#john moran

John Moran

Chris Forsyth leans into the cool jazz aesthetic of his new ensemble at first, but these long pieces morph, over time, into driving, droning grooves. The trio, What Is Now, is made up of the Philadelphia experimental guitarist plus John Moran and Joey Sullivan, the rhythm section from Bark Culture, a vibraphone-forward cool jazz combo centered around Victor Vieira-Branco.

A collection of animated stereoscopic photos of people in the streets of Cartagena, Colombia, from 1870 and 1871. They were taken by either Timothy O'Sullivan or John Moran, who were both photographers part of the American Darien Expedition to Panama.

John Moran

Solitude

John Moran’s latest single Big Ravine is a tight, three-minute slice of indie rock that feels both fresh and familiar. Rooted in the post-grunge and early-2000s indie sound, it’s the kind of track that wouldn’t be out of place on an old burned CD in your glove compartment—fuzzy guitars, layered harmonies, and just enough distortion to keep things interesting.

Moran, a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist currently based in St. John’s, teamed up with producer Jake Nicoll on this one. Nicoll’s no stranger to shaping standout sounds—his innovative production work helped earn Kelly McMichael Polaris Prize nominations in both 2022 and 2025. That touch is felt here too — it’s polished in all the right places.

There’s a warmth to Big Ravine, a sun-bleached vibe that makes it a solid summer listen. But underneath the shimmer, there’s a thread of melancholy—lyrics that hint at the people we leave behind when we move on or move away. “The balance after what’s withdrawn / wasn’t worth the pain of moving on,” Moran sings, eloquently putting words to a feeling most of us have brushed up against at one point or another.

All in all, Big Ravine feels like a well-crafted nod to yesterday that sits quite happily in the here and now. The track is available right now — check it out, and add it to your summer playlist!

I’m obsessed with music from Newfoundland and Labrador…

It’s fresh, wild, and full of surprises. The artists here are pumping out so much new stuff, it’s hard to keep up. So, I started a playlist of my faves—tons of genres, but the only rule is they’re local and totally repeat-worthy. I update it regularly, so follow along (on Spotify, Apple Music or Youtube).