“Neon Soul” feels like one of those late-night songs that hits instantly, not because it’s loud, but because it feels alive. The Dawn Roar, the project of English songwriter and producer Paul David Johnson, brings a mix of emotion and craft here that really stands out. You can tell this track comes from someone who treats music as a place to breathe and let feelings move around.
The song blends a dreamy indie vibe with a bit of shoegaze glow, and the atmosphere is honestly beautiful. The vocals are full of passion, rising and falling with real intention. What grabbed us most is how strong and controlled the performance is without ever losing its heart. The chorus especially has that “stick in your mind” feeling, it’s warm and a little nostalgic, like walking through a city at night with all the neon lights buzzing around you.
The production is really smart. Every piece of instrumentation feels carefully placed and gives the song that rich and polished sound. The lyrics fit perfectly with the melodies and you can hear that Paul put time into shaping this, not just writing it.
Overall, this single is a memorable release that shows the direction The Dawn Roar is stepping into. And honestly, we loved it. The passion, the atmosphere, the chorus… it’s the kind of song we’d happily keep on repeat for the rest of the night.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Paul David Johnson is an English singer, songwriter and producer, releasing indie songs as The Dawn Roar. He is joined on the road by Nick Tilling (bass) and Lee Jenkins (drums).
For Paul music is therapy.
“I often get up early in the morning and write, it’s a chance to get something done before the kids get up”. So, The Dawn Roar has in part something to do with his writing tendencies, but also the form his music takes. “Sometimes I’d be digging Steven Fretwell, others it would be Biffy Clyro. That contrast kind of filters over to the songs I write. I remember when the kids were tiny, I was so sleep deprived I’d be veering from one mood to the other, and that’s really what The Dawn Roar is about”. His songs, reflecting those moments, can be both fragile and cathartic.
Paul took some time out to work on his songwriting and learn how to produce. “I’ve had Cubase on my computer since I was a teenager, and I finally know how to use it! I’ve got a bunch of songs that are about done now, it’s about time I released them”.
He’s starting with Neon Soul, a shoegaze-inspired indie banger that points in the direction he’s headed. “The imagery is all from a trip I took years ago to Seoul and Tokyo. I was reminiscing about it really, and that feeling of escapism. I guess I was trying to find it in the music”.
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