Ever since I found out about him early last year, Johnny Franchino has been one of my favorite Milwaukee-based artists. Johnny Franchino is a musician who is carving his own lane entirely. Not only does his music stick out inside the Milwaukee music scene, but it also sticks out in regard to all of the Electronic and Hip Hop scenes of today in general. After quite a bit of success with his Pop-Rock band The New Grey, Johnny Franchino started his current solo musical journey when he introduced his AESTHETIX series near the beginning of 2023. Throughout the year, he released more and more music as a part of his AESTHETIX series. By the end of 2023, Johnny Franchino had put out a multitude of AESTHETIX stand-alone singles, as well as an EP with the same name. All of these releases culminated in a very big year for Johnny Franchino, not only in terms of streams but also in accolades. Johnny Franchino won many year-end awards for Milwaukee and/or Wisconsin musicians due to AESTHETIX, and it also put him on my own best of Milwaukee music list for 2023. Near the end of 2023 and at the beginning of 2024, Johnny Franchino kept his momentum going. He dropped multiple singles in the last week(or so) of 2023 and has already dropped one more single so far in 2024. I wanted to highlight these a few of latest releases in this piece, as AESTHETIX is one of my favorite things happening in Milwaukee music today. Please let me know in the comments below how you feel about these new tracks from Johnny Franchino, and also comment the names of any independent or Milwaukee musicians you think I should check out.

‘Sunset’ was one of Johnny Franchino’s last songs of 2023, having come out on December 22. In my opinion, this is one of Johnny Franchino’s most dynamic tracks that has been released as a part of his AESTHETIX series so far, which is saying a lot. ‘Sunset’ is driven by a melody provided by a dark and energetic piano riff with an extremely funky feeling to it. This is the kind of melody that makes me think of the fast life; it honestly makes me want to party all night long. This melody is put on top of a House beat that somehow feels old-school and fresh at the same time. I can hear elements of current Deep House music in this beat, but it also has elements that make me think of 1990s Hi-NRG music. Johnny Franchino’s vocal performance on this track is so strong and varied. Not only does he provide a couple of great rap verses with an addicting flow, but the tone in which he sings the hook gives the song a colorful element that I appreciate. ‘Sunset’ is a song that is aptly named, as it has a sound that makes me want to rage the night away as the sun goes down. Johnny Franchino’s last single of 2023 is called ‘Holidays,’ and it came out on December 29. This song has a lot brighter and sweeter sound than the one that precedes it. ‘Holidays’ is also not as hard-hitting as the song that precedes it, providing more of a calming element that I appreciate. This song is driven by a warm and cozy piano riff that is complemented by various types of synths and sound effects that make the song feel so full. Whereas ‘Sunset’ has a bit more of a coarse and sparse feeling, this one feels atmospheric and all-encompassing. The beat for ‘Holidays’ does seem inspired by 1990s Dance music, but it is a different type of Dance music than what we heard on ‘Sunset.’ This track has a beat that immediately makes me think of UK Garage and Jungle music. It has the kind of drum pattern I would expect to hear from artists like MJ Cole or Sunship. Johnny Franchino’s rap flow on this track is super smooth, and his singing vocals are comforting. Like ‘Sunset,’ his vocals fit the feeling of the instrumental so well. ‘Holidays’ is a gleaming and fun track that shows a lighter side to Johnny Franchino’s AESTHETIX sound. Johnny Franchino began 2024 on a lively and intense note with the song ‘Audi Musik.’ Out of the three tracks in this write-up, this one definitely hits the hardest. The best way I can describe this track is that it straight-up makes me think of 1990s Techno music. The melody is driven by otherworldly, celestial synths that are somehow calming and energetic at the same time. This melody is extremely trippy, but it is also soothing in a way. The beat for ‘Audi Musik’ is extremely complex and intricate. For the most part, it is a straight-up Techno beat, but there are portions of the drum pattern that almost sound like fast-paced Afrobeats music. Johnny Franchino’s vocal performance of this track is bold and audacious, helping ‘Audi Musik’ feel larger than life. ‘Audi Musik’ is a rowdy way for Johnny Franchino to start 2024, and it makes me very excited to see what is to come from him this year.