A smooth and soulful pop crooner with an R&B edge and a penchant for personal, soul-searching lyrics,
John K first made a splash in 2017 when his self-released music caught the ear of music industry tastemakers. Within three years, he became a star on the rise with hit tunes like "If We Never Met," "6 Months," and "Wasted Summer."
John K (real name John Poulson) was born and raised in Pompano Beach, Florida. His father was an amateur guitarist with a taste for classic rock who filled the house with his voice, while his grandmother Bunny was the daughter of a professional trumpet player. Bunny taught him to play piano and bought him a recorder, and by the time he was in high school, he and his friends would spend hours jamming and working out songs at his house. Singing became
John's passion, and in time he and his father moved to Nashville in hopes of going professional. After months of low-profile gigs and songwriting sessions,
John found a valuable ally in manager Rob Zarrilli, who introduced him to producer FVCES. In 2017,
John K released his first track, "Runnin'," which soon attracted attention at major streaming services, and after influential disc jockey Elvis Duran heard him, he began spinning
John's music and presented him as his "Artist of the Month" on the popular morning TV show Today. In 2018,
John topped the success of "Runnin'" with "O.T.," which was streamed over 18 million times.
Epic Records signed
John K, and in 2019 he brought out his first EP for the label,
If We Never Met. The title track became a smash, with more than 48 million streaming plays, and in January 2020
John teamed with teamwork and
Loote for his next track, "Wasted Summer." The song was another success, and he followed it a month later with the lovelorn ballad "6 Months." ~ Mark Deming