James Gunn has publicly highlighted singer-songwriter Nouela Johnston, revealing that she was also the musician behind People Eating People, a little-known band whose sole 2009 album had long been a favourite of his and his wife, Jenn Holland. After years of listening to both acts without realising they were connected, Gunn discovered Johnston’s identity and lamented that her work had reached so few people.

For Gunn’s birthday, Holland tracked down Johnston in Seattle and arranged for her and percussionist Joe Mengis to perform privately in the Hudson Valley. Johnston had not played those songs for more than a decade while working in a corporate job, but delivered an emotionally powerful set, including “For Now”, which moved Gunn, Holland and the audience to tears and prompted several standing ovations.