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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And the song I write to each piece can always be stripped
back and sang acoustically if ever it was needed that way…
always a happy moment when it’s born and I know what it
can be, I sometimes wish I could be in the mixing stages
but I’ve had to learn to let go… although some of the guys
ask and allow input on the mixes, I can be of help as I do
know what I would like to hear…
Let’s move on to the Perfecto years
and that first album, Emerging. That’s
been quite the journey! Whats been
the biggest learning curve from that
time?
With Regards my voice and writing abilities I truly
feel I’ve grown, I have a wiser head so I’ve more to put
down on paper in a poetic way and sense of…
You’ve 4 albums under your belt;
five counting the JJ one. Do you
notice how your voice and musical
tastes have changed over that
period? And are you making better
music now do you think?
I stand beside all I’ve done through these years,
lots of them but my passion for writing and singing and
performing hasn’t dimmed I’m not jaded…
Over the lifecycle of your career, I’m
sure you’ve picked up some tips
and tricks. What would you say is
the top three things a singer needs
to ensure longevity?
I think the three things people ask as tips for song
writing can be answered in one pass….
Never follow what’s happening only make
yourself happy with what your writing and
performing in the studio, then you have no holes in
your work, it’s complete because it’s your complete
thought, thoughts all down in a beautiful musical
composition, form your core no one else’s.
Let’s end on the single (otherwise Paul will be
mad! haha) I understand this is the first of three tracks
with Paul. We all know he’s a sweetheart so what’s been
different working with Paul compared to others?
Ahhhhhh Paul Sawyer my new working
relationship… he is an absolute GENTLEMAN!
And like all collabs we have become fast friends as
together we have created something beautiful it’s like a
birth so we are family during that whole process and then
as time passes always firm friends, that’s my hope , so far
so good with all my past boys and girls….
Tell us about ‘Circle’ and the writing
process. What inspired the lyrics?
Do they come together quickly?
When Paul sent me the first piece I was blown
away I was like Paul I have a feeling within this structure of
the mid 90’s all sparkleeee and ethereal with beats, I
immediately felt a full circle enveloping me so the top of
the page I work CIRCLE….
Then it was so so quick the world, the lockdown
and yet so much love went out to all those amazing hero’s
and all the parents with painted hearts and rainbows in the
windows and outpouring of love.
So the analogy so not too oooh… it had a lovely
parallel when complete and at its centre it was intact the
storey of all around the CIRCLE…the world…it became all
those lovely things we had taken for granted…
Sun on my face leaves me wild…stars in my eyes
make me smile…like I’m someone new…etc….
Pauls piece was gorgeous and I was honoured he
entrusted it to me to write it’s storey, together we have
completed three songs very quickly and I’m so excited
about this project, we are on the same page and it has
musical notes flying all over it, I’m so happy with your
songs and there will be more in the future, we work very
easily together… thankyou Paul.
‘Circle’ is released on Krafted
Underground on November 9th,
what else do you have lined up for
the rest of the year?
Nothings lined up for gigs all our schedules were
wiped for this year, and I had been having a spine tingling
time with a 50 piece orchestra with Gatecrasher we toured
over two years, singing our classics of Trance in classical
setting with the orchestra… that was icing on the cake
because the sound was phenomenal the crowds were huge
and everyone including the artists onstage we were all
blown away with the sound.
So I’ll be sending up my prayer and writing which
is my absolute passion, till we all get the get out of jail card
for free…
My huge circle of thanks and hugs to Paul Sawyer
for entrusting me with three stunning orchestrations that
have now become
1. CIRCLE
2. ONE STEP BEYOND
3. RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME
Onwards there is nowhere else to go…big hugs
and heartfelt thanks to all, Jan Johnston.
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