We love when musical worlds collide and artists cover other artists. Therefore, we’re introducing our newest feature, titled Version Territory. John-Robert covers Fiona Apple’s Criminal is our first official entry.
On the eve of his EP release for Bailey Barely Knew Me, John-Robert Covers Fiona Apple’s Criminal. In a partnership with the Recording Academy/GRAMMY®’s and just for comparison, here’s the iconic original Criminal.
Stripping the track down to its bare bones, John-Robert lets his voice shine as he uses only his guitar. While just as hypnotic as Fiona Apple’s, John-Robert’s version is a soulful and bluesy play on the original. Watch John-Robert cover Fiona Apple below.
Notably, John-Robert’s newest EP drops tomorrow; Look out for our review on Bailey Barely Knew Me tomorrow. Here’s a sneak peek to tantalize you.
John-Robert further explains, “I wanted to tell my story in chronological order. At its core, I wanted it to be voice and guitar because that’s where everything starts, but then have it break out, add more instruments and sounds to show more of my production chops”. John-Robert also explains, in an interview with Atwood Magazine, how he utilizes social media while covering other artists. “Doing covers on the Internet was like killing two birds with one stone. I was able to practice playing my music and create my own versions of songs that I love while also getting to reach out to a broader audience online. It’s way better than starting from nowhere with just your originals. I used Instagram and YouTube a lot while I was starting out with my music.”
