Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Niagara, ON's Nick Braun Fuses Folk-Rock Soul and Indie Grit on New EP Johnny and Its Stirring Title Track

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Niagara, ON's Nick Braun Fuses Folk-Rock Soul and Indie Grit on New EP Johnny and Its Stirring Title Track
Nick Braun
Fri Apr 18, 2025
Cashbox Canada

With a mix of raw storytelling, rich instrumentation, and a sound that bridges folk-rock and indie grit, Niagara, ON’s Nick Braun unveils his new EP, Johnny, led by the standout title track. The five-song collection explores ambition, isolation, and the search for meaning through the lens of a fictional character navigating the ups and downs of life as an artist.

At the heart of it all is “Johnny,” a song that embodies the tension between nostalgia and the pursuit of something greater. The character reflects on where his friends have gone, “blames it all on time,” and questions whether the life he’s built is truly what he wanted. Over layered acoustic guitars and a driving rhythm section, Braun’s vocals carry both longing and defiance, channeling influences like Wilco, Jason Isbell, and Neil Young as the track builds into an anthemic chorus.

 Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/1wAqzLpNfZD7dpLSKWFRXE

“This record was the first time I wrote music from a storytelling perspective,” Braun explains. “Writing about personal experience, especially difficult experiences, can weigh heavy on the mind. It can be easier—and actually fun—to share those ideas through the lens of a fictional character, and that’s where Johnny came along.”

Though Johnny is fictional, his story is deeply personal for Braun. Nearly ten years ago, Braun experienced a period of psychosis—an intense chapter of his life that coincided with the beginning of his journey into songwriting and making his own recordings. “I’ve played music since well before that incident,” he notes, “but my creative nature and overactive imagination came with a dark side, and making music has been the best way to grapple with it. Music brings complexity into moments of clarity and enjoyment. This EP was an effort to capture that clarity and enjoyment, share some personal experiences and unique ideas, and continue to come into my own as a music producer.”

Braun, a Niagara-based multi-instrumentalist and producer, crafted Johnny entirely on his own, recording each instrument from his home studio. Though rooted in folk rock, the production is layered with rocking guitar riffs, shimmering synths, and punchy drums—a sound that sits comfortably alongside Dawes, Kurt Vile, and My Morning Jacket.

Beyond “Johnny,” the EP is a journey through self-discovery and reinvention. “The Wrestler” examines internal battles, likening them to a fighter in the ring—“wrestle with yourself like a heavyweight champion with nothing to lose.” Meanwhile, “September Song” slows things down with a meditative, atmospheric tone, urging listeners to embrace change: “Be the voice inside me too, be the changing seasons.”

The EP closes with “Like a River,” a track that echoes the fluidity of life and love. Braun’s evocative lyrics - “My heart is like a river, my stomach is a well, my mind is like a tree that in the river fell”—deliver a profound sense of movement and transformation, tying together the album’s themes of growth and self-exploration.

To celebrate the release of Johnny, Braun will perform two live shows in the Niagara region. On April 11 at Niagara Artists Centre (St. Catharines, ON), he’ll perform stripped-back versions of his songs as a duo with Jordan Alexander on bass, sharing the stage with Arih SK, The Crooked Crow, and Substitute. He’ll follow that up with a full-band show on May 10 at Camp Cataract (Niagara Falls), supporting The Howling Gales.

Braun’s folk-rock storytelling, dynamic instrumentation, and introspective lyricism make Johnny an essential listen for fans of alternative folk and indie rock. With a raw and personal approach to songwriting, Braun shows that sometimes, the most honest truths are best told through a fictional lens—and a great guitar hook.

linktr.ee/nickbraunmusic
nickbraun.bandcamp.com/
facebook.com/nickbraunmusic
instagram.com/nickbraun_music

Reviews
Album
Nick Braun
Month: Jun 2023
Rusty Creek Rusty Creek Puts a Bluesy Spin on Elton John's Classic with 'Honky Cat…
Haley K Turner Haley K Turner's Highly Anticipated Alt.Folk Single "Can…
Len Bowen Len Bowen’s New Single ‘Toast Up’ Prepares Listeners for Trailblazing Album
Moore Ave Punk Rockers Moore Ave Turn A Bad Brain Day Into Good Music With New…
Jane Bunnett and Maqueque Jane Bunnett and Maqueque Releases "Tomorrow" Music Video…
postmoderndisco postmoderndisco's Latest Release 'Anthesis' Is A…
Sherri Harding Soulful, Bluesy Rock Star Sherri Harding Knows Who’s The Boss In “Lady Of The…
Winsome Kind Folk-Pop Duo Winsome Kind Unveils Latin-Inspired Single “Hola Hola…
Heather Hill Everything's Coming Up "Rosey" for Award-Winning Singer-…
Aaron Wylder Victoria-Based Folk Artist Aaron Wylder Crafts A West-Coast Ode With '…
Buenrostro Latin American Global Music Group Buenrostro Kicks Off The…
Christine Jensen Regarded as One of Canada’s Most Compelling Jazz Artists…
Chuck Copenace Ojibway Trumpeter Chuck Copenace Brings A Transformative Sweat-…
Don Ross Guitarist/Singer/Composer Don Ross Continues To Inspire With “Three Views…
Emma Frank Brooklyn Songwriter Emma Frank Releases New Album Interiors

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 98
  • Page 99
  • Page 100
  • Page 101
  • Current page 102
  • Page 103
  • Page 104
  • Page 105
  • Page 106
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers