Interview - Hannah Johnson

Fresh off the release of her EP, Lifetime, Hannah Johnson is showcasing her aural journey that is driven by a lifetime love of music. With this compilation of tracks, she encourages listeners to establish a stronger bond with their true selves via a melodic journey, insightful lyrics, and a captivating vocal delivery.

We sat down with Hannah Johnson to discuss her music and much more. Here is what she had to say:

Hey Hannah Johnson, welcome to FLEX! How are you?

Hey there, thank you for having me! I’m doing good - feeling much relieved now that the EP is out and in the listeners’ hands. 

Congratulations on your brand-new EP 'Lifetime' - what inspired this particular project?

Thanks so much! This project was primarily inspired by my dream of writing and performing music for a living. I’ve wanted to release a record for a long time, but I always struggled with fear and anxiety, and never really got around to pursuing the distribution process. However, after a lot of personal changes last year, I decided that there was no better time than the present to chase my dreams. This project is a combination of my wanting to give myself a shot and just expressing my emotions at this time in my life. 

And do you have to be in a certain mood to write?

Honestly, I don’t think so. It depends more on timing. For instance, I just really started writing again in the past week because I’ve been so focused on the EP release, and I’ve learned over the past few months to not mix business and creativity. The hard part about being an indie artist is that you have to focus on the business side of things as well, not just the music, so it was kind of difficult to navigate that as a songwriter, but I’m learning what does and doesn’t work for me. So far, I’d say I can write during any mood, but I try not to write while focusing on other areas of the business to ensure that the process remains fun. 

How was the recording and writing process?

It was super interesting. I live in Philadelphia now, but my recording studio is my bedroom back home in Appomattox, VA, so I was writing and recording in two very different places. I also had some time constraints, as Philadelphia is a six-hour drive from Appomattox, so it wasn’t a typical process at all. Although there are studios near me in Philadelphia, I just feel most comfortable at home and know what I like. There’s also a sense of pride that comes with recording your own music as an artist. 

For viewers who don't know Hannah Johnson, how would you describe your sound?

I’m a Pop artist by trade, but I dabble in a little bit of everything. I grew up listening to a wide array of genres, so I didn’t want to ever feel stuck or like I had to make a certain sound. I just write songs, and if I like them enough and the timing is right, I choose to move forward with releasing them. This is why the EP has some elements of Dance/EDM, Rock/Alternative, and Hip-Hop/R&B. I just want to have fun. 

And what are some of those activities that you engage yourself in when you aren't writing or recording in the studio?

When I’m not writing songs or recording them back home, I’m typically on the road or watching movies. I love road trips and oftentimes travel to see family. I also really enjoy movies and always have since I was a kid. I watch a movie almost every night just because I love to take in new storylines.