Johnno Casson is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Colchester, Essex, who records music under the name Snippet. Known for his “wonky pop” and indie style, he first started in the 1990s London club scene and has since become a very popular artist on BBC Radio 6 Music. On his new album, Soft Lad, he shows us a very honest and simple way of looking at life. He uses his music to talk about his own life and how he deals with things like being tired or feeling small. This album is special because it does not try to be loud or flashy. Instead, it feels like a quiet friend talking to you about the things we all go through every day.
The big idea behind the album titled, Soft Lad, is that being a “soft” person is actually a very brave thing. Many people think being soft means you are weak, but this music shows that it takes a lot of heart to stay kind and sensitive. The world can be a hard place, and it is easy to close yourself off. Johnno shows us that staying open and showing your feelings is a way to stay strong. It is an album about finding peace in the small, quiet moments instead of chasing big, noisy dreams.
Too Many Snakes in the Long Grass
Sometimes, life can feel like people around you are not being totally honest, which is the focus of Too Many Snakes in the Long Grass. This part of the album looks at how hard it can be to know who your real friends are. It talks about the feeling of having to watch your back because some people might want to trick you or let you down. The music has a nervous energy that makes you feel like someone is looking over your shoulder. It reminds us that we have to be careful about who we trust so we can protect our own happiness.
Mental health is another very big topic on this record, especially in the song Some Days. There are times when everything feels heavy and it is hard to move forward. The songs explain that progress is not always a straight line up; sometimes you take steps back. It tells the listener that it is okay to have bad days where you just try to get to the next morning. By using a steady beat, the music feels like a heartbeat that keeps going even when things feel scary or sad.
Sometimes I Fade
In Sometimes I Fade, there are moments when we feel like we are starting to disappear. When life gets too busy or too hard, it can feel like we are becoming invisible to the people around us. This music looks at the need to step away from everyone else to find yourself again. It is a very honest way of saying that sometimes we just need space to breathe. The music sounds thin and light during these parts to match the feeling of drifting away from the world.
Instead of focusing on where we are going, the song Journey celebrates the middle of the trip. It says that the most important growth happens while we are waiting or moving from one place to another. Life is not a race to a finish line, and we do not need to be in a hurry. The rhythmic sounds in these songs feel like a long walk that never stops. It encourages us to enjoy the path we are on right now instead of always worrying about what comes next.
Lets Talk About Us (The Earthly Delights Remix)
Talking to the people we love is very important, even when the conversation is hard, as heard in Lets Talk About Us (The Earthly Delights Remix). The album touches on how couples need to be honest with each other to keep their bond strong. It moves away from the “perfect” kind of love you see in movies and talks about the real work it takes to stay together. Even when the music gets a bit faster and makes you want to dance, the message is still about the courage it takes to be totally open and truthful with a partner.
Many people have a dream of running away to a far-off place to solve their problems, a feeling captured in Panama. There is a sense of longing in the music for a fresh start or a mental escape. It acknowledges that everyone sometimes wants to fly away when they feel stuck in their current life. The music sounds breezy and light, like a tropical breeze. It shows that wanting to leave is a normal human feeling, even if we stay exactly where we are.
The main idea of I Keep Running Away From Myself is that sometimes the person we truly want to get away from is ourselves. The album is about the fight to get away from your own thoughts or faults. It shows how exhausting it can be to keep yourself busy so you don’t have to deal with who you really are. You come to the conclusion that you can’t hide from yourself forever. The music gets rapid and urgent here, like the sound of feet racing on the ground. Then it slows down to accept the fact.
Same Time Tomorrow
The album ends with Same Time Tomorrow, leaving us with a feeling of sticking with things and never giving up. It finds a lot of beauty in the things we do every single day, like a simple routine. The final message is one of quiet strength. It says that no matter how hard today was, we will show up and try again tomorrow. The music sounds like a clock winding down, leaving you feeling calm. It is a peaceful way to say that life goes on, and just being here is enough.
Soft Lad is more than simply a bunch of tunes; it’s a guidance for how to stay human in a world that moves too fast. Johnno Casson has created something that feels true since it doesn’t sugarcoat the tough bits of life. He teaches us that it’s okay to be sleepy, little, and tender. When the last note fades away, you feel like you’ve been on a long walk with someone who really gets you. This album is a lovely present for anyone who is striving to get back to the simple things that are most important to them.
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