Today, multi-platinum pop singer/songwriter John K releases his new single “River,” a bright ballad that finds optimism in one of the hardest facts of human existence: our impermanence. The moving song is the latest single taken from John K’s upcoming album and follows the announcement of his SALT + LIGHT Tour: Part 1. Get “River” via Epic Records at all DSPs HERE.
“River” starts intimately — with John K’s voice coming in close over softly plucked guitar — and builds to an arena-sized sound fit to score a cinematic sunset. Similarly, the lyrics connect the personal to the universal. In one verse, the Orlando-based artist considers how miraculous it is that he and his partner are alive at the same time. In another, he zooms out to the bigger picture: “Would we get excited about a first kiss if there wasn’t a last one? / Would we know a good day if we never got through a bad one?”
“I wrote this after a conversation with my wife that cracked something open in me. It’s about how nothing lasts, but that’s actually what makes life so heartbreakingly beautiful,” says John K. “Hold the people you love close, forgive someone sooner, have grace, and be present because it doesn’t last forever. You can paddle your hardest to get through it, or you can put the paddle on your lap, relax, and enjoy the ride.”
“River” is the next glimpse of John K’s third album following this spring’s “Honey,” a breezy anthem that contrasts a summer-ready sound against lyrics that examine the artist’s real-life struggle with anxiety. Both songs display an easy relatability and emotional complexity befitting a man who’s been through huge changes over the past few years — namely, becoming a father of two and a self-described “singing-stay-at-home-dad” who also has to spend large chunks of time away from his young family. The music video for “Honey” ultimately captures a feeling of irrepressible joy — watch it HERE. The song itself is currently top 20 at Hot AC radio in the US.
Last week, John K announced his SALT + LIGHT Tour: Part 1, a 21-date North American run that kicks off on July 31 in Seattle at Barboza with stops across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York City, Atlanta, and more, before wrapping on August 31 in John’s hometown of Orlando at The Social. See the full routing below and visit http://www.musicbyjohnk.com for tickets and more information.
John K’s return has invigorated his global audience, which was solidified by an inspiring run of early wins. In just a few short years, he landed an opening slot on the international One Republic Tour, hit the road with Marc E. Bassy, sold out a crowd of 15,000-plus in Korea (where he is a bonafide pop star), and racked up over 1.3 billion streams across his catalog. His 2019 breakout “if we never met” went multi-platinum, and he released two albums over the course of 2020 and 2021. Last year, John K began to tease this new era of his artistry with the single “Lost,” written before the birth of his second child.
Now, as he builds toward his next album, John K reflects on the road to this point: “I’ve grown into becoming a father and a husband, and my music has truly grown with me. The goal is still timeless, classic, and story-driven songwriting, but I write from my heart not only for myself, but for my wife and my growing family as well.” “River” embodies that sentiment from the opening note to the final chord.
SALT + LITE Tour: Part 1 dates
7/31/2025 – Seattle, WA Neumos – Barboza
8/1/2025 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall
8/3/2025 – San Francisco, CA Brick & Mortar
8/5/2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Moroccan Lounge
8/6/2025 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues – San Diego – Voodoo Room
8/7/2025 – Phoenix, AZ Valley Bar – Music Hall
8/9/2025 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
8/10/2025 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
8/13/2025 – Saint Louis, MO – Off Broadway Nightclub
8/14/2025 – Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen
8/16/2025 – Cleveland Heights, OH – Grog Shop
8/17/2025 – Columbus, OH – The Summit Music Hall
8/19/2025 – Toronto, ON Velvet Underground
8/21/2025 – New York, NY – The Mercury Lounge
8/22/2025 – Cambridge, MA – The Middle East – Sonia
8/23/2025 – Washington, DC – Songbyrd Music House
8/25/2025 – Madison, TN Eastside Bowl – The ’58
8/26/2025 – Atlanta, GA Center Stage – Vinyl
8/28/2025 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues Dallas – Cambridge Room
8/29/2025 – Houston, TX House of Blues Houston – Bronze Peacock Room
8/31/2025 – Orlando, FL The Social
