New Portrait Magazine Interview
This is one of the best interviews I’ve read in a long time 🙂
Alexz Johnson Interview
Interview by Sean C.
Interview date: January 2012The last time we interviewed you, you were getting ready to release your Voodoo:Reloaded, why don’t you briefly tell us what you’ve been up to since then?
Oh my goodness what a year, basically I started writing. I just spent the year writing, not knowing that I was going to be releasing anything. I just wanted to write because I had so much to say. I ended up writing a bunch of songs in LA and Nashville, and I decided to, not exactly search for a home for them, I kind of decided because I was so proud of the stuff that I had done, why not just get it out there to the fans directly, and start building from there. Even with Voodoo:Reloaded, there were so many people involved and so many decisions being made, and like I said in the last interview I was kind of a bit overwhelmed at that time so it was a real freeing year of just writing and being super authentic. And now I’m going to be putting it out on the 24th and it feels really good, it feels right.
Are those songs you wrote the ones that you released on YouTube, or were those older demos?
Actually Hunger Pains is older, I think the demo of Hunger Pains is going to be on The Basement Recordings 2. That song is really special to me. It’s so hard as a writer because you tend to not want to get too attached to old material. Like people are bringing up Zeppelin, and Medusa, and to me I literally wrote those songs like 6 years ago. So as an artist, it’s like, yeah it’s a good song and it’s not finished but maybe I’ll bring it back to life someday. But when you go into a studio and you’re constantly growing and changing as an artist, it’s really hard to bring up past songs.Lighthouse was a song that I wrote with Jimmy Robbins, that was a special song, but it’s not going to be on the EP and it never was intended to be on the EP because it’s not cohesive and it doesn’t really fit in with the sound that I’m going for with the EP but that’s not to say that it’s not going to be on the next record.
What kind of sound does your Skipping Stone EP have?
I would say just very stripped down, and vocally driven, and you know, it was a time in my life where all of these songs are love songs and it’s around being in love, experiencing it and growing from it. I guess I feel that it was a real coming of age year for me when it comes to writing. It’s so funny listening to love songs on the radio, and I always was connected to those songs, but there’s something about this year that kind of shifted that a bit and I want it to come from a very real place and be very vulnerable in what I was feeling. So this kind of represents that, I guess just being in touch with just growing into a woman and being in touch with those feelings that girls have as you get older and I wanted to keep it very simple and old school. I’ve spent a lot of time listening to Patsy Cline, Dusty Springfield, and just very old school classic vocalists to keep it like that. So hopefully that’s what I captured.
You’ve played a lot of new songs live, are these songs you’re hoping to have in your next album or do you just play them to get your music out there?
Well that’s my intention of my EP, just to get music out there that I’m writing and represent what I’m doing now as an artist. I do want to do a record after this and I have a couple songs that are really special to me that I’ll definitely bring up to the surface.You sort of have this new “acousticy”, peaceful, chill atmosphere feel with your songs and album. Do you usually choose how your going to bring that out or does it just come without you knowing it and you just go with it?
I feel like you can kind of choose at the beginning of the session. Sometimes the songs write themselves, too. I guess it’s just kind of, who you’re writing with, what you’re influenced by in that time of your life. I’m going to be in the studio tomorrow working with a producer named Jerry Wonda and his stuff is very different than what I’ve worked with this past year, and as an artist when you have a feel and a sound for what you like it’s so much fun working with other people because they bring different things out in you. Greg Well was very different and he brought something different out of me than working with Jimmy Robbins. Working with Brendan brings out a different sound with Voodoo. You can only hope as an artist that the people can hear the “you” throughout all of the changes. Because in the industry there’s so many talented writers, I mean I could sit in my room and write songs for the rest of my life, but I feel like that would be so boring, and that’s why it’s so much fun changing it up.What was it like filming your Skipping Stone music video?
What a cool experience, I had just moved to New York City and I have some really talented friends here. And I’ve done enough music videos where I’ve seen so much money being put and thrown into productions, where, if you just sit down and chart it out…that video was like $300 where I was like let’s do this, I have an idea, we should make this very intimate, and use the apartment. It’s a heartbreaking song, and it should be almost like I’m talking to my sister. I just felt like, why not use what we have? It was really fun, and I was also involved in editing, I love editing, but it’s really strange editing stuff that involves me. That was just weird, but it was really cool. And the reactions have been really cool, too. I definitely wanted it to be a little uncomfortable. I think with people, there is so often a comfort zone with beauty and being hurt. I wanted it to be very real and raw and I hope that’s what we captured.
Where was it filmed?
In Brooklyn.Was it tough doing it low-budget? Was it different?
No, working with Orange Records, I was pretty hands-on with everything. I’m just learning everyday as I go what it means to be an independent artist. Even with my other videos I was very involved in the treatments, I love being involved in the imagery, and the wardrobe, and I usually do my hair and my makeup. I’m very involved in all of that because I have a very strong feeling of what I want to put off as an artist. It was a really cool experience.Tell us a little bit about your new Kickstarter campaign.
That’s really exciting. Basically I’m planning on doing a Kickstarter Campaign to go on tour in the states. I got my Visa, and it was really difficult to get, it took me about three months to get and I had to be really quiet about it because I’m Canadian and I really want to be able to branch out, and I’ve been on a Canadian show, and I’ve played so much in Toronto, so I just wanted a chance to come and play in some of the states. And I ended up getting my Visa just based on songwriting and getting reference letters from people I have worked with and using my connections so now I can be here for a long time and I’m really excited. So now I just figure, why not just get myself on the road, launch a Kickstarter campaign, get the fans to get involved, get some merchandise, and start playing with my band.What exactly is Kickstarter because I’ve never heard of it?
It’s this kind of platform where artists or inventors or designers can do a video and explain what their goal is, they can have a goal of a certain amount of money in order to do something in their life. So my specific goal is to go on tour and you talk about your history, and for me I’ve been signed twice, I’ve always wanted to tour and it’s been so close and then it’s back in the studio again. So basically you can come up with a pledge sheet of what you want to give if they donate. Like t-shirts, a performance at your house, a dinner in New York, we can hang out, wardrobe from Instant Star that I’ve worn, signed scripts, and there’s more and more the more that people donate. I’m trying to keep it good, though, I’m trying to keep it under $100 because I know it starts to get a bit crazy. Although I will go skydiving with you for $20,000.How would some of these offers work, such as a dinner, a performance, or just hanging out if they don’t live in New York?
Well the offers are also included in any tour stop I go to so if I go and perform somewhere I can do it there as well. But for people that can’t make it to the shows, I’ve included a behind-the-scenes feature, and I’ll make sure that my show is filmed live and I can definitely send off footage of that and sign it and all that stuff. Because it’s hard when it comes to places like Brazil and stuff like that. But to be honest this is just a stepping stone for me, I would love to get to a place where it’s like I tour enough and I can get some type of backing and I can be able to go and tour France and Brazil, and I would love to connect to my fans there. And I feel like this is a good stepping stone to get there. I want to be really loyal to my fans because I think that they’ve been so awesome. I really want to get this EP out for them and just get on the road.Will those packages be tied in with your next album or will you do separate packages for that?
It’s hard to say because I haven’t even thought about my next album yet, I’m not even in that headspace yet, it’s hard to say what I’ll do at that time, you know? And also, there’s no date on the launch of the Kickstarter campaign, but everything’s ready to go.Can you tell us a little bit about The Basement Recordings 2?
Yeah, that’s so much fun. Brendan and I just have so many songs that we’ve written, even just a while ago. Like old demos, and I think it’s just a cool way to just get our stuff out there. And the feedback from The Basement Recordings 1 was so great that we just thought we would put another one out this year. There’s some songs on there that people don’t even know about, so it’s really exciting. I hope the reactions are good.You have so many demos that have been leaked, and I’m sure you have a bunch that haven’t, at this rate, can we expect a Basement Recordings 3?
Possibly, I mean it just depends on maybe even new material. You never know, maybe we’ll just start putting them out every year. Who knows. The possibilities are endless.What was the song Alice in Wonderland intended for?
That was written with Toby Gad in New York, and to me it just sounds very theatre and I’d love to be able to write for a musical some day. But that song was just being experimental with my voice, and Toby is really good with that, he really pushes boundaries as a vocalist, and he really takes a singer who can sing and really pushes you to sing. And that’s what was really fun about that song.Looking back from when you were dropped from Epic and were put through such a scarring time in your life, and now having your Voodoo album, Voodoo Reloaded, and now Skipping Stone is out, do you feel like being dropped from Epic was in the long run for the best? Because you seemed to have pulled through it stronger than ever and with a new attitude.
Yeah, it’s interesting, I just felt that way maybe only this last three months of my life. Even though I only kept getting through it and writing and creating and being like, “I wanna do this, I wanna do this,” but I loved the Weight album so much, and if only that album got a proper release, then maybe it wouldn’t be such a struggle all the time to get my stuff out there, and now I feel so in control in my career and I feel like I’ve learned so much, I just wouldn’t hand things over again. Even if there were to be a situation where a label got involved or something with what I’m doing, I feel like I’m not a little girl anymore. I just know what I want as an artist and I also know what to believe because there’s a lot of hype and people say a lot of things. So I do think I’m stronger, and I’ve also realized how much I love doing this. Seriously, from having nothing, like putting my stuff in storage, and moving to New York, and going to LA on points, getting sessions with songwriters, always thinking about my next album and doing music videos with the change in my back pocket. I start feeling like when I get in the room, I deserve to be in the room. And I didn’t feel that way when I was younger. I was really like, “wow, Instant Star? I’m fooling everybody, why do they think I can do this?” But now it’s like, “No, dammit! I can do this!”Would we even have Voodoo or Skipping Stone if you hadn’t been dropped?
I don’t even know, I don’t think so. I think I would have continued doing stuff with Epic and be with other writers and Toby. I don’t know, it’s hard to say. Maybe I would have gone back to the studio with Brendan, I’m sure he would have been involved in all of the writing. But…I have no idea.When writing a song, what is a typical writing strategy for you? What is your most common way to write a song?
It’s very melodically based, and I pull lyrics from what I’m experiencing in my life or what I notice in the people around me. I mean it changes all the time. With me and an acoustic, it’s very different. I’m not an incredible guitar player by any means, but when I do write with my guitar I do find the songs are more simple and kind of – Thief and Mary are kind of more singer/songwriter, but when I write to beats they’re more different like Running With The Devil, it just becomes more artistically different. It changes all the time and I love so many different styles of music. As a vocalist I love singing great songs. So it changes all the time with who I’m working with.Do you usually come up with the lyrics first and then the melody, or is it the other way around?
It’s kind of just as I go but sometimes I will have an idea about lyrics when coming to a session a lot of the time. Especially when I’m working with other artists I like to be super prepared. But for me it’s kind of like go with the flow, I have ideas of things, I am also really influenced by older stuff like Temptations, Stand By Me, and Tina Turner. But I usually think of those classic songs and I always try to stay around that and the classic sound.
You recently relocated in New York, did you move there for personal reasons or is it a musical move to get your music out there?
It’s kind of both, I think everybody should experience living in New York one time in their life. But it’s both, I kind of wanted to get my foot in the door on the music end, it’s where a lot the past stuff that I’ve done is connected. I’ve done writing sessions here, and I just wanted to experience it, and who knows where it takes me. Things change all the time, whether I end up in LA or Nashville I don’t know. Life kind of seems to do it’s thing and I’m just hanging on.Are you enjoying it there?
Oh yeah I love it here, there’s so much culture, and I love the walking, and the pace kind of keeps you going which is nice. And being from Vancouver, B.C., it’s so laid back and the days go by and you think oh my gosh I’ve done yoga every day this year and nothing else. But I feel at New York everything’s at your fingertips. There’s so many brilliant people and great schools.
You stated on Twitter that you were going to be in LA in a few weeks, is this correct? Is there a specific reason?
Just trying to get in on some sessions and auditions. I miss LA.Were you planning on doing any shows out there?
Yeah, I’m actually also thinking about doing some shows in New York, I’m going to start looking into that. I’d love to start playing these new EP songs.#AskAlexz is one of the coolest things, I think, an artist can do for their fans. What inspired you to do that?
It’s so funny when I say it and I tweet it I’m like “Ask Alexz,” and I feel like I’m such a nerd. I get questions all the time on Twitter and it’s really hard to answer them on a regular basis because I get so busy and it’s hard to get back to everyone and I want to make sure that I get everybody’s questions. So when I have time once in a while I’ll just do an #AskAlexz and it’s pretty cool and the questions are great and it’s an opportunity for me to get to know my fans better.Have you ever thought of doing an instrumental cd of your greatest songs for your fans to sing to?
Oh that’s a smart idea! I haven’t thought of that but that’s a great idea. I love seeing covers and I loved when people posted covers of Skipping Stone. If I do stuff like that maybe I’ll see more videos.Do you have your own music on your iPod that you occasionally listen to?
I have the Skipping Stone Masters that I listen to make sure everything is good to go, and I have Voodoo.Do you ever just sit down and listen to your own music?
Not in a long time. But I have listened to the Skipping Stone EP quite a bit and you get sick of it because you’re listening to it from different ears and critiquing it in your head. I’m so proud of this EP and I had so many talented people that helped me make it happen just by asking, it was really a cool experience.What about your family? Are any of them big Alexz Johnson fans?
Yeah, that’s so funny. We’re such a musical family; at any family gathering they’re always rotating someone’s CD and playing our songs. It’s a very musical household. People like dancing, my dad is big on getting up and dancing. It’s really fun to go home and see my family because I can show them everything that they’re doing.What are some artists that you’re listening to right now?
The Delayed Trees, Boy & Bear, Matt Nathanson, Jack’s Mannican, Lori McKenna, Lykke Li, and I love running to the new Coldplay.So you recently stated that you’re going to be filming in Miami, what can you tell us about that?
It’s interesting. I think it’s one of those things where it has potential to be awesome or just okay. As an actor, so much trust goes into the director and the people that you’re working with. For me it helps me push my Visa quicker than it would have. It’s gonna be great, I think they’re gonna walk in the steps of the Blair Witch Project, and Paranormal Activity when it comes to being very real. Which I think is gonna be kind of scary. And I’ll be blogging about my experience and all that. I’m just excited to see Miami because I’ve never been to Miami.What kind of genre is it?
It’s like a Thriller/Horror movie, and I’m the survivor.You seem to have a couple of different hairstyles and colors that you like to change. Do you match these with a certain project, like your red hair seems to go perfectly with the Skipping Stone EP, or is it just when you feel like doing something different?
I kind of change it as I go. The red hair was so hard to maintain, because I’m such a natural blonde, my roots would start coming in and there’d be bright blonde roots, and it was just too much. Even though I love being a redhead, I really needed to go back to blonde. And with this new movie, I have to go back to blonde. And I’m not connected to my hair, I don’t think my hair defines me, I never felt that way, so it doesn’t really matter to me at the end of the day, and being blonde is the easiest.
What goes through your head when you find out that some of your songs have gotten leaked?
It really depends on what song. I don’t like it when songs get out there that haven’t been finished. It really upsets me because they’re not done, they’re demos and it was never intended on going out yet. And if I wanted to put it out on another album it affects me putting it out because I feel like it’s already been heard. I’ve heard some fans get upset that I don’t put out enough material, and I just think that Basement Recordings is a majority of the demos, and I have no fear with putting out demos if they’re finished. It’s just the stuff that’s not done, and also songs I’ve writer with other writers I would love for other artists to cover them someday. As a writer that’d be amazing to have my songs picked up by other artists. Like Wings of a Dove or Steal My Love, these are songs that, to me, don’t really represent where I am right now as a writer in the musician, and I feel like when they’re out there it’s great because it says Alexz Johnson on them but I feel like someone could kill that song. Someone who’s out there in the industry like Kelly Clarkson or someone could really make them great. So it’s kind of a bummer in that way but I don’t know how they get out, sometimes I’m just shocked.A few of your songs got leaked a while ago, such as Read My Mind, Saints Rush In, and Higher Ground. Were you planning on using those for anything or were they just demos that were sitting there?
I would of intentionally used them. I did those with Lester Mendez who is super talented, I love Read My Mind, but now it’s out there, it’s already doing its thing. As an artist it’s hard to go back and redo it, it’s already out there, why not just do something new?
What’s the weirdest thing a fan has done to you?
I think parodies are weird and a little bit crazy. When people are mean about it, it gets to a place that’s kind of scary as an artist because you’re exposing and opening yourself up so much to people. It’s amazing when people love what you’re doing and they can connect to it, it’s the best feeling in the world. But also what comes with that are people who don’t like what you’re doing. That stuff can be kind of scary sometimes. But no one’s done anything weird, I think I have pretty awesome fans, I love my fans, I haven’t experienced anything yet and I hope I don’t. Once in a while I’ll get like something on my Facebook, like something in depth and nine paragraphs long, it’s like oh my gosh, it’s flattering, and I’m like thank you so much! But I get it, I was sweating running to meet Diane Keaton and go to her book signing because I love her so much.What’s the sweetest thing a fan has done for you?
Oh my gosh, right now fans wanting to connect and ask me questions and being curious about what I’m working on, and I just find it so sweet when fans can really connect to my songs and my music and try to help me get it out there. When I see that kind of community around my music that’s like the best thing in the world, and it feels like they’re part of my family.What usually inspires a melody in your head?
It just depends on what I’m listening to. My mind will go to all these different crazy places. I don’t edit myself, and I’ll try something without any judgment, and I’ll be like that just happened, and if it’s bad I’ll be like I don’t know what that was. I just kind of disconnect myself a little bit from the writing experience and just allow whatever is going to happen, happen. I have to be a little fearless about it. Because I’ve written some really bad things too, just imagine a song called Stingray, and we’ll leave it at that.What do you think is the best song that you’ve written?
Wow that’s hard to answer, because I don’t know, I’m so close to it. But some of my favorite songs are Weight, Shout, Weight of the War, and Walking. I think those songs stand out to me right now. I think Walking is pretty special. I just because like…I don’t know, I just got shivers, it’s weird…I don’t know what it is with Walking, I don’t know if it’s a great song, but structurally I feel like Walking is coming from a genuine place.Twitter:
@ALEXZJfan: “How does it make you feel being such a great role model and inspiration to others?”
I feel like I have the shoulders for that. Being the older sister of four siblings, I’m always trying to be a good example, especially for my siblings and my fans. I’m very into strong character, I guess I just like to believe that I’m grounded and I’m striving for that. I think it’s amazing, if fans see that than I definitely don’t want to disregard that. I will try my best to make them proud.@Dollytion: Do you like Mexican food?
I love Mexican food, it’s like one of my favorite foods. Mexican, Greek, and Japanese, and Italian. I pretty much covered all of them didn’t I?What is your favorite?
I love crunchy tacos, avocado, Mexican salad and Ceviche.@steverobert98 What plans do you have for his favorite songs Hunger Pains, River of Pain, and Back of the Room.
Oh my gosh Back of the Room, I love that song. I want to use those songs, I want to use them on my next album. So I’m going to do everything that I can to do that.@QforAlexz What is Superstition about?
Loving yourself more, the daily struggle everyday of loving yourself. I think it’s the hardest thing for humans to do and really learn, and we get really good at finding ways to cover it up. And we get really good at being somebody else, but I think it’s the hardest thing to do is to really truly look in the mirror and be not so hard on yourself and try to love yourself so that you can love others.Is your Skipping Stone EP telling a story?
It’s definitely cohesive from song to song. The songs are telling stories, I’m definitely trying to capture an essence, and a sound, with the EP. And it can be taken any way, it’s open for interpretation. But I think it’s definitely capturing a story.@amyconsiaKHK If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Oh my goodness, well I want to play in Madison Square Garden some day, because that would be amazing. And I would love to play at the Ryman in Nashville because that would be incredible. I would love to play at the Hollywood Bowl, because I went there recently when I was last in LA, and I couldn’t believe what a beautiful venue it was. But I’d also love to play in Paris, anywhere would be amazing.@noellefro What has been your most favorite music video to film so far?
Trip Around the World and Skipping Stone.
@insideofus You seem to be close to your mom, what’s the best advice she’s ever given you?
Muy mom is such a supporter. I’m a gypsy, unique, I remember having conversations with my mom being like, I’m a straight A student, should I be doing this? I love music but I’m so scared, what if it doesn’t work out? And she’s always like, what is sure in life? You love what you love, do what you love, I believe in you. My mom has given me so much strength and belief. I just loved how my mom focused on my positive attributes, and made me feel like I could do whatever I wanted to do no matter what.@robbyfischer Do you enjoy hockey? If so, what is your favorite team?
Oh my gosh well the canucks, hello??? Seriously, I was like a huge Bertuzzi fan for a couple years there. Big crush on Bertuzzi. I love hockey, I love watching hockey. I think it’s just such a high energy sport to watch.@thisownsme Have you ever thought of having an Alexz Johnson fan club where fans can subscribe for, let’s say, $20 and get special features like exclusive video chats and photos?
That’s a great idea. I’m trying to find ways to get to the fans, that’s what I’m going to be working on the next couple of months. Even with just redoing my website and doing more changes and adding stuff. I think it’ll be cool for them to be a part of something.What were your inspirations for this EP?
Life, love, fear, fear of getting my heart broken, my heart breaking, everything all in one. It’s a reflection of just life and your heart and love, and that’s what I wanted to capture.@amberjosiexo Do you snore?
No. I’m actually a really quiet sleeper. If I ever stayed at a friend’s place, or if my siblings stay over, I can’t even have a clock ticking. I need dead silence when I go to sleep. Wouldn’t it be funny if I was like that and I snored really loudly and no one ever told me?@MusicFan7974 Do you plan on doing any future music collaborations with any musicians?
I would love to! Yes, totally! I would love to do collaborations, I’m so open to other artists and their talents, I would love that!
What is next for Alexz Johnson?
I can’t say too much right now, this is kind of an exciting time. Doors have been opening for me, these last couple weeks in New York and I’m just trying to go with the flow and make the best decisions and not rush into anything. But there’s definitely going to be more music being made this year. I’m definitely going to be doing an album and I’m definitely going to be playing live shows. I’m really excited that things are finally gearing in that direction for me.For more information on Alexz Johnson you can go to:
Official Website: www.alexzjohnson.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexzjohnson
Myspace: www.myspace.com/alexzjohnson
Blog: www.alexzhasablog.com
