Motley Music: Thom Johnston

Alongside collaborator April, Thom Johnston's latest single Shiver, tackles the idea of wanting to help someone who isn’t ready to be helped. With his use of cinematic storytelling and contrasting compositional construction, the release made it to National Radio rotation on Country Wardrobe and surpassed three thousand streams on all platforms. With the release of his record, Thom had a sell out show at Bar Open accompanied by his full band, playing to 110+ people.

Thom is known for his creative lyricism inspired by both greats of the past like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and The Beatles as well as new artists like Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan and Sam Barber. Writing with just himself and a guitar, Thom combines a folk-rock guitar style into pop inclined melodies rooted in Australiana influence. He touches on themes of love, loss, home and odes to working-class.