Alexz Johnson Blazes Her Own Musical Path (INTERVIEW) — ReadTheHorn.com
This is an article/interview from ReadtheHorn.com about Alexz. They reviewed “Let ‘Em Eat Cake” earlier this year:
When singer-songwriter Alexz Johnson moved to New York City in 2012 to pursue her music career full time, she already had more performance experience under her belt than anyone would expect from a 26-year-old artist. Since beginning her acting and singing career at the age of eleven, she had spent more than half of her life in front of a camera or behind a microphone.
At thirteen, she became a Disney starlet, landing the lead role on the show So Weird. Later, she earned parts in the Canadian series Instant Star and the blockbuster film Final Destination 3. But none of this means you should think of Johnson as another actress-turned-singer.
“There wasn’t really a switch. I just decided to give music my main focus since moving to NYC,” says Johnson. “[I’ve] been touring ever since.”
Johnson released her first album, Voodoo, in 2010 and followed it with the release of several EPs, all of which showcased her smooth, sultry vocals. However, her most recent release, Let ‘Em Eat Cake, which came out earlier this year (REVIEW), builds on her vocal talent by showing a more mature, reflective side to Johnson’s songwriting capabilities.
“It took almost two years from the time the first song on Cake was written to the last song being mastered,” says Johnson. “Sometimes I write to my guitar, or if I’m co-writing with a producer, I like writing the lyrics and top line over a beat. It changes every time.”
Though Voodoo in no means sounds unpolished, Cake has the kind of depth and intimacy that only come with age, experience and, of course, masterful production. Changing producers also helped Johnson evolve her sound.
“My brother and I produced [Voodoo],” Johnson says, adding, “Let ‘Em Eat Cake was different in that some of these songs were written with different people. [The album] was produced by David Kahne in NYC [and] working with him was a cool experience.”
While one of Johnson’s biggest gifts is the soul she brings to her music, she also gives off a rock and roll energy that tends to be a rarity among most pop artists and is a talent even popular soulful singers like Adele don’t bring to the table.
Regardless of her demanding tour schedule (she said she uses spare time to catch some extra sleep in her van), Johnson is able to tap into this energy when she steps onstage and create a relationship with her fans that she says means “everything” to her.
“I love playing live,” says Johnson. “It’s my favorite part of being a musician.”
Whether or not her experience as an actress has helped her develop her strong stage presence, she is less certain. “I’m not sure, as I’ve done both [singing and acting] for so long. I’m leaning towards the acting being a positive contribution when performing on stage.”
Despite the sonic differences between her music and most other current artists, Alexz Johnson often draws comparisons to popular young songstresses like Lana Del Rey and Grace Potter, which she says she takes “as a compliment.” However, Johnson prefers not to get swept up in current music, and instead, curates a more classic sound in her own, elaborating, “I hope people pull soul and timelessness from my live show.”
When it comes to inspiration for this sound, Johnson said she draws more from her life experiences, “the good and the bad,” than she does from the music of those before her.
“I’m always changing and growing,” Johnson says. “[Let ‘Em Eat Cake] represents a chapter of my life: being 28, getting stronger. I want this album to be uplifting.”
Alexz Johnson has the kind of soulful vocals and knack for writing catchy and moving melodies, accompanied by more than her fair share of sheer talent, that suggest it will not be long until she is discovered and loved by the masses. Combined with her tenacity and performance skills, one thing is for certain: Alexz Johnson is here to stay.
Alexz Johnson plays Stubb’s BBQ (Indoors) Saturday, November 29
Jared & the Mill and Patrick Droney also play
Doors at 9PM, Tickets $12-15 (BUY NOW)
