‘WAYS To Get Out’ is the debut album by Irish Alternative artist ‘Far Caspian’, the project of singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Joel Johnston, who is originally from Fermanagh.

Choosing to record with a DIY approach – recording, playing and mixing everything himself – his sound is a deftly combined blend of chiming guitars, rich harmonic melodies and crisp rhythms.

Thematically exploring the emotions and relationships we experience through life’s transition in our twenties, ‘Ways To Get Out’ is a comforting companion on a relatable journey split between longing for the blissful naivety of youth, overcoming the stresses of adulthood and accepting your place in the world.

“Ways To Get Out is whatever the listener wants it to be,” Joel explained. “Ways to get out of a small town, ways to get out of a relationship, ways to get out of your own head.

“The album as a whole is about the things I came across in my twenties, but could be applied to any transitional period in life – to depression and anxiety, tired relationships, feeling stuck within a scenario and place, wishing things were easy like in childhood, rejecting your identity and becoming someone else.”

The album’s first single, ‘Questions’, juxtaposes memorable hooks with lyrics about someone questioning their whole existence and thinking they’d be in a better position by this age.

The line, “You’re selling everything you own”, represents the person finally deciding not to settle and taking the step forward in doing something different.

The video for ‘Questions’, created by Joel, is now streaming on Far Caspian’s YouTube channel.

Although usually based in the city of Leeds in Yorkshire, ‘Ways To Get Out’ was recorded during 2020 at Joel’s childhood home in a rural area of Fermanagh.

The location and isolation compounded a deeply nostalgic edge to the themes that Joel was tackling in his songs.

Recordings

Returning to the music he listened to during his childhood and teenage years in the early to mid-2000’s (The Postal Service, The Radio Dept, Broken Social Scene, The Walkmen), the recordings started to become infused with sounds that originally inspired him to become a musician.

“This felt like home for me,” said Joel. “My music nostalgia starts around 2003 and I wanted to try and create a record that had hints of that time period in it, whilst still holding on to what people had known me for up to this point.”

Starting from a basement home studio in 2018, Far Caspian’s first two EPs landed plays on BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music, Radio X, coverage from The Line of Best Fit, Clash and Dork, and numerous Spotify and YouTube playlists; which all helped to generate a dedicated and growing fanbase across the world.

Live, close friends join Joel to turn the project into a full band, resulting in driven and upbeat performances.

This sound was reflected in sold-out shows on the band’s first headline tours. The band’s long-awaited return to the stage sees new tour dates announced for the UK in October and Europe in Spring, 2022, which went on sale ton Friday, July 9.

‘Ways To Get Out’ is set for release by AllPoints on October 8.