I Can't Afford Therapy So I Write Pop Songs Instead

We're strange

And maybe deranged

"Being sad has never been so fun." In Album 5 of ALBUM-A-MONTH 2021, JohnJRenns showcases 9 tracks of pitch-perfect pop goodness, telling stories of alienation, isolation and creative struggle. Starting off with a bang, "Pop Song" is a fun, bouncy electropop track sung by Kal-la-kal-la, also known as Nasqueron. But the upbeat tempo is accompanied by desperate sounding words of insecurity and existential dread, creating a truly unique JJR-esque sentiment.  The track "See Me Around" features the critically acclaimed Pittsburgh rock band SOFT GIRL - the duo teams up with Renns here with a dancey indie-disco beat and an infectious hook. In "Hammerspace", JohnJ proves itself as a master of sound-art production, by tackling the trendy Hyperpop genre aesthetic with a uniquely distinct techno and pop-punk edge, resulting in a song that "could help solidify the genre", as said by SOFT GIRL singer Jeff Burgess. In "What Is Art For, If Not Self Care?", JohnJRenns teams up with long-time collaborator and all-around cool human being Ucklin in a The 1975-inspired jazzy indie pop number in which she sings a heartfelt story about artistic blocks that all creative minded folks can relate to. Finishing off with the 8-minute epic "Porter Robinson", Renns and Jeff Burgess once again join forces and creates a track straight out of Porter Robinson's "Worlds" album but yet again with a distinctly JJR edge in its dense and colourful future bass production. Jeff Burgess's rap verse which decorates the later half of the song can only be described as the ultimate culmination of 40 years of pop music history. With I Can't Afford Therapy So I Write Pop Songs Instead, JohnJRenns has assembled an all-star ensemble of underground pop juggernauts on this unapparelled display of an album, boasting cutting edge production and sharp-minded pop songwriting in a way which surpasses her predecessors and contemporaries.

credits

released May 27, 2021

Cover art by VQCD (twitter.com/VQCD_Official)

All music written and produced by JohnJRenns (Tracks 2, 4, 6 and 9 co-written with Jeff Burgess, 9 contains material written by Porter Robinson and Patricia Taxxon)

Featuring the vocal talents of:

KAL-LA-KAL-LA on track 1 soundcloud.com/kal-la-kal-la

ELEANOR FORTE on tracks 2

SOFT GIRL (Jeff & Audrey) on track 4

JEFF BURGESS (Just Fern) on tracks 6 and 9 www.youtube.com/c/JustFern (+ lyrics and mixing on 4, co-writer on 2, 6 and 9)

WHAT ABOUT FLOWERS on track 5 whataboutflowers.bandcamp.com

INKYFIREFLY on track 7 inkyfirefly.bandcamp.com

and UCKLIN on track 8 soundcloud.com/ucklin

(AVANNA is also featured on track 9)

Also featuring ELIZA on bass for track 4 twitter.com/Esharp777

"Porter Robinson" interpolates "Goodbye to a World" by Porter Robinson, "Kanban", and "Nine Stars" by Patricia Taxxon

This album is also available for download in lossless quality at Bandcamp! https://johnjrenns.bandcamp.com

(My music is distributed under a Creative Commons license, meaning you can use it for any purposes as long as you credit me)