Alexz Johnson Island

Here’s an interview and review of Alexz’s show when she played Webster Hall in New York.

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Interview & Live Review: Alexz Johnson
By Molly Boekenheide

Born in the 90’s? Okay then, what do So Weird, Instant Star, and Degrassi all have in common?

Give up?

Don’t. Here is one more clue…she is a former child star who has recently taken a step back from acting to showcase her singer-songwriter self.

If you guessed Alexz Johnson, well done!

Johnson’s folk-pop sound and soulful vocal stylings have won over publications like Billboard, MTV Buzzworthy, and The Village Voice, and more are sure to follow as she embarks on tour with Max Schneider.

Some of us at Joonbug caught Alexz’s set at Webster Hall last Tuesday night, and found her to be pretty impressive! Webster’s Marlin Room was bursting with enthusiasm as fans of all ages and walks of life eagerly awaited Alexz’s arrival. The crowd went wild as the pint-sized songstress took the stage to shouts of “We love you!” and “You’re awesome, Alexz!”

She kicked-off her set with the reflective “American Dreamer.” The crowd gently swayed to the beat, as she began slowly, progressively breaking into a full, lush sound while reminiscing about all that could go wrong with love. The woeful “This Is Heartache” and mellow “Nothin’ On Me,” followed, before she dove into the angst-ridden “Thief,” which she confided was written in her teenage bedroom.

“Heart Like That” blew the crowd away with it’s chilling harmonies and pleading vocals, before getting ready for her next jam, “Thank You For Breaking My Heart.” “This song started off as a letter, actually…” Alexz laughed, “I thought to myself…pft, no fucking way! So I made it a song instead…” A hush fell over the crowd as they empathized with Alexz’s raw emotion and passionate vocals. She waxed lyrical about a love lost, crooning, “But I wanna thank you for letting me down, cause I won’t fall as hard the next time around…Life isn’t fair but you taught me to suffer the scars, but I wanna thank you for breaking my heart…”

Up next was “Mary,” a track from Blue, the WIGS series that Alexz currently stars in and writes the original music for… Once again, she impresses with the crystal clarity of her voice and it’s seemingly innate connection with the strumming of her guitar. Ultimately, Johnson wraps it all up with a humorous sing-a-long, “Let ‘Em Eat Cake,” followed by the uber-cool “Ruthless Love,” which earned raucous applause from her adoring fans.

After her set, we spoke with Alexz, where she spilled about her upcoming album, transitioning from child stardom, and more…

You’ve starred on shows like “So Weird” and “Instant Star. What inspired you to take a step back from acting and pursue music?

I feel like my heart has always been with singing/songwriting first and foremost. Since I was quite young. I was very involved in my character’s music on So Weird and especially Instant Star. It was a natural progression for me to start bringing my music to the forefront.

What’s been the biggest change in transitioning from acting to music?

The work. When you play an acting role; you get a script, a fitting and a call time. When you’re a touring musician, you work your ass off to connect intimately, every night. It’s bearing your soul whether they dig the show or not —- there’s no editing.

How has being so involved in TV and film affected your musical style?

I don’t even know. I hope it’s affected my music in a good way.

Could you tell us a bit about your new album?

It’s in the process of being mastered! I’m stoked! The Heart EP, I adore. It’s a glimpse into the upcoming record.

What was it like working with David Kahne?

He’s real. I love him. He’s rad, he’s David Kahne.

What do you think has been the biggest difference from going from a major label to promoting yourself independently?

Independently: The work. Period. Also – assurance I get to release the music I create! Period.

What inspires you when writing music?

My own experiences, but mostly watching those around me. I am a sponge to people’s heartache and lessons. I learn by listening.

What’s next for you?

New album! New tour! So much!

This entry was posted on Monday, June 30th, 2014 at 7:10 pm and is filed under News, Tour. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.