Manchester singer-songwriter John Blaylock continues the build-up to his debut solo album Sounds Of The Dreadnought with the release of his new single, Violets, out now.
A stripped-back acoustic ballad, Violets places melody and emotion front and centre. Blaylock’s distinctive vocal delivery carries the weight of a relationship’s final chapter, capturing the quiet moment when the arguments fade and what’s left is the ache of absence. It’s reflective, raw and anchored by a chorus that lingers long after the final note.
John Blaylock
Blaylock explains the song’s origins: “I’m blessed to have grown up in Manchester, with bands like Oasis, The Charlatans and The Stone Roses – all these guys wrote amazing melodies. But at the same time, at home, my dad got me into Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits. As a songwriter the melody is always the first thing I write, and the chorus of Violets is a great example of that. It’s about splitting up with a girl who’s bipolar and me saying I can’t take this up and down-ness anymore. The key line is at the end of the chorus: ‘Don’t think about me I’ll be alright without you, this world’s mine for the taking, I just wish my heart wasn’t breaking.’”
Produced by two-time GRAMMY® winner Guy Massey alongside Helen Boulding, the track was recorded at the legendary Konk Studios in London. The production allows Blaylock’s voice and songwriting to remain at the forefront, reinforcing his commitment to classic songcraft.
The accompanying video mirrors the emotional arc of the track. Moving through isolated spaces tinged with subtle flashes of violet, Blaylock appears haunted by memory before gradually finding warmth and clarity. The colour motif becomes sharper as the story unfolds — only to disappear in the final moments — symbolising the lingering traces of love and the slow acceptance of loss.
Violets follows a run of singles including Bulletproof, Temples, Burns Like Fire and Moonshine & Roses, which have steadily built momentum around Blaylock’s name. His forthcoming debut album, due for release on 8th May, draws from a broad palette of influences — from the timeless storytelling of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and James Taylor to the indie-leaning swagger of Jamie T and the melodic legacy of Manchester’s own scene.
While Sounds Of The Dreadnought marks his first solo album, Blaylock is no newcomer. His earlier bands received national radio support, and he was commissioned by Desmond Tutu to write a song commemorating Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday. Years spent travelling the world — busking, performing and writing — shaped the perspective that now defines his solo work.
Blaylock will celebrate the album’s release with a special launch show at Manchester’s Wythenshawe Forum on 3rd April. The performance will feature The Daytime Singers — a 150-person choir made up of members from community singing groups across Manchester — underlining the sense of connection and togetherness that runs through his music.
With Violets, John Blaylock offers a powerful glimpse of an album rooted in melody, honesty and shared experience — a debut that feels both deeply personal and proudly communal.
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