Following on from the glowing response to her much-loved initial offerings 'Mine' and 'Slow Motion' this past year, fast-rising artist Hannah Johnson is now looking to cement her vibrant legacy to date with the release of her eagerly-awaited debut EP 'Lifetime'.
Capturing more of that rich and alluring aesthetic she has been building for herself, this new five-track outing makes for an incredibly broad and riveting listen. With her spellbinding vocals spread across an absorbing production from start to finish, 'Lifetime' sees her continue her vibrant ascent once again.
So with the new EP out now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?
Growing up, I loved the Jackson 5. I used to listen to The Ultimate Collection CD a lot as a kid, and even now I have several of their songs saved on my phone. The combination of unrivaled vocals and groovy basslines definitely solidified the Jackson 5 as one of my favorite groups when I was little, and I still enjoy listening to their music as an adult.
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
I never formed a band when I was younger, but I did think about it. As a kid, I always wondered if I’d be releasing music as a solo artist or as part of a group when I finally got to that point in my music career, but I think the solo path is probably best for me. Writing, and really music in general, is very therapeutic for me, so I’m kind of precious about the process and enjoy having creative freedom in that sense.
What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?
I think my life experiences have always been the cornerstone of my songwriting, but I don’t know if I always truly understood this. For instance, in high school, I used to tell people “I wrote this song, but it’s not about me, it’s just lyrics,” or something along those lines, but that’s never the case. Songwriting is always personal, whether the record is happy, sad, or something in between. Songwriting is my way of expressing my feelings and emotions, so I think just being able to get my thoughts out and into the world is what inspired this journey for me.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
This is a tough one. I’d probably go with “Fantasy” or “Always Be My Baby,” both being written by Mariah Carey. I think Mariah Carey is a phenomenal songwriter and artist, and these two tracks are two of her best in my opinion. I think the Daydream record really solidified her as an all-time great, and these two songs are prime examples of her writing capabilities. Combining Pop appeal with substance isn’t easy, but she made it look effortless with these two tracks, and that’s something I hope to do as an artist.
If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?
My music career only really began about 6 months ago, professionally, but I’ve been able to have some pretty neat moments in this short span of time. My favorite thus far was probably when I attended a music networking event and got my song played all the way back because the DJ loved the track. It was so nice to get such positive feedback from someone who didn’t even know me and could've just kept the music going, but he stopped the track, shouted me out, and played it back all over again.
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
Justin Bieber. I grew up listening to his music a lot and have been inspired by his journey to get to where he’s at today, so it’d be a full-circle moment to share the stage with him.
And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?
Absolutely - Jon Bellion. I have been watching his behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube for a long time now, and seeing him grow from an underground artist to a major producer and songwriter for some of today’s biggest artists is insane. His story is so inspiring and encourages me to keep going. It'd be an honor to work on a project with him and get to see his process in real-time.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
This is a hard one. I’ll be nearing 30 in five years, which is kind of crazy. I hope that I’ll be able to pursue my musical aspirations full-time by this point, but I know that I have to take things day-by-day. I have really big dreams, which can be daunting at times, but I’m excited to see what the future holds.
Hannah Johnson's new EP 'Lifetime' is out now. Listen to it below.
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