When John Idogun, better known as Johneh, came up on my Instagram feed, it was an instant algorithm freeze. The young guitarist’s guitar sessions, comprising mostly covers, swelled with originality, maestro and an unmistakable groove that distinguishes him as a talented maverick to watch out for.

A recent post showed the musician phrasing a gospel record, neatly finger-picking the chords to deliver the rich, rock-leaning riffs that first stopped my hours of random scrolling. While the song’s vocals being performed in the background was quite inaudible, the focus of the groove rested entirely on Johneh’s guitar playing.

In the clip, Johneh performs Jaye Thomas’ “We Love Your Name” with a strong sense of pacing, building the cover around a looping melody that anchors most of the performance. Rather than rushing through the song’s devotional pulse, he allows the progression to settle into a steady groove, letting each chord soar fully into the song and weaving the performance within its intimate atmosphere. It feels direct and emotionally present, with the guitar becoming the main vessel for the song’s worshipful charge.

Interestingly, the performance feels especially resonant with the way Johneh unlocks the guitar groove within the record. Apart from following the melody, he draws out its rhythmic body to texture the performance with a distinct groove. His finger-picking gives the song a light, airy texture, while the repeated melodic pattern creates a trancey flow that keeps the listener locked in. At some point, the electric guitar becomes both rhythm and lead melodic instrument, carrying the pulse of the song while still colouring it with deep emotion.

From there, the performance grows more intense around the chorus, where Johneh appears to strike his chords with a muted feel, giving the cover a rock-leaning groove. It heightens the emotiveness of the piece, pushing the worship atmosphere into a more charged space. His harder sweep across the strings gives the chorus lift, allowing the cover to swell and still remain intimate.

At another point, he introduces a rolling chord movement that further textures the performance harmoniously. This detail adds motion to the arrangement, breaking the loop just enough to keep the piece alive. It reveals Johneh’s understanding of acoustic dynamics, a slew of choices that make the cover feel intentional, and cathartic.

Beyond the technique, Johneh’s strongest gift in the clip is how naturally he makes the guitar feel ‘alive’ inside a short-form performance. There is intention in the way he sustains the loop and lets the song’s emotional charge rise through small shifts in pressure. His playing carries the serenity of worship and the grit of rock, giving “We Love Your Name” a fresh acoustic body. It is intimate, warm, airy and very resonant, with every phrase pointing back to Johneh’s thrilling musicianship.

John Osagie Idogun, professionally known as Johneh, is a Nigerian guitarist, session guitarist, live performer, music producer, songwriter, poet, rapper and singer. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree in Information Technology Management from the University of Wolverhampton.

His artistry first took shape through poetry. His poem, “Have You Seen My Childhood,” won the Reclaim Collective Prize and later evolved into the song “Dear Younger Self,” which he has performed on several stages. After years of poetry slam performances, he began adding rhythm to his work, eventually picking up the guitar in his mid-twenties after struggling to find an instrumentalist to accompany his poems and songs.

Over the years, Johneh has built a growing profile across live music, poetry and performance, appearing on stages across Africa and Europe. He has played alongside acts such as Johnny Drille, Folabi Nuel, Jacy Mai, Good Wine, Samuel Bella, Esther Durin, Limoblaze, Eriife, Obanijesu and Vince, with performances across Coventry, Leamington Spa and other parts of the Midlands.