Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Hannah Johnson

THE RELEASE

Hannah Victoria Johnson is an American pop songwriter who was destined to be a singer. At birth she was humming and thus began singing when her lungs first touched the air. The seeds of her songwriting began taking shape when she was twelve and received her first guitar for Christmas. Now it's been ten years, and she has grown into a dedicated songwriter, easily fashioning candid lyrics and catchy melodies with every stroke of the pen.

The multi-talented Hannah Victoria Johnson's Pop single "Slow Motion" hit the airwaves for the first time. As her entrée into the realm of music, this first offering captures us with its mix of contemporary and old school pop melodies complete with a funky bass line and seductive synths. It's quite simple: what's left is an incredibly powerful message about real love. And here was the authentic experience so many had sought. Hannah's vocal control is particularly outstanding. From pre-chorus to verse, her vocal displayed a wide range in this rising young star. In Slow Motion, Johnson hints at other possibilities in which today and eternity can be woven together and made to sound perfect.

THE INTERVIEW

If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?

In the spirit of women empowerment, I’m going to answer this question from the lens of my top 4 female artists today. At this time in my life and musical journey, I’m drawing a lot of inspiration from Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, SZA, and Ariana Grande.

For me, Mariah Carey is the epitome of a singer-songwriter, especially when it comes to the Pop genre. She crafts relatable, yet significant lyrics and is unmatched when it comes to melody. Beyoncé is the whole package: vocals, songwriting ability, and an effortless performer. She’s also grown so much as an artist and songwriter, and I truly admire that as a young woman. SZA is vulnerable yet strong, crafty yet relatable, and that is something that I really love about her music and artistry. She’s very honest and real in her music, but she’s comforting and fun as well. Ariana Grande is an amazing vocalist, vocal arranger, and she takes the craft of songwriting to heart. It’s great to see clips of her from behind the scenes and watching her production process unfold.

To me, these women represent modern-day success in the music industry, and I look up to them for different reasons, but admire all of their crafts, uniqueness, and strength.

Were there any specific challenges or breakthrough moments during the production of your new single that had a significant impact on its final form?

The bass line was definitely the “aha” moment that made everything come together for me. When I came across that bass track, my creative juices immediately started flowing, and I feel like the song was complete pretty quickly after that. Once I find the foundation for a song, it’s normally a pretty quick process for me to get a full song ready to go. I write most times at night, so sometimes lyrics come to me the next day, but I love to have the instrumental ready to go so that all I have to worry about is recording vocals.

Can you share insights into the collaborative process behind the creation of your latest single, including any notable contributions from producers, co-writers, engineers or featured artists?

I wrote “Slow Motion” and arranged the foundational elements, and then I was blessed to connect with an amazing producer and audio engineer through SoundBetter who helped bring the demo to life. Collaborating during the creative process is something that I’m still getting used to because music is so sentimental and personal to those of us who write songs - it’s literally a piece of our story being shared with those around us - but I’ve learned that I can’t do it all on my own, and that’s ok. Everyone has their own set of gifts, and when we’re able to help each other by bringing our own to the table, that's when we get really good music. I’m learning to sit in that and embrace it.

Can you articulate the impact or impression you hope your new song leaves on listeners long after they've experienced it for the first time?

For me, “Slow Motion” is a great blend of modern and retro Pop, so I hope that it gives folks a sense of nostalgia and joy. Hearing that bass line and groove always makes me want to dance, and I hope that others feel the same way. I also hope that when people listen back to the track, they discover different elements that they enjoy. As a creative, it comes naturally to listen for the “background” sounds and break down why I love a song - why it’s so catchy. I hope folks can do this with “Slow Motion” as time goes on.

Looking ahead, how does the release of this single pave the way for future projects, and are there any hints or clues about the direction your music might take in the coming months?

This is the beginning of a big journey for me. I have a lot of things lined up for this year, a lot of things that I want to accomplish. “Slow Motion” is the first step in actualizing these goals, and I’m grateful for that, but I’m also eager for what’s next - I’m always eager for what’s next. I have too many influences from childhood to present day to make one sound or one kind of project, so I’m excited for listeners to hear a range of what I bring to the table. I’m using this time to be intentional about my creative process and introduction to the world as an artist, so I’m super excited to see how folks react to the new releases. What I will say is that you will always get me as my most authentic self when listening to my music. I don't know any other way to write than from the heart.

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