Read the artist name “Lontalius” and your first image probably isn’t a scrawny 18-year-old kid in a sweater and skinny jeans. It’s probably not what you first see when you hear his rich, compelling baritone either. But alas, the world is full of surprises — and New Zealand native Eddie Johnston, aka Lontalius, is a particularly pleasant one.
Johnston first garnered Internet attention when he began releasing covers of popular pop songs on his YouTube channel sometime in his early teens. The transition from making popular covers to originals can be difficult one — after all, people have a tendency to get comfortable with the expectation of hearing something they already know. However, with gems like “All I Wanna Say,” it is clear that Johnston is making the transition smoothly.
Johnston’s arrangements are grounded in a compelling simplicity. “All I Wanna Say” is a loop of the lyrics, “All I have to offer is my love / It’s not enough.” However, at the risk of sounding hokey here, it’s more than enough. The track is a concoction of clear beats, familiar melodies and a hidden meaning that can be as simple or as complicated as the listener wants it to be.