Introducing: Blue John

Like the rare mineral they’re named after, Blue John’s music is something special-earthy, reflective, and laced with a quiet magic. Inspired by the dreamy melancholy of artists like Ben Howard, Mogwai, and Jeff Buckley, the Sheffield-born band blends folk-inspired indie with hazy textures and mellow vocals, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and new.

Twin brothers Jamie and Dom have been making music together since childhood, officially forming Blue John in 2021. With the addition of Joe-met through a shared love of pizza and music-and George completing the lineup, the band has been steadily making waves. From sold-out hometown shows to repeated nods from BBC Introducing, they’re carving their own path while keeping a firm grip on what matters most: the music.

1. Your name comes from the rare mineral mined near your hometown. How does that connection to place and heritage influence your music and identity as a band?

When Jamie and I started the project, we wanted the name to nod to something local and express a bit about us and our love for the outdoors, especially the Peak District. Blue John is the name of a unique gemstone only found in this corner of the world, and with all the stories and myths surrounding it, we thought it would be a good place to start. That link to nature often filters into our writing as well, either through imagery or more broadly as a subject, disentangling thoughts

around climate change, extraction and our relationship with the environment. Coincidently, the band is now split between Manchester and Sheffield, and Blue John Cavern lies pretty much dead in the centre.

2. Your sound blends folk, indie, and atmospheric textures. Were there any specific moments or artists that inspired you to develop this style?

We’re all big into instrumental rock, so that influence definitely surfaces when we write more collaboratively. Me and Jamie grew up listening to post rock bands like Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky, but were also surrounded by folk artists that our Dad would play, like Bert Jansch and Michael Chapman. I Forget Where We Were by Ben Howard came along when I was a teenager,mixing those melancholic reveries and folk familiarity together, so that really cemented these influences in my writing.

3. You’ve received great support from BBC Introducing and sold out headline shows in Sheffield. How has that recognition shaped your journey so far, and what’s next for Blue John?

It’s always a nice feeling to hear your music being played and talked about on the radio, so we’re really grateful for that. A couple of months ago, we also had the pleasure of recording a live session of our latest releases Grain and Made Me Think Twice for BBC Introducing over in Leeds, which was really fun. As for live shows, we love playing in Sheffield with it being our hometown, but now me and Jamie are based in Manchester, we’re also trying to find our footing and play more shows here. We’re also hoping to play some festivals in the summer and planning a run of shows further afield in the autumn, so keep an eye out for that!

4. Jamie and Dom, as twin brothers who have been making music together since childhood, how does your dynamic influence the songwriting and creative process?

There’s definitely a strong musical familiarity between me and Jamie, but unfortunately no twin telepathy has happened yet! Blue John first started off as just us two, and having those shared influences and experiences definitely helped in terms of translating and realising ideas. But Joe and George joining was super refreshing as they bring a really diverse influence, and without that, you lose those hidden corners and interest.

5. With a steady focus on writing new music, can you give us any insight into what’s coming next—whether sonically or thematically?

We’re in the final stages of recording an EP for release late spring this year which we’re proper excited about. The majority of songs definitely feel like a departure from the melancholic themes we’ve been hovering around recently, and we might even go as far as describing them as happy?! Definitely more optimistic feeling, anyway. It’s probably a two year gap between the oldest and most recent song, so it’s a fairly diverse collection, but sonically it combines the sound that we’ve come from and the direction we’re headed.