John K Discusses the Process of Pain, Hope and Healing Behind His New Album, SALT + LIGHT
Singer-songwriter John K has a knack for taking universal human experiences and channeling their essence into heartfelt and undeniably catchy songs. With the release of his third album, SALT + LIGHT, he's never been more relatable or authentic.
SALT + LIGHT released today, July 18, and as the name suggests, it's an album of contrasts. There's pain and healing, loss and growth, struggle and reflection, and with each of its 13 tracks, he showcases the serious evolution he's gone through over the last few years, not only as a musician but also as a husband and dad. He shows us the power in sitting in the discomfort of the truth, and how his music has changed right along with John as a man.
These songs are also about creating connection, allowing listeners to find a piece of themselves in the music, which is why we're so excited that he's also about to embark on his headlining SALT + LIGHT Tour across North America. The tour starts on July 31 in Seattle and hits 19 cities across the U.S. and Canada before it concludes in John's hometown of Orlando, Florida on August 31. Click HERE for tour dates and ticketing info and HERE to listen to the album on all streaming platforms, and keep reading for our interview with John on the album release and why SALT + LIGHT is so significant to him.
Sweety High: What does the album title SALT & LIGHT mean to you? Why did that title feel like the perfect summation of this group of songs?
John K: SALT + LIGHT comes from pain, reflection, healing and hope. The phrase itself is rooted in my spirituality, but for me, it's also deeply personal. Salt represents the rawness—the wounds, the tears, the parts of life that sting. And light is the healing, the clarity, the hope that comes from facing those wounds head-on. This album is me searching those hidden places and deciding to bring them into the light, no matter how uncomfortable. That journey felt like the thread that connected every song—so naming it SALT + LIGHT just felt honest. Like a journal entry turned into sound.
(SALT + LIGHT via Epic Records)
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SH: What do you feel are the overarching themes of the album? What kind of feel do you hope fans take away from it?
JK: This record is about impermanence, presence, love, loss and the quiet moments in between. It's about trying to live with your eyes open—not just to the beautiful parts, but to the hard truths, too. There's an undercurrent of gratitude that runs through it. I want people to listen and feel seen, to maybe exhale a little, and feel less alone in their own emotions. It's okay to sit with the heavy stuff if it leads to something lighter. This album is a companion for that.
SH: How would you describe the album's sound? Production-wise, how did you go about bringing these tracks to life?
JK: Sonically, it's warm, intimate, and a little raw—but polished where it needs to be. We leaned into acoustic textures, vocal layers, strings, subtle distortion, whatever the story needed. There's a lot of emotional range: from stripped-back vulnerability to bigger pop moments. We really let the lyrics and emotion lead the production. The goal was always to serve the song and create something that feels lived in. Like you're sitting in the room with me.
(Photo credit: Jasmine Safaeian)
SH: How do you feel that these songs represent where you are in life right now?
JK: These songs are snapshots of where I've been mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I wrote them during a time when I was slowing down, asking myself real questions about who I am, what I care about and what kind of man, father and artist I want to be. There's clarity in these tracks, even when the lyrics are wrestling with something messy. That's where I am—trying to embrace the ups and downs of life and be fully present.
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SH: What is your favorite song on the album? Why?
JK: That's such a hard one—they all carry weight in different ways. But I'd say "Here's the Plan" hits me deepest. It's a song about love in its most ordinary, beautiful form. Road trips, baby monitors, early mornings. It's about choosing to find meaning in the smallest moments. I cried the first time I heard the playback. It reminded me that everything I need is already right in front of me.
SH: How do you think you've evolved as an artist and a human being since in case you miss me?
JK: in case you miss me was created during COVID, written over late night Zoom sessions. While I very much love that album, it came from a version of me still learning how to truly feel everything. Since then, I've let go of a lot of perfectionism. I've become more patient with myself, more open to imperfection and more grounded in my purpose. As an artist, I care less about chasing a moment and more about capturing the truth. As a human, I'm trying to show up fully. This album reflects both of those evolutions.
(Photo credit: Jasmine Safaeian)
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
JK: Just this: if you're going through something, or even if you're just trying to feel something, I hope this album meets you where you are. I hope it reminds you that you're not alone, and that there's beauty in the process of becoming. Thank you for listening. It means more than you know.
For more interviews with the artists we love on their latest releases, click HERE to hear from Karissa Ella on her Growing Wings EP.