As I have stated in multiple write-ups I have posted about artists from Milwaukee recently, this city has a way more diverse musical landscape than it is given credit for. There are artists in this city making music for all kinds of music listeners, forward-thinking nature of so many musicians in the city is making the Milwaukee music scene so exciting to follow. One artist that is thinking outside the box and doing something completely his own is Johnny Franchino. Jonny Franchino is an artist that has been making waves in the Milwaukee music scene in multiple ways over the last couple of years. The Milwaukee-based(and Racine native) initially started gaining traction with his Rap-Rock band The New Grey. Their 2022 EP, Someday, had multiple songs on it that caught the attention of music fans online, with the EPs title track going somewhat viral. Johnny Franchino decided to capitalize on the success of his band and released new solo music earlier this year. Johnny Franchino’s new music series AESTHETIX fuses Hip Hop and Dance music in a way that is entirely his own. He calls his eclectic style of music ‘New Cologne.’ Similar to what happened with his band in 2022, his music has caught the attention of lots of music fans online, as it stands out in such an interesting way and is honestly unlike any popular Hip Hop artist making music today. It is easy to see why so many people are paying attention to Johnny Franchino’s AESTHETIX series as it is so fresh and unique. Here are two of my favorite new songs released by Johnny Franchino through his AESTHETIX series. Let me know in the comments how you feel about these tracks, and also comment if you prefer any other songs from the AESTHETIX series more than these two.

The first track I want to talk about is ‘Naughty America.’ This song has a deep and gritty Trance music instrumental that sounds like it came right out of a European club from the 1990s. It has a dark, melancholy melody that sounds dystopian and otherworldly, and a fast tempo that will get anyone dancing when they hear it. This song has the kind of beat I would expect to hear on a classic Tiesto or Armin Van Buuren track. Johnny Franchino’s rap on this song is bold and in your face; the way he delivers his vocals on this track matches the intense and lively energy that the instrumental has. ‘Naughty America’ is a fun and seedy track that makes me want to party the night away. I would love to hear this song in a club somewhere in Milwaukee soon, as I know it would get the place jumping. The second song that I want to talk about is Johnny Franchino’s newest addition to his AESTHETIX series. ‘First World’ has a lot brighter a sound than ‘Naughty America.’ This song has a pleasant and light melody that sounds inspired by the Hi-NRG music of the 1990s. The melody immediately makes me think of popular 1990s producers like La Bouche or Alice DeeJay. The beat on this track sounds inspired by Hi-NRG music as well. In fact, if someone were to tell me this track came out in the 1990s, I would probably believe them. Johnny Franchino’s vocal performance on this track is a lot more complex than the one on ‘Naughty America.’ The way he raps on this track is a bit smoother and softer; the flow and tone he uses in his raps on this song enhance the sweet and radiant sound of the instrumental. Johnny Franchino also sings the hook on this track instead of rapping it. His breathy, glowing vocals give the song an ethereal feeling. When Johnny Franchino sings on this track, he transports the listener to a place that is a lot more positive and enjoyable than their personal reality. ‘First World’ is a cool, shimmering Dance-Pop track that puts me in a good mood as soon as it comes on.

Although Johnny Franchino has only been releasing solo music through his AESTHETIX for about seven months now, he is already making waves in the Milwaukee music scene and in the online Dance music scene. His sound is unlike any other artist making music in the Milwaukee area right now. He takes inspiration from an era of Dance music that is often underappreciated, and he puts his own spin on it that makes it feel modern and interesting. Johnny Franchino is onto something truly great, and I think he will continue to bloom into a star as he puts out more and more music from his AESTHETIX series. He is easily one of the most exciting Electronic music artists on the rise today, and I am very excited to see what he does in the future.