Athens is beyond me. Although I’ve been covering the music scene there to some degree or another for over a decade, I’m certain I don’t quite grasp its underlying codes and guiding rhythms. Unlike the familiar off-kilter pulse of Atlanta, the Classic City seems opaque and distant, a bastion of idiosyncratic noise shrouded in mystery. Studying its history and absorbing its vibrant output isn’t enough; to some degree you have to exist within it. For many artists working within the city, Athens has its own distinct gravity.
You can count Elijah Johnston among the countless musicians who have been drawn in by that ineluctable pull. The songwriter’s latest single, which we’re excited to premiere this morning, is, quite simply, a love letter to his hometown scene. Written over a period of several years, “Greatest Hits” is emblematic of both Johnston’s wide-ranging style and Athens’ lauded penchant for creative cooperation.
“‘Greatest Hits’ was written as an attempt to codify my love for the music scene of our home, Athens, GA,” Johnston notes in an email. “There are lots of iconic and important bands in the history of Athens music, and I was immediately drawn to the same musical gravity that exists nowadays. The song required years of gestation and rewriting, a few weeks of guitar do-overs, and a couple hours of heated debate about the structure of the song, resulting in something that feels hard-earned and effortless at the same time.”
Indeed, the track is nothing if not a breezy pop pleasure cruise. With its shimmering melodies and gentle twang, it’s the sort of sparkling mid-morning jam you use to wake up to the world or to soundtrack a long road trip. As the undulating rhythms roll by in cascading waves, Johnston unfurls his deep appreciation for a city that has granted him solace and sense of belonging: “The way the trees look, the way the wind blows / It’s just the same as anywhere else / But I’ve never been somewhere / Where I felt like more myself.”
Written and recorded with the help of local friends, including Cannon Rogers of Cannonandtheboxes and Tommy Trautwein of Well Kept, “Greatest Hits” is a gold and amber-hued triumph. But it’s also a product of its unique environment and a long history of local influence. Or as Johnston explains, “[It’s] a testament to the collaborative spirit we try and cultivate in everything we do.”
Listen below.
More Info
Basecamp: elijahjohnston.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @elijahmjohnston
Instagram: @elijahmjohnston