Rising Birmingham duo Johnson & Finnemore have been turning heads in the UK Americana scene with their soulful blend of country, blues, and Laurel Canyon-inspired harmony
With their debut album Find A Love That Brings You Home breaking into the UK Official Record Store Chart at #18, a sold-out summer run of shows, and the premiere of their documentary The Many Lives of Stuart Johnson, the pair are riding high.
We caught up with Dan Finnemore and Stewart Johnson to talk about their creative bond, the making of the album, and what comes next.
Dan and Stewart, what drew you together creatively and inspired the formation of your duo back in 2018?
Dan: Stewart and I had been circling each other musically for a long time before 2018, and when we finally sat down to write together, it just clicked. His way of colouring songs with pedal steel and dobro unlocked something in my writing. It felt like we’d found the missing piece to bring those ideas fully to life.
Stewart: We share the same love for country, soul, and old rock ’n’ roll – but we come at it from different angles. That push and pull is what made us want to formalise the duo. It was about creating a sound that neither of us could make on our own.
Your upcoming debut album Find A Love That Brings You Home blends country, blues, and 70s-style harmony. What guided that sound, and how did the recording process help shape it?
Dan: We weren’t chasing a single genre, more a feeling – that soulful warmth you hear in a JJ Cale record or the Laurel Canyon harmonies of the ’70s. Those influences naturally blended with my storytelling.
Stewart: And in the studio, we didn’t force anything. We let the songs dictate the textures – whether it leaned bluesy, folky, or country. That’s why you’ll find a lush waltz like “Babybird” sitting comfortably next to a groove like “Ride High.”
Stewart, your work on pedal steel, Dobro, and guitar plays such a central role in the duo’s sound. How do you decide which instrument best supports a song’s emotional tone?
Stewart: I always start with the lyric and the mood. Pedal steel can bring a bittersweet ache, dobro adds grit, and guitar gives you that straight-ahead backbone. It’s about listening closely to what Dan’s written and then choosing the voice that makes the song’s heart beat stronger.
Dan, your songwriting has often been described as intimate and honest. Can you take us inside your lyrical process—what themes or experiences inspired this new record?
Dan: A lot of it came from looking at the light in dark times. “Babybird,” for example, isn’t about heartbreak – it’s about finding joy even when the world feels heavy. Other songs wrestle with defiance, like “Ride High,” or confront uncomfortable truths, like in “Beady Eye.” The record really came from living through those shifts and trying to write something that felt human and real.
The album’s lead single “Babybird” feels tender and timeless, while “Ride High” leans into a bluesy groove. What do these contrasting tracks say about your musical range?
Dan: They show that we’re not afraid to live in different spaces emotionally. Love and vulnerability on one hand, grit and resilience on the other.
Stewart: It also reflects how wide our palette is – we can draw from waltzes, blues, or rock ’n’ roll and still make it sound like us.
You’ve brought in an impressive group of musicians for this project. How did these collaborations influence the direction of the album?
Stewart: Bringing in players like Buzz Bywater, Liam Grundy, and Howard Gregory really elevated the songs. They brought textures we couldn’t have imagined ourselves.
Dan: And having Hannah Johnson, Julian Littman, and Charlie Dore lend their voices added another dimension. Those collaborations pushed us further – they made the record bigger and warmer than we could’ve dreamed.
Your individual musical histories bring different flavours to the table. How do you navigate those distinct styles when writing and arranging together?
Dan: We lean into them, not away. My natural space is in storytelling and melody, while Stewart’s is in shaping the soundscape. When you trust each other, those differences stop being obstacles and start being the magic.
Stewart: Exactly – it’s like a conversation. We meet in the middle and the songs become something that belongs to both of us.
You’ve released the album across digital, CD and vinyl formats. Why was it important to include physical releases at a time when streaming dominates?
Stewart: Physical music matters – holding a vinyl or a CD connects you to the art in a way streaming never can.
Dan: We wanted listeners to have that tactile experience, to sit with the record as a whole, not just skip through playlists. It felt essential for a debut like this.
Looking back on your respective careers, what would you say was a pivotal moment—either solo or together—when you felt a real shift or breakthrough?
Stewart: For me, the documentary The Many Lives of Stuart Johnson was a turning point. It tied together all the different threads of my musical life and gave context to what we’re doing now.
Dan: And seeing Find A Love That Brings You Home break into the UK Official Record Store Chart at #18 – that was huge. It told us people were really listening.
Finally, with the album release on the horizon, what comes next for Johnson & Finnemore?
Dan: We’ve got “Beady Eye” coming out on September 26th, and it’s a darker, more introspective song – so that’s exciting.
Stewart: Beyond that, more shows, more writing, and more chances to share this music. We feel like we’re just getting started.
