mustbejohn

mustbejohn is a boundary-pushing UK artist whose sound blends raw storytelling with infectious production. Evolving in 2025 into a bold, indie-alternative direction. Drawing inspiration from his surroundings and everyday experiences, he creates relatable, catchy, and emotionally honest music that’s resonating with a fast-growing audience.
mustbejohn's early work laid the foundation for a unique style rooted in the realities of city life, friendships, parties, and personal growth. His sound is shaped by the distinctive styles of The Streets, Gorillaz, and Arctic Monkeys, combining introspective lyricism with sharp British identity and genre-defying energy.
Whilst at University, he launched his career under the name mustbejohn in 2019 with the breakout EP Left The Bags Behind. Since then, he’s amassed over 20 million streams, becoming known for cult favourites like Last Dances, Good To Me, and collaborations with the likes of Higgo, Tentendo, Joe James, 49th & Main, and Piri & Tommy. He also features on the acclaimed Fabric Presents – The Streets compilation album.
In 2025, mustbejohn embraced a fresh chapter with a pivot toward indie-alternative, earning viral success on TikTok as his latest single hit #11 on the Viral 50 chart. The buzz built anticipation for his new EP Hope Came Last, which racked up over 9,000 pre-saves and surpassed 1 million streams before release and 6 million since, marking his most impactful era yet.
A powerful live performer, mustbejohn has recently sold out the Jazz Cafe and multiple other dates on his tour. He’s appeared at major festivals including Dot To Dot, NASS, and NOS Alive. Looking ahead, summer 2026 will see mustbejohn appear at major festivals including The Great Escape, London Calling, Kendal Calling, and Latitude, further cementing his reputation as a standout live act.
His growing list of achievements includes:
Winner of the Ditto Rising Star Award
Featured on the EA FC 24 Soundtrack
Radio support from BBC Radio 1 (Jack Saunders, Clara Amfo, Danny Howard, Sian Eleri)
BBC Radio 1 Introducing Track of the Week – Last Dances
Playlisted on Capital Dance, KISS Fresh, and Spotify editorial playlists including New Music Friday, Vibe Check, Soultronic, UK House Music, Our Generation, Fresh Finds, and more.
With momentum continuing to build, mustbejohn now looks toward his most ambitious era yet. A new album is scheduled for release in September 2026, followed by an extensive UK and EU tour, positioning him as one of the UK’s most exciting independent artists stepping confidently onto the international stage.

Have a listen…