New York-based indie-pop artist Libby Johnston stole our collective hearts at Mesmerized when we first heard her debut single ‘Right Person, Wrong Time‘. Then came her first EP ‘Libby’, and it was clear that we had come across a remarkably talented and genuine artist.
Feeling it was time to get to know the musician a little better, we were thrilled when she agreed to an interview! Speaking about the creation of her debut EP, what her creative process looks like, and how she truly feels about the music industry and “being successful” in it, please welcome our friend Libby Johnston!
Welcome, Libby! I’m so excited to re-introduce you to our ever-expanding audience! We first fell in love with your music upon hearing ‘Right Person, Wrong Time’, but for those who haven’t discovered you just yet, who is Libby Johnston and when did your love affair with music begin?
Thank you so much for chatting with me! It’s an honor to be featured again on Mesmerized! I’m a New Zealand indie artist who is based in New York City. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember but I’m a newbie when it comes to songwriting. I had a hard time figuring out that my voice was (and is) valid and worthwhile, but thanks to the endless encouragement and unconditional support from my friends and family, I now have six songs out!
I’ve had your recently released debut EP ‘Libby’ on rotation for a couple of days now and I just can’t get enough of it! From the beauty of ‘Handle with Care’ to the tenderness of ‘Eldest Child’, it’s just a really special album. How proud are you of it and, if at all possible, which tune means the most to you?
That means the world to me – I’m so glad you like it! I’m incredibly proud of this EP. I worked really hard during the process as I was determined to put out a collection of songs that I was unbelievably proud of. It’s also important to note that I couldn’t have done it without Joey Miceli and Santino Cardinale! I love all five tracks but ‘Eldest Child’ holds a very special place in my heart. The first thing you hear at the beginning of the song are the birds outside my bedroom window in Auckland, New Zealand. Whenever I listen to it, I feel like I’m back home. ‘Eldest Child’ is a song I wrote to my younger self but it’s ever relevant to present-day Libby as I continue to work on my self-esteem and self-worth. I often need the reminder to treat myself with a little less criticism and a little more kindness, and that’s what this song does.
I know that you were particularly inspired by the likes of MUNA, Maggie Rogers, and Lizzy McAlpine during the creation of ‘Libby’, but on a broader scale, who else would you cite as being influential on your sound? Who did you grow up listening to?
Like a lot of artists my age, I have Taylor Swift to thank for inspiring me. She’s honestly the one who set me on this path. I’ve been a fan of hers since her ‘Fearless’ album came out in 2008, and my first concert was the Speak Now World Tour, which absolutely blew my mind. Her songwriting is second to none, and I’m so grateful for the way she champions the thoughts, feelings and experiences of women.
We’re always fascinated by the different approaches that artists turn to in their creative process or processes. How do you take an idea and turn it into a complete song?
I always start with lyrics. I love to allow myself the opportunity to be completely unfiltered and once I’ve got it all out of my system, I leave it be and close my notes app. After a day or two, I’ll come back and refine what I’ve written and then think about melodies that could work. From there, I’ll come up with chord progressions on my guitar and continue to play around until I’m happy with the bare bones of the song.
Walk us through a non-music day in the life of Libby Johnston. What keeps you busy, entertained, and happy?
I’m a working actress in New York City so when I’m not preoccupied by pop, I’m firmly planted in the world of musical theatre. Aside from all of that, I love watching Chris Melberger and Julien Solomita stream on Twitch, riding at SoulCycle and spending time with my boyfriend (ecstatic and appreciative beyond words to be in a healthy relationship for the first time in my life – feel free to listen to ‘Daydream’ for further elaboration!)
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?
I definitely think of it as a cherry on top. At the end of the day, I’m making these songs for myself, and if someone out there can relate to my lyrics and enjoy my melodies, that’s a dream come true. There’s so much pressure for up-and-coming artists to “be successful” and produce songs that become viral TikTok trends, so I think it’s really refreshing to take that component out of the equation and just make music that is authentically, incredibly me.
If you were given the chance to collaborate with any musician or band, who would you choose?
MUNA. Not only am I the biggest fan of their music, but I’m obsessed with the way they remix and rework other artists’ tracks. I just know my top-streamed song of the year will be ‘Into Your Room (with MUNA)’ by Holly Humberstone because I actually can’t stop playing it. Their specific production and how they can elevate a track with their artistry is insane.
Thanks for chatting with us Libby! It’s been awesome getting to know you a bit better. Before we say farewell, what comes next for you musically?
That’s a very good question! All five tracks on my EP were produced by Wolfgang Pander but I’ve been discussing some new ideas with ‘Right Person, Wrong Time’ producer Santino Cardinale (who also engineered, mixed and mastered ‘Libby’)… so you’ll have to stay tuned!
