Saskatchewan’s Adam Johnson is quickly making a name for himself in the country music scene with his genre-blending sound.
Not long ago we had the chance to introduce you to his album For The Record and wanted to get to know him a little more.
So, we recently sat down with the 2023 SCMA Emerging Artist of the Year to discuss his debut album For The Record and the journey that got him here.
Listen To His Album While Checking Out Our Chat
From Rock to Country
Johnson’s path to country music wasn’t a straight line. “When I was younger, I was like, ‘country music sucks. You’ll never catch me listening to country music,'” he admits. But growing up in Saskatchewan, he found it hard to escape the influence of the genre.
It wasn’t until the pandemic hit that Johnson truly embraced his country roots. “I happened to have a country song written,” he told us about his song “Come On, Let’s Go”. “So I was like, you know what? I have a lot of belief in this song. I’m trapped in this pandemic world. I’m going to record it myself!”
That song ended up being Johnson’s first radio single, opening the door to a full-fledged country career. “At that point I’d become a country fan. So I really enjoyed diving into the genre.”
Blending Genres on “For The Record”
Johnson’s rock background shines through on his debut album “For The Record,” which blends country, rock, and pop influences.
“I feel like I wrote a really fun album that you can party to and has an amazing rock energy,” he shares. Tracks like “Blame It On Me” showcase this genre-bending approach, while emotional ballads like “Three Minutes” demonstrate Johnson’s depth as a songwriter.
The title track, “For The Record,” was inspired by Johnson’s father’s record collection. “I wanted to write a song about how music can become attached to a moment and become so meaningful,” he explains.
Taking the Stage
With the album out, Johnson is embarking on an 18-show headlining tour across Western Canada. Though he was nervous for his first shows during the pandemic, he’s now embracing the live performance aspect of being a country artist.
“Obviously, it was quite rough. I had to polish the skills quite a bit, but it was very fun. People took to it really well. And I had a very nice, steady climb from there and it worked really well as things opened up. I got to do bigger shows and started performing with bands. So it’s been a wild ride.”
As Adam Johnson continues to make waves in the country music landscape, “For The Record” solidifies him as an artist to watch. With his genre-blending sound and authentic songwriting, he’s carving out a unique path in the Canadian country scene.
Andrew
A die-hard country music fan with an impressive collection of Spotify playlists. Happiest when I'm listening to music and constantly on the lookout for the next artist to fall in love with. A bit of a tech nerd too.
