



Written by Holly Dolan





Listen up and I'll tell you a story... Last week, on the 22nd of January we would have celebrated Daniel Johnston's 59th birthday. Since this day, this unique artist has been constantly on my mind.Daniel Johnston is the embodiment of unpolished. His music, being mostly recorded on cheap cassettes, really gives it an authentic home recording sound. Knowing Kurt Cobain had been a big fan of Daniel Johnston, I suspect Cobain's 'home recordings' album was largely influenced by Johnston's style of production.Daniel Johnston suffered from manic depression and schizophrenia, which is something he is transparent about this in his music - most evidently in the track 'Keep punching Joe' from the album 'Hi, How Are You'. The name 'Joe' is found on many titles of his tracks and those specific tracks all feel like internal conversations. Thus, in my opinion, 'Joe' is Daniel. But don't quote me on that.He talks widely and candidly about his emotions in his music. It is clear that his lyricism and instrumental skills were outlets for his personal struggles. The themes in his songs have a huge variety, the main ones I picked up on is self-deprecation and unrequited love. All ranging from sounds of eeriness to joyfulness.I recently listened to the combination album 'Continued Story / Hi how are you'.The coupling of these albums works spectacularly. Continued Story feels like an A-side and Hi how are you radiate that B-side feeling.Continued Story is upbeat and cheerful. It skims the surface of sadder sounds in some tracks - but mostly keeps up a heartfelt joy. The album features 14 tracks, with covers of the likes of The Beatles to keep this piece familiar and homely. There seems to be a constant poetic narrative from track to track; which enlarges the raw human experience we meet in 'Continued Story'.A track that stood out to me was 'Etiquette'. It depicted the philosophy of being rich, but not in monetary wealth - rather within the self.'Hi, how are you' dampens the joy from Continued Story. Track 'Poor You' really translates those hard-hitting notions of self-pity. The album ventures down emotional experimentation with tracks 'I am a baby (in my universe)', 'Nervous Love', 'I'll never marry', 'Get yourself together' and 'Running Water'. All of these tracks are seconds long, but each one is a punch. The latter part of the album rounds off on the lower emotions.All in all, this combination album comes off as a representation of manic depression. 'Continued Story' being the manic episodes, 'Hi, how are you' being the depressive episodes.Daniel Johnston is so important to the music industry as himself and his music is a representation of awareness for mental health issues. His openness is admirable and encouraging. His music can be relatable to some, and evoke empathy on the path to understanding for others. His recordings have a sense of urgency, but an eagerness to express without care instead of chaotic urgency in itself. He is an artist that will be remembered and cherished.