John Will Learns to Rock — A Genre-Defying Fourth Album Blending Edge, Emotion, and Emerging Talent

— A Bold Fourth Album Merging Nostalgia, Grit, and Artistic Freedom

Published: March 29, 2024

On March 29, 2024, independent artist John Will unveiled his fourth studio album, John Will Learns to Rock, a daring reinvention that boldly redefines his creative path. Inspired by the legendary Danish band Michael Learns to Rock, this album is no tribute — it’s a declaration of artistic freedom, personal rebellion, and raw experimentation.

Released under his artistic name John Will Handel and featured prominently on the MONNARROW platform, John Will Learns to Rock — also known in Mandarin as My Rock Academia 我的搖滾學院 — marks a dramatic shift in tone from John’s earlier introspective work. Now stepping fully into the role of lead vocalist, his distinct voice anchors the album’s fusion of tradition and innovation. John embraces the raw intensity of rock while maintaining the poetic sincerity that has become his signature.

“This album is about breaking the rules — or better yet, writing my own,” John shares. “I wanted to explore what it means to ‘learn to rock’ in my own language, my own rhythm. It’s about the freedom to transform.”

“This isn’t just me trying rock,” John continue explains. “This is me redefining what it can mean. It's about the freedom to learn, to mess up, to push past fear — and to do it with people who believe in the same fire.”

Joining him is JR, John Will’s newest trainee and vocal protégé. A newcomer with a name as simple as it is enigmatic, JR debuts as a featured vocalist throughout the album. Still in training, JR, a fresh face with a developing voice that’s already turning heads. JR’s vocal texture — described as “soft charcoal wrapped in silk — a gentle grain with emotional grip.”  JR voice brings an intimate counterbalance to John’s own tone. JR delivery is subtle yet soulful, resonating with emotional depth and a quiet edge that fits the genre’s modern interpretation, adding subtle emotion and a rising sense of potential to every track he touches.

But JR’s talents stretch beyond music. In an unexpected turn, John discovered JR’s gift for visual art and design — from spontaneous sketches to conceptual artwork — prompting a creative expansion in their collaboration. “JR sees music visually,” John says. “His drawings don’t just illustrate — they express the same emotion I try to put into every lyric. It’s rare, and it’s real.”

John Will Learns to Rock also boasts high-energy features from Raygun, Jack Wind, and Jun Nobuo, each bringing their own sonic "DNA" to the album. The result is a textured, unpredictable soundscape that spans power ballads, rap influences, experimental riffs, and striking electric solo lines.

For the past three years, John Will and his collaborators have quietly built a underground following through a series of fully booked private shows. Intimate, word-of-mouth-only performances across Kuala Lumpur and beyond have made each gig a near-mythical experience for those lucky enough to attend. The raw energy of these shows, often held in hidden clubs or converted building, has deeply influenced the sound and spirit of this album.

John Will Learns to Rock is more than a sonic shift — it’s a creative manifesto. It’s proof that music doesn’t have to be polished to be powerful, that mentorship can spark art in multiple forms, and that sometimes, learning to rock is really about learning to be free.

Now streaming on all major platforms.

For more about John Will, JR, and their music, visit https://links.monnarrow.com/discography

John Will Learns to Rock 

— A Genre-Defying Fourth Album Blending Edge, Emotion, and Emerging Talent