Johnny Blue Skies, formerly known as Sturgill Simpson, and The Dark Clouds have revealed details of their upcoming album Mutiny After Midnight. The project, set for release on March 13 via High Top Mountain Records and Atlantic Music Group’s Atlantic Outpost, aims to deliver a fun dance record amid global challenges. It features contributions from bandmates Miles Miller, Laur Joamets, Kevin Black, and Robbie Crowell.
Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds announced their new album, Mutiny After Midnight, which will be available on vinyl, CD, and cassette starting March 13. The release comes through High Top Mountain Records in partnership with Atlantic Music Group’s Atlantic Outpost. Produced by Johnny Blue Skies and recorded at Easy Eye Sound Studios, the album builds on his previous work under the name Sturgill Simpson, including the Grammy-winning 2016 release A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, and his 2024 project Passage Du Desir as Johnny Blue Skies.
The band includes drummer and backing vocalist Miles Miller, lead guitarist Laur Joamets, bassist Kevin Black, and keyboardist/saxist Robbie Crowell. In a statement, Johnny Blue Skies described the goal: “There’s a simple goal we as a band set out to achieve: to make a dance record.” He expressed excitement about collaborating with longtime friend Ian Cripps to realize a vision from over a decade ago, noting, “I wrote words to what is happening in the world and my life in real time, and played with a group of musicians I deeply love and respect. Together, we made an album that is very fun and will hopefully offer some relief from darkness in the world.”
On Instagram, Johnny Blue Skies elaborated on the creative process, drawing inspiration from the fusion-funk band Stuff and Marvin Gaye’s In Our Lifetime. He explained that the album centers on groove, with songs written on the spot each day. The tracks fall into two categories: the dark state of the world and the bright state of love. “Light lives in darkness just as darkness lives in light,” he wrote, adding that embracing contradictions defines the band’s name, Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds. The recording session, initially a mutiny against expectations, evolved into a party, capturing evident enjoyment.
Looking ahead, the group plans extensive touring: “We’re going out to play arenas and theaters with a vengeance. No opening act. We’re going to take every minute the venue gives us. We’re gonna rock this Mutiny as hard as humanly possible.” The tracklist includes “Make America Fuk Again,” “Excited Delirium,” “Don’t Let Go,” “Stay On That,” “Viridescent,” “Situation,” “Venus,” “Everyone Is Welcome,” and “Ain’t That A B*tch.”