Alexz Featured on Unsigned Corner
Unsigned Corner is an interesting site where unsigned artists get to submit things about themselves to be featured. You’ll see what I mean in the transcription below:
Name: Alexz Johnson
Sounds Like: The quirky-ness of Kate Bush meets the soul of Adele meets the classic sound of Patsy Cline meets… (My Opinion: Maybe some Lana Del Ray thrown in there as well)
History: I’m a singer-songwriter from Vancouver, BC. I got my start singing and acting on a Disney show called “So Weird”. In my early teens I started focusing a lot on songwriting, eventually landing the role of Jude Harrison on Instant Star, which really helped shape up my songwriting. I continued to write with my brother Brendan, with the material landing us two major deals with both Capitol in 2005, and then Epic Sony in 2008. My Epic album Weight which was produced by Greg Wells, never got an official release due to the label’s internal changes. I’ve since focused on music, releasing my material independently and recently launching a Kickstarter campaign in hopes to tour my new Skipping Stone EP! I reached my goal of 30k in a day, and ended up raising 67k to tour the US this summer.
Something Special: I’m from the middle of a family of 10 kids! I love yoga… not just yoga, but hot yoga. I make (awesome) omelettes. Black licorice is my favorite candy…. I talk through every movie I watch… it can get really annoying, I’ve heard…
Where To Find: www.alexzjohnson.com twitter.com/alexzjohnson
Future Plans: I’m routing the tour now with my booking team. Starting in the East Coast and including Canada as well!
My Thoughts: There are a lot of lessons to be learned from an artist like Alexz Johnson. First and foremost, it is important to note that in the music industry today, nothing is guaranteed. Even if you’re signed, even if you create a full-length record, it may never see the light of day. Johnson isn’t alone in this fact; there are tons of songs and albums locked away somewhere that the world will probably never get to hear. That’s not to say that all labels are evil, or to discourage musicians from seeking representation or a record contract. But a lot changes when it comes to signing, including things like creative control, so it’s important to enjoy the journey rather than just focus on the end goal. What is really impressive about Alexz Johnson, however, is that she did not give up, and as an independent artist is finding a way to make it work. With fans that would follow her to the ends of the earth, her Kickstarter campaign raised an incredible amount of money to allow her to go on tour. If you make the effort, your fans will do the same. Keep in mind that much of what she was auctioning off was simply herself; her music, her signature, her tweet, her tour, a dinner with her. These things don’t cost an artist or a band anything but time, and devoted fans will appreciate them even more than a t-shirt or sticker. The message here is that if you put in the time and the effort to not only be a great musician but a great person as well, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish, label or no label. All that being said, Alexz Johnson has an incredible amount of emotion in her vocals and is really a special talent, so try out the EP and see what you’ve been missing.
