Alexz Johnson Island

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Alexz Johnson shines anew with Voodoo
By Ryan Cooper

After a seemingly endless wait Alexz finally delivers a stellar debut album.

Alexz Johnson began her career playing the nubile diva, Jude Harrison, on the Canadian television show: Instant Star. After a triumphant run of four seasons Alexz moved on to settle into a promising music career but was beset by a string of turmoil that threatened to prevent Alexz from ever releasing her first album.

Despite the adversity of her career Alexz has remained optimistic and with the help of her brother, Brendan, has finally been able to work her voodoo to deliver her anticipated album.

The album

As with any ardent wait, Voodoo will be met with a great deal of expectation. Some fans will expect a sound similar to that of Alexz’s character on Instant Star, others will expect a completely new style. However, it is unlikely that anyone quite expected the sound that Alexz has delivered. Voodoo is without a doubt, incontrovertibly, “Alexz”.

The emotional energy that surges through each track of the album delivers a rare divinity that instantly draws the listener into the passion of Alexz’s writing.

The songs

The album begins with a track that shares a title with the album. Voodoo, as suggested by the name, is a perfect prologue as it is poised with the seductive allure of the mystical energies to which it alludes. Voodoo tells the story of a seductive lover who’s charm continually bind’s to Alexz’s desire. As the song continues one begins to wonder if it is not about a person at all but embodies a tribute to Alexz’s love for music.

Following Voodoo, Alexz moves into a story of struggle and optimism. Gonna Get It begins with a scream of anguish speaking to her struggle with the labels. It continues by giving voice to Alexz’s frustration and ultimately weaves a tale of hope in the face of calamity.

Alexz continues her account with L.A. Made Me, which on the surface explores the motivation of conventional musical success by speaking to the draw and power of the Hollywood entertainment machine. The song, however, gives voice to Alexz’s wrestle with the expectations of the industry and her desire to simply be herself.

Next, the track, A Little Bit, begins to tell the story of Alexz’s rise from the chaos and her first discovery that success is not only possible but inevitable. A Little Bit recites Alexz’s need for her own creativity and her joy for discovering it.

Alexz then proceeds with a message to the indeterminate nature of the capitalist aspect of the music industry. Mr Jones uses the imagery of a single business leech who vanishes at the first sign of risk, however, the song is a condemnation to the suits who let the financial aspects stagger the creativity that drives great music.

The listener is then presented with Superstition, which is a rendition of Alexz’s second tragedy with the labels. Superstition is a another cry to the pain of having one’s hopes and dreams torn asunder but also stays true to both the message of the album and Alexz’s own conviction in that it becomes another tale of hope and regrowth.

Finally the listener is presented with the album’s single. Trip Around the World is the story of Alexz’s vigilant search for a solution that would allow her to create music free of the chains that the industry continually has shackled her with.
Alexz Johnson at the Rivoli

The listener reaches the beginning of the end of Alexz’s story with the song, Hurricane Girl that speaks to the final discovery of a solution and Alexz’s creative explosion. Hurricane Girl is a realization of a metaphor that reveals the conflict of creativity and expectation.

As the album climaxes Alexz speaks to her own exhaustion and the quest to publish her album. Taker is the story of girl who is seeking redemption with a scorned lover, however, the song seems to be talking about Alexz, and her choice to become an independent artist.

Finally, the album concludes with triumph. Boogie Love is a cry of success and Alexz’s discovery that she will finally fulfill her dream. Boogie Love is a reflection of the joy that Alexz was able to acquire by setting aside the pressure of the labels so that she could create her album with the help of those that she loves.

The performance

The first public performance to launch her new career was set within the comfort of the Rivoli in Toronto. A perfectly quaint venue that was the ideal environment to host many of Alexz’s close friends and most passionate fans.

The performance itself was a great beginning to Alexz’s career in independant music and even though her set was relatively short each note was a powerful reverberation of Alexz’s joy for music.
The verdict.

Rating: 45 out of 50.

Through Voodoo, Alexz delivers a perfect rendition of her own journey to finally settle into the comfort of her dreams. Each song is powerfully driven and together the songs paint an ideal canvas of Alexz’s own emotional voyage through the shifting nether of the music industry.

Voodoo is a triumphant explosion of melody that is a testimonial to both Alexz’s emerging talent and to her future success. Voodoo is a perfect listen for anyone who has overcome adversity and serves as a message of hope for those who fear they cannot.

Jitzul also interviewed Brendan Johnson:

For years, Brendan has been exploring the realm of composition.
by Ryan Cooper

For years Brendan has immersed himself in the world of music. He has chosen to tread down the path of composition and is credited with audio composition in several TV shows and Films. Brendan’s most notable work would be the music he created for the Canadian TV show; Instant Star. You can find more about Brendan on his MySpace page.

Being a musician in Canada has many difficulties but also has many benefits. How do you feel being a Canadian has helped shape your music career?

It’s given me an outside perspective on the music industry around the world and particularly the United States.

How has writing music for a television show like Instant Star gifted you with a different perspective within your art?

Writing for a television show or anything that has a certain requirement when it comes to creating music is a challenge. It always makes me think “How can I be creative, yet still keep to the vision that they want.” Writing to fit a box is craftsmanship. Writing outside the box is art.

In your career you have come to work very closely with your sister; Alexz. Working with family can sometimes be very difficult but it also can be very rewarding and inspirational. The familial bond allows a level of comfort that would not be present between other individuals. How do you feel that sharing a love of music with Alexz has helped you grow as a musician?

It’s hard to explain. She is my sister. We just connect. It makes a good environment for spontaneous creativity. Nothing holds us back.

You are currently involved with a a project called “A Better Me” as musical composer. Can you tell us a little bit about this venture?

It’s an independent film. It was my first taste at scoring.

A career in music offers a wide variety of options. You have chosen to follow the road of composition. What prompted this and do you ever consider releasing your own album or performing?

Music came later in my life. I was 18 when I started. But it was the creation of music that got me. I wanted control and wanted to be the one to put the pieces in place. Sort of like a Brian Wilson thing I guess. It doesn’t matter if I sing or somebody else does. The music is an expression of me.

The sheer breadth of musical options available can seem both daunting and freeing. The reality is, however, you can’t include every single instrument or sound in a song. How do you narrow the thousands of melodic options down to the few needed to truly generate a fantastic song.

I always go by my first instinct. If it felt good at the beginning and I am not sick of it yet, then I keep it. It’s hard though, I am not attached to anything I create, so if I don’t like it then I will keep changing it. It’s frustrating sometimes.
A Better Me

Sometimes a song that is over-produced can become difficult to listen to and have a muddled composition. What sorts of things warn you when you are nearing the “threshold” of over-production. How do you dial a song back if it has become over-produced?

You have to give yourself time. After a couple of days come back and listen. If it sounds like shit then fix it.

One of the realities of composing music as opposed to simply writing it is that you often have a subject that did not come as a result of natural inspiration. Is it difficult to bring your psyche in line with the mood of a song, even though it may not have emotional meaning to you?

I don’t write that way. The feeling of the song doesn’t affect how I look at it.

Recording music is a lot more involved than most people are aware. Each track is recorded separately and mixed into a master, often dozens of takes are needed to get the timing right. Could you briefly outline what a common recording session is for you and perhaps what you do to foster an inspirational environment, even if you are spending weeks recording a single song?

Most of my recording sessions are chaos. I have no system. I just record what I like and build the song as I go. When you’re re-recording a song/demo however, then it’s usually calm and you have something to guide you. It’s different for everything and everyone. If I was to do a live record, all with live instruments, then my production style changes. Most of the music I make has more of a “sample” flavor. Which gives me the flexibility to write my music and produce at the same time. You couldn’t do that 20 years ago. It would cost a fortune.

One of the major changes in music over the last decade or two has been the arrival of the digital age. Recording equipment has exploded in complexity. How do you take into account modern technologies when writing a song?

The digital age revolutionized music. You can do things now that could never be done before. And like I just said, it gives me a lot of control and flexibility.

Even the greatest artists need a comfortable work flow, inspiration is a wandering muse that can drift away at any time. When in search of your greatest inspirational moment, where do you go? What sort of setting do you place yourself in to draw the greatest swirl of creative energy that will fuel your artistic creation?

I don’t really do that. If I’m in the mood then I’ll hit the studio. And If I have no choice then I will push ’till something good comes out. The only way I get inspired is when I’ve created something I like, and that in turn inspires me to see it through.

One of the greatest challenges imposed with a career in art is breaking the threshold from it being merely a passion to forming a career in it’s name. What sort of advice can you give to young composers trying to take their music to the next level?

Figure out what you want. If a serious career is what you’re looking for, then you have to go at it with everything you have. And that also means the quality of your music. Find a way to be different. Why should someone listen to your music, when they can get the same thing from somebody else?

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