In December of last year, Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter Hannah Johnson debuted with a bright and charismatic single called ‘Slow Motion’. We at Mesmerized instantly fell in love with the tune, a tune which now has over 100,000 plays on Spotify! Then, last month, Hannah returned with a sonically different offering in the form of ‘Mine’, and there was just no denying that we’d unearthed a rather special artist.
Desperate to get to know Hannah better, we were thrilled when she agreed to an interview! Chatting with us about her first two releases, what her songwriting process looks like, and who she would love to collaborate with if given the chance, please give a big welcome to our friend Hannah Johnson!
Welcome aboard Hannah! I’m so excited to re-introduce you to our audience! For those who haven’t discovered your musical prowess just yet, who is Hannah Johnson and when did your love affair with music begin?
Thank you for having me! I’m looking forward to sharing a bit more about my journey. I’m an American singer/songwriter originally from Coppell, Texas. I always tell people that I’ve lived many lives since I spent the second half of my childhood in Virginia and now reside in Pennsylvania. Still, at the centre of it all, I’m just a 23-year-old who is following her dreams of making and performing music for a living. While I’m still pretty new to the professional music scene, I’ve loved music since before I can remember. I first began singing and playing the drums when I was in elementary school, and then I transitioned to songwriting when I was around 14 years old. I now play the piano, guitar, and drums, but I’d like to get better at all three so that I can become an even better songwriter.
Your debut single ‘Slow Motion’ was a tune that we absolutely fell in love with, and quickly labelled it as “a slice of playful goodness delivered with charisma and fierceness”. Now nearing 100,000 plays on Spotify, I’m wondering if you could tell our readers how it feels to know that so many people have heard, and resonated with, ‘Slow Motion’.
‘Slow Motion’ actually just surpassed the 100k mark today! This is a big milestone and something that I’m really proud of. It means a lot to know that so many folks have heard the track, but I’m eager to keep going and see what other things can be accomplished this year. I was excited to put out my debut single, but of course, you never know how things will go, so I’m just happy to see that people from all over the globe are tuning in.
Last month, you put out the follow-up to ‘Slow Motion’ in the form of ‘Mine’, and it’s a track that takes a different sonic approach compared to its predecessor. What brought about this change in style?
The funny thing about this is that ‘Slow Motion’ is pretty different from my usual sound growing up, and ‘Mine’ is very much in tune with what I’m used to recording – a big chorus, front-and-centre vocals, and just an overall sense of youthfulness. However, I knew from the start that I wanted my introduction to the music scene to be as varied as my taste in music, so that’s what brought about the sonic changes you hear in the second record. I don’t want to have “a sound” or be stuck to my genre necessarily, I just want to create and release what really resonates with me. Personally, I felt like it was important for me to do this now so that I’m less afraid of trying things later.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences? And would you say that your tastes have changed over the years?
I would say my biggest influences are Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, and SZA. My tastes have definitely changed over time as I grew up heavily listening to Motown records and 80s Pop, but for the most part, I’ve always listened to a wide range of genres and sounds. Here lately, I’ve really gotten into SZA because she’s honest and vulnerable, but she writes in a way that is also powerful, and I think that’s really cool. Mariah Carey is THE singer/songwriter model in my book. So many people know her for her vocal range, but she is an amazing writer and producer. And last but not least, Justin Bieber is the artist that I grew up watching and he’s really inspired me, so I’ll always have to list him as an influence.
We’re always intrigued by the different approaches that bands and artists turn to in their creative process or processes. Can you tell our readers a bit about yours? How do you take an idea and turn it into a complete song?
I want to say 99.9% of the time, my songs begin with an instrumental – whether that’s me playing the piano or guitar, or it’s something that I hear in my Logic session. I often come across a chord progression or sound that I like and build everything up from there. My process has changed some though in the past year since I now live in an apartment and don’t have the space, privacy, and tools that I used to have at my disposal. So now, I do a lot more in Logic than I used to, which is neat because I used to struggle with writing songs this way, but my weakness has become a strength in this season of my life.
What would “being successful” in the music industry look like for you? And do you see it as an imperative or more of a cherry on top?
If I’m being honest, success for me would mean a Grammy, world tours, and sold-out arenas. Whether I’m the main artist or a part of the songwriting body of the record, I want to reach the pinnacle of success in the music industry. I’ve always dreamed big, so that’s my goal. I don’t want to say that it’s imperative because I want to enjoy the moments even now, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t eying some of the biggest achievements that are available to singers and songwriters. For now, I’m just trying to take it one day at a time and enjoy the process, but I’m definitely aiming big and hoping to get there one day.
If you were given the chance to collaborate with any musician or band, who would you choose?
Jon Bellion – easy. He’s an amazing artist, producer, and overall creative. I was just watching some of his behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube the other day where he shows his writing process behind some of his biggest songs, and it’s just amazing to see his face light up when he finishes a line or gets a beat going. He really loves music at his core and is confident in what he brings to the table, and that’s something I admire. I would love to learn from him and create a record together. I feel like he brings the best out of every artist he works with.
Thanks so much for chatting with us Hannah! It’s been awesome getting to know you a little better. Before we say farewell, what comes next for you musically?
I don’t want to give too much away at the moment, but what I can say is that more updates will follow soon! Music is very special to me and my craft is something that I take seriously, so you can always bet that I’ve got something up my sleeve. I’m really excited about this year and the doors that are opening up. I can’t wait to share more, connect with audiences, and hopefully write songs that will resonate with people from all walks of life.
