Alexz Johnson Island

The Corner Magazine recently interviewed Alexz about her European Tour, music, and her future plans:

Source

I had the honor to meet Alexz Johnson in person. For those, who don’t know her, here’s the catch-up: She is a Canadian singer/songwriter and actress, most known for her role as Jude Harrison in the CTV series “Instant Star”. After her first album “Voodoo” in 2010, she just released her latest EP “Heart EP”.

Munich is your last stop in your European tour. How was it like to perform with Ron Pope?
He’s a sweetheart. I just adore him and Blair, his wife is his manager. It’s been an amazing experience, the easiest tour I’ve ever had to do because I just have to bring my guitar and go on stage. I’m not dealing with the band, other tours I’ve done I’m delegating so much and this has been easy. Selling my own merch has been hard. You know, it’s been great. It’s giving me some edge.

What did you enjoy about touring in Europe?
I loved it. I think it’s been amazing. It’s been me just able to play on stage with my guitar to the audience. Like I said, I haven’t seen much of Europe. I just kind of lived on a tour bus but touring isn’t really about seeing things. It’s about playing for people. So it’s not like vacation: You sleep in a bus, you see your venue and you move on from there but it’s been amazing.

Are there any plans for you coming back to perform in Germany soon? Any specifies yet?
I don’t have any plans aside getting my album finished yet. After that, I’ll start thinking about my next tour.

You’ve been receiving vocal training by the age of seven. After winning the Canadian National Anthem Contest at the age of eleven, you’ve had lots of appearances in Canadian television and performances for some sport events. Have there been any time in your career when you wanted to do something different than being a singer or an actress?
Never. I love sports and I went back to school when I was filming, when I was young but besides that, no, I love music and writing. I can’t think of myself doing anything else. I don’t know what else I’d do. Really be a mom one day but besides that…

Even though you had several offers from record labels after your part in the series “So weird” in 2000, you’ve chosen to go your own way because of creative control.
Well I signed first with Capital and that record never got a release, then I did a full record with Sony but that record never got a release. It’s like, it’s not difficult to get a record label… it’s about… what are they gonna do with your record. Are they gonna put it out or not? I just like having control about my album getting out. That’s my goal.

Is there any advice you can give to young musicians when it comes to finding the “right” way for themselves?
You have to really love it, to really want it but not for reasons like, it’s not about being famous, you know and if you’re in it for fame then it’s gonna be really fleeting. It’s gonna happen really quickly and it’s gonna go. It has to be for your love in connecting in music and your passion. So I’d say to people, if you’re willing to fight the fight then you have the power to be whatever you want. Just don’t be afraid to fail. You need the guts to do it. Follow your heart but do it for the right reasons!

In 2004 you’ve become a part in the Canadian series “Instant Star”, where the young Jude Harrison wins a music competition. The show gives an impression of the music industry. ..but how much of Jude Harrison do you see in yourself?
A ton. I feel like the writing became a lot about my life like going to London and stuff like that… but I think, I’ve been on this show for four years… feels like my humor kinda became similar to Jude. She’s just a younger version of me at that time.

Your debut album “Voodoo” was released in 2010. What is different in the working progress in comparison with working for a series? Because you also wrote your songs with your brother Brendan for the show…
It’s so hard to compare. It’s such a different time in my life, I’m 27 now and it’s liking comparing to what it was like writing songs when I was 21. I’m just writing real songs that connect whether I write them with my brother, I write them with someone else or by myself I just wanna make sure it’s a strong song and it’s something I believe in. There is not really comparison. I have to feel it otherwise I don’t know what I’m doing.

After that several EPs appeared. Now, just a couple days ago, you’ve released your “Heart EP”. Congrats! Tell us about your new work and about raising money via pledgemusic.com.
I mean, I’ve kinda been updating via pledge about the process. It’s been a bit of a journey with this record and there is no science to making an album. Every album has its own way of happening, sometimes it’s a year, sometimes it’s two… sometimes it’s six months. So I wanna be loyal, I wanna be true to my fans. I don’t wanna rush something out because they want it, I don’t wanna rush something out because I’m on a deadline otherwise I’m not being authentic and this is why people like my music, I think. I’m proud of the “Heart EP”, I’m proud of the songs. I think they’re done. I hope that if I change my music changes with me, otherwise it’ll just get boring.

What inspires you in the creative process while writing songs?
Real experiences: heartache, everything I feel, people around me… whatever I feel, or whatever I go through, I’ll write about it… dreams. Mostly I just have an idea about something and I just get my guitar and I mumble, this mumble becomes a lyric… but it changes every time.

Can you reveal some of your upcoming plans for this year?
Pretty much finish this album, go on tour. Keep on doing what I’m doing. I wanna do a headlining tour in Europe… hopefully that works out.

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