Zone Magazine Issue 033 - Jan Johnson
In our feature interviews in this issue we talk to cover legendess vocalist and producer JAN JOHNSTON. A name that for Trance and Progressive fans simply means quality. Starting out in the early ‘90s with short-lived pop band JJ, her fortunes took an upward sweep working firstly with the King of Trance, BT on his ECSM album, and then Australian powerhouse Anthony Pappa (as Freefall) on breakthrough release ‘Skydive’. Signings to Perfecto, Universal and more has spread the Jan Johnson gospel and showcased not only her vocal talents, but also her song writing abilities. Soundtrack syncs and contributions to Grammy Award nominated albums as well as 4 solo albums and countless singles has kept this doyen of the scene at the top of her profession.
In our feature interviews in this issue we talk to cover legendess vocalist and producer JAN JOHNSTON. A name that for Trance and Progressive fans simply means quality. Starting out in the early ‘90s with short-lived pop band JJ, her fortunes took an upward sweep working firstly with the King of Trance, BT on his ECSM album, and then Australian powerhouse Anthony Pappa (as Freefall) on breakthrough release ‘Skydive’.
Signings to Perfecto, Universal and more has spread the Jan Johnson gospel and showcased not only her vocal talents, but also her song writing abilities. Soundtrack syncs and contributions to Grammy Award nominated albums as well as 4 solo albums and countless singles has kept this doyen of the scene at the top of her profession.
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Could we start off with your musical
background, what are your first
musical memories?
Hey guys! First, I’d love to say thank you for
having me. It’s a big honor and pleasure to talk with you.
Appreciate that!
Well, the music was always with me. My dad
was a disco lover. He listened the stuff from ABBA,
Modern Talking, Bad Boys Blue, Sandra and I think it
was a huge influence on the formation of my musical
taste. A bit later, when I was a teenager, I discovered a
British electronic scene and from that moment my mind
turned over. I was limitlessly happy to buy the new
cassettes by the groups as The Prodigy, The Chemical
Brothers, Massive Attack, and Fatboy Slim. It was an
incredible time. I did a selection for myself and all my
neighboring peers always asked for this kind of cassette for
their collections.
say that I was already determined to study a more
professional DAW. As you see it took a long time before I
started to produce.
About DJing. I’m still not a DJ. I just try to show
the music I produce, the music I love and the stuff from my
labels. And I feel nervous every time when I start to play
haha.
What was your first gig like? Any
notable ones from the past?
Haha. It was ridiculous lol. We had a party in the
place like a hookah bar or something like this. I was playing
awful. When you play badly and you can’t mix the track
from the 1st deck with another one in Russia we call it
horses (you know like a galloping horses). So, I did it with a
herd of horses that night. I wanted to sink into the ground.
It was a huge shame.
What did you get into first, djing or
production?
I started to produce in 2014. So, I’m still a fresh
blood in this business haha. Returning to the first question,
the same time when I was a teenager, I was curious how to
make that kind of music, and in my small village close to
the capital of republic where I was born (Republic of
Kalmykia) people were not conscientious enough about
electronic music production. But in 90’s I discovered some
toy programs like Dance Ejay etc. It was like a magic. I can
How did you come about starting a
label? You have quite a few now,
which one was the first?
I launched «Mole Music» in 2015. Is a multi-genre
label, but I try to release mostly Deep House and Jackin'
House music there. It was my 1st experience and It still
works. We have 2-3 releases in month. Check it out!
" Well, the music was always with me. My dad
was a disco lover. He listened the stuff from
ABBA, Modern Talking, Bad Boys Blue, Sandra
and I think it was a huge influence on the
formation of my musical taste "
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