.
“My grandmother was in hospice care while I was living in Los Angeles, and I was getting updates on her condition from my mother over the phone. I thought about my mom and how she was losing her mother. I thought about how I’d feel losing my mother. I’m ashamed to say mom-mom and I weren’t extremely close. After her passing, I felt like I lost out on getting to know someone who heavily influenced and created my favorite person. She was caring, kind, quick-witted and smart. When you talked with her, you felt like the only person left on planet earth. Our last conversation, we shared an agreement that there should be no stigma around adults climbing trees.”
‘Other Side’ is available now on your favorite DSP.
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