BY: DIGITAL WAX MEDIA STAFF

 

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, John Spithoff released two new singles on Wednesday, “Plateau” and “Same Page.” Both have been released in the lead-up to Splithoff’s forthcoming album, Far From Here.

 

The pair of soulful singles are reflective of the musician’s distinctly smooth musical aesthetic, which is equal parts accessible and emotionally compelling. ”Plateau” is driven by a slinky, earworm guitar line, with acoustic guitar and subtle piano chords coloring the musical backdrop for Splithoff’s understated vocals atop a steady backbeat.

 

 

 

“Same Page” dials things back a bit from the mid-tempo danceability of its sister-single, bringing the pace to a near-waltz with the coalescence of soft instrumentation presented in immaculately balanced mix.

 

Splithoff’s vocal chops really shine throughout “Same Page,” giving listeners glimpses of the musician’s mid-range, almost spoken-word presentation, which weaves impressively in and out of a delicate, melodic falsetto, demonstrating a notable degree of control, particularly within the context of such a sparse and delicate instrumental framework.

 

These sorts of seemingly seamless sonic shifts can put the listener in mind of the vocal work of Elton John, who famously was known to inhabit multiple vocal identities within a single track – “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” specifically comes to mind. Near the end-section of “Same Page,” Splithoff’s moves into more powerful vocal territory akin to the more muscular material of multifaceted Irish songwriter, Hozier.

 

One of the more impressive feats of both “Plateau” and “Same Page” – and frankly, of Splithoff’s work as a whole – is the near-impeccable amalgamation of seemingly disparate genre elements into a singular and fluid style reflective of the songwriter’s individual artistry. There’s a distinctly r&b to the proceedings in a very general sense, with a healthy dose of soul and clear undercurrents of what perhaps could be characterized as a faint influence of rock & roll.

 

Meanwhile, amongst these variables, there are more accessible portions of the tunes that lean almost toward a modern pop-country feel – sans any kind of pseudo-twang or fraudulently backwoods affectation. A hint of a jazz sensibility ties things together nicely, putting a final touch of sorts on the subdued artistry offered through the latest singles from Far from Here.

 

 

The release of the singles follows that of preceding tracks “Magenta” and “Tangled,” which will also be included as part of the full-length album scheduled for release on March 21, 2025, through Virgin Records.

 

John Splithoff’s newest singles, “Plateau” and “Same Page” are now available to stream at the artist’s fanlink page, where listeners can also pre-save Far from Here.

 

Splithoff will be hitting the road in support of Far from Here beginning next month. Tickets are available for purchase at the John Splithoff website and a full list of tour performance dates can be found below.

 

• March 29, Saturday – Phoenix, Arizona – Musical Instrument Museum

 

• March 30, Sunday – Santa Fe, New Mexico – Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery

 

• April 1, Tuesday – Dallas, Texas – The Kessler Theater

 

• April 2, Wednesday – Austin, Texas – The 04 Lounge

 

• April 4, Friday – Nashville, Tennessee – Exit/In

 

• April 5, Saturday – Atlanta, Georgia – Center Stage

 

• April 6, Sunday – Asheville, North Carolina – The Grey Eagle

 

• April 8, Tuesday – Washington, District of Columbia – Union Stage

 

• April 9, Wednesday – Ardmore, Pennsylvania – Ardmore Music Hall

 

• April 11, Friday – New York, New York – Racket NYC

 

• April 12, Saturday – Boston, Massachusetts – The Sinclair

 

• April 14, Monday – Toronto, Ontario – The Great Hall

 

• April 16, Wednesday – Ann Arbor, Michigan – The Ark

 

• April 17, Thursday – Columbus, Ohio – A&R Music Bar

 

• April 18, Friday – Indianapolis, Indiana – Turntable

 

• April 19, Saturday – Chicago, Illinois – Outset

 

• April 22, Tuesday – St. Paul, Minnesota – Amsterdam Bar and Hall

 

• April 23, Wednesday – Omaha, Nebraska – Slowdown

 

• April 25, Friday – Denver, Colorado – Marquis Theater

 

• April 26, Saturday – Salt Lake City, Utah – The State Room

 

• April 28, Monday – Seattle, Washington – Neumos

 

• April 29, Tuesday – Portland, Oregon – Mississippi Studios

 

• May 1, Thursday – Sacramento, California – Harlow’s

 

• May 2, Friday – San Francisco, California – The Independent

 

• May 3, Saturday – West Hollywood, California – Troubadour

 

John Splithoff “Plateau/Same Page” Single Artwork – Virgin Records