“This album means so much to us because it represents a significant chapter in our lives. Both of us have been navigating our own emotional and physical health challenges over the last few years, and it’s a testament to that journey. In many ways, this album reflects our acceptance of the challenges we’ve faced, embracing the honesty we've always pursued in our songwriting. It’s for anyone who has faced their own battles—physical or emotional—and is looking for music to walk with them through it.” — JOHNNYSWIM

Out last week is “Los Feliz,” a song from the new LP that was born out of one of the band’s “Songs With Strangers” podcast episodes. This particular episode (Episode 7) was with JOHNNYSWIM’s good friend (not a stranger!) and songwriter Britten Newbill (Tori Kelly, Olivia Dean). They wrote “Los Feliz” during the podcast and once in the studio with the band, Abner shared that a guitar riff from the recording session “became the soul of the song.” 

The idea to create When The War Is Over with almost entirely live instruments was a sonic shift for the band. “One thing we were very excited to do on this album, that we haven’t done since our first album, is every instrument has eyeballs,” continued Abner. “Every instrument is played by a person. There’s very few, if any, synthetic instruments – the piano is a person at the piano, the drums are a person at the drums, etc. There’s no samples, there’s no whatever. We almost always have real musicians in the room, but very rarely, not since our first album, have we had them all in the same room at the same time. We recorded this very old school. We were discovering the songs as opposed to just having a clear picture of what the production must sound like. We sat with our favorite musicians, our band, in a room, and we discovered the songs as we went along.”

In addition to “Los Feliz,” the band has released a few other album tracks as part of their “New Music Monday” series including the reflective yet hopeful “She Checks The Weather.” As Amanda has shared, the song was written as “an ode to the battle of chronic illness” — something she has personally faced after two bouts of COVID-19 that left her with lingering symptoms, which she and her doctors are still struggling to identify and treat. Released on August 5th, the single has been met with an outpouring of heartfelt responses from fans. Also out now is “Frank Gehry,” a song about finding contentment in what you have and resisting the urge to measure yourself against others. “Frank Gehry” came out July 1st and was featured in a recent CBS Morningssegment that visited the band in their home in LA to discuss their lives, love, and family as well as their journey as songwriters and musicians. And then there’s “Alchemy,” released June 3rd, the song is a soulful and introspective track that delves into the transformative power of love and conveys how growth often comes through challenges.

In addition to the sonic shift fans will hear on When The War Is Over, they’ll hear Amanda and Abner’s friend and Houston rapper Tobe Nwigwe lending his vocal talents to album track “Dopamine” and creating a rhythmic and powerful intro. “I’m Alright” features Abner reflecting on his personal journey and his family’s experience of leaving Cuba. They follow this with a cover of “Cuando Salí de Cuba” - a poignant 1967 song by Cuban artist Luis Aguilé that became an anthem for many Cubans who were forced to leave their homeland during political upheaval.

When The War Is Over marks a new chapter for JOHNNYSWIM, capturing the band's profound journey through personal upheaval and resilience. The LP is set for release on February 7th. In the meantime, you can listen to “Los Feliz,” “She Checks The Weather,” “Frank Gehry,” and “Alchemy” now. Along with the album news, the band is announcing a Spring US headline tour today with tickets on sale Friday. Stay tuned for more JOHNNYSWIM news as the band continues to captivate audiences with their heartfelt melodies, blending personal experiences with imaginative storytelling.