Page 40 - Zone Magazine - Issue 033 - Jan Johnston

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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