Liam St. John: Wearing His Heart on His Sleeve
- Jenna Mitchell
- Jan 10
- 6 min read
A Hometown Stop with Liam St. John
Even as Liam St. John steps onto stages far from home, Liam grew up in the same PNW that Northwest Noise Magazine was born in. His sold-out hometown stop at The District felt like a return to his roots, charged with the kind of emotion that only comes from playing in the place that raised you.
Before the music took over at The District, we talked with St. John about beginnings: where music first found him, and why it never let go.
Moving Through the Blues
“I always say that the blues specifically finds those who need it,” a line that has lingered around in my head since we spoke.
Growing up, St. John noted that he spent much of his childhood in his own head, learning the world through solitude. In that quiet, voices like Ray Charles and Etta James became voices of comfort and guidance, teaching him how sound could hold sorrow, warmth, and truth all at once. The blues gave him a language, a way to feel deeply and to channel those feelings into something more.
That pull toward music only deepened as he began attending live shows and experiencing the euphoria that comes with hundreds or thousands of people in one room. He even remembers when there were not more than 50 people at shows in small coffee shops in North Spokane.
Specifically, he remembers feeling as if he were levitating when performing. Even with strangers in the room, not knowing who would take to his sound, he noted feeling fully present, fully himself, and certain he had found what he was meant to do.
“For the first time, I was like, this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. And I'm going to dedicate my whole entire life to chasing this, because this is a feeling that everybody should feel, and I'm gonna go for it.”
It was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the blues and to the truth it allows him to tell.
The Debut Album: Man of The North
Country, folk, blues - those tend to be the genres that remind me most of the Northwest, both in nature and in sound. Rough around the edges, rich in sound. Liam’s debut album Man of the North hones in on the feeling of winter mountains, big skies, endless horizons, and so much of why so many call the Northwest & West Coast their homes.
From the titular track that's rough around the edges, to songs like “Landslide Over The Highway” that make you want to drive all night with the windows down, the album is a cohesive work that paints a picture of Liam’s journey, and gives way for others to recognize their own journey through the music.
Listening to Liam’s debut album over the past few months has been grounding more and more as the seasons change from warm summer nights, to cold & crisp PNW air - the music captures more than melody and lyrics, it captures the feelings.
A Leap of Faith That Pays Off
Long before viral songs and streaming numbers, St. John operated almost exclusively on faith. He needed faith in himself, in the music, and the belief that the reward would outweigh the risk. He knew he had to dive in headfirst if this was going to become his career - doubt could be present, but it couldn’t be a defining factor.
“It was a long time of self-belief without the evidence that things would work out,” he admits. “Writing songs, it takes a while to find your voice and it takes a while to get the courage to speak your truth.”
That truth finally broke through during a difficult period in Los Angeles, when he was living in a tiny North Hollywood bedroom with a hole in his air mattress. In that moment, with nothing to lose, he wrote “Dipped in Bleach.” - a song that changed everything.
“I put it on TikTok and then the next day, got a million views immediately and just like that, it started a really cool journey of finding my voice lyrically.”
Suddenly, that same voice and truth he’d seen in others and had been slowly uncovering within himself also seemed to resonate with thousands, who eagerly awaited the release of the track with every passing teaser on TikTok.
“It introduced me to people. Most importantly, people who are listening and coming to shows. It really changed everything for me.”
Diving Headfirst Into a Dream
Before talking with Liam, I found a quote from his Spotify bio that really resonated with me, and I’m sure many others can attest to a similar notion -
“It’s never been about “if,” but “when.” Put in the work, stay patient, stay humble, and results will come.”
It’s a sentiment that maybe you’ve heard before, but many in the creative industry like Liam, stay true to it, to show that it works and that the results have paid off. That the dream can become reality, no matter how small of beginnings.
Six months after the success of "Dipped in Bleach" and seeing the ripple effect that had, he decided to go head first with his music.
“I just decided to quit my job. And I was like, all right, I can't have a plan B. I got to believe in this fully.”
It was a gamble, but one that reflected the intention behind his entire career of trusting his work, his voice, his calling. It not only shows in his work ethic and throughout his live performances, but the music speaks for itself - genuine stories and genuine melodies.
Nurturing the Dream
Even now, with sold-out shows and songs that reach across oceans, St. John’s fuel for the music hasn’t changed. He says in the beginning, it was vital to celebrate the little victories to keep him grounded and motivated.
“I’ve always celebrated the little things,” he says. “Getting my first SoFar Sounds show? I celebrated it.”
Those moments may have seemed small, but they built the foundation for something sustainable.
As Liam and his music grew deeper, the reason for being did as well. His songs weren’t written with an audience in mind; they were written to release a heaviness inside him, but knowing that they’re helping and impacting others has become a powerful push to continue forward as well.
“I get messages every day about how these songs have impacted lives… It makes it way bigger than yourself.”
When asked what he hopes people take away from his music, both live and lyrically, Liam St. John points first to honesty.
“I think the most important thing that I found for me was finally speaking my truth, and the liberation that I felt from that…I finally felt like myself,” he explains.
The unexpected sense of liberation was the moment his life truly began. When he stopped trying to be what he thought others wanted and started existing fully as who he authentically was.
That kind of vulnerability has become central to his songwriting. Wearing his heart on his sleeve has changed not only how he writes, but how he moves through the world. St. John emphasizes that honesty isn’t optional in his creative process. It's the foundation that builds trust with the audience and with himself. When he sits down to write, he has to be real, even when it’s uncomfortable.
That openness with himself, he says, has done more for him than anything else in his career.
Ultimately, that’s what he hopes to give listeners, as well. Whether through a recorded track or a live set, St. John wants people to feel safe enough to be themselves, even if it’s just for the 90 minutes on stage, dancing and singing their heart out in a room full of strangers and friends.
Because if his music can spark something, like encouraging someone to pursue their truth or take a step toward authenticity, then he feels he’s done what he set out to do.
Roots in the Northwest
With our shared hometown of Spokane, I had to ask about his favorite Pacific Northwest venues. We talked about The Gorge (somewhere Liam hopes to play someday), but he also reminisced about Spokane specifically, reflecting on his time at Lucky You Lounge (now The Chameleon).
Many artists pass through Spokane with a small chance they’ve even heard of the city, let alone played a show in it. Connecting with someone who not only grew up here but also grew within the scene made this hometown stop feel all the more meaningful.
Rapid Fire
First concert:
Hawk Nelson (after years of Spokane outdoor symphonies his mom took him to) I remember, like, my mom would take me to, like, these outdoor symphonies and Spokane and stuff, but, I think my first, like. Real concert was the park Nelson
Theme song of his life:
Lonesome Whistle by Hank Williams - though he notes his favorite version is the one by Little Feat.
Dream duet partner:
Lauryn Hill
Top Pre-Show Songs:
China White by Little Feat
A Kendrick Lamar song
Anything John Denver
Favorite PNW venue:
As a fan: The Gorge. As a performer: The Chameleon in Spokane, WA (formerly The Lucky You Lounge).