Sam Johnson dives into his bittersweet past on grand new folk track "Perfect Circle"

On "Perfect Circle" Johnson shoots a traditional singer/songwriter scramble through with cinematic flourishes and oft-ignored sentiments. Clacking percussion and hefty, sweeping keys loom in the background, elevating a song that begins modestly into spine-tingling heights.

"This song is all about my childhood and youth growing up as an only child in the countryside," explains Johnson. "I was always desperate to have brothers or would quite frequently take myself off on solo adventures around the fields and woods to keep myself occupied. During these outings I would often imagine someone else there to keep me company, and I suppose this is where I drew most inspiration for the song. The lyrics 'you're just like me' aren't really referring to someone else in a tangible sense at all, but more a figment of my imagination dreamt up to up to combat the usual restlessness and boredom I'd experience away from my friends in school."

Johnson is set to play a striing of UK shows over the coming months, including one on 26 January at the Newcastle Think Tank Underground. Find out the full details.