Tell us about yourself.
Name is Shimmer Johnson. I’m a singer songwriter based out of Alberta Canada. I am a mom of 3 amazing boys and 1 amazing daughter. My youngest diagnosed late 2017 with Autism. So it has been a learning curve for me. It also has allowed me to write some amazing songs about how I was feeling.
I also own a production company here in Canada that works with other songwriters that are just learning. We help to get their album complete and help to distribute it to all the online stores. It is a lot of fun. We also do full live production for bands that are touring. It is a great business to be in. Considering I am a singer songwriter and live performer myself.
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Tell us about yourself as an artist.
When I write my music; I tend to start with a single instrument. Usually the piano and sometimes a guitar. I can usually find a melody in my head as soon as I start playing some chords. Melodies come quite quickly to me. Quickly as they leave my head. I am always recording memos on my phone as I am writing so that I don’t forget the melodies that pop in my head. As a songwriter it’s always good to have that handy dandy smart phone that has recording memo features. Once I have a melody usually one word will come out and I build off that and create entire songs. I need to connect to the song to write something good. There have been times where I write a song and I don’t connect and I can’t write anything good for it. That’s when I put it in the pile of NOT FOR ME songs that I use for the other songwriter who you never know might connect with the song. For me it’s all about connection. And figuring out ways for the people listening to connect as well.
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Tell us about the genre of your music.
I like to write in all genres. May 1 2018, I will be releasing my Solo Pop album “PRIDE” which has a singer songwriter feel, pure acoustic piano songs as well as full produced pop songs like “PRIDE”. I also plan on releasing a Country Pop Cross over later in the year. As I have been working on that album for quite some time. Being in Alberta Canada we have lots of people that love Country. I honestly love country myself and thought it will be great to put out a pop country crossover album. So stay tuned for that as well.
But my main genre of music I prefer is my pop music. It makes me feel that; that is who I am.
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Tell us about the story behind your song.
I like to write about emotional concepts: love life and feelings. My music connects to people. The lyrics are relatable and that’s what makes my music so unique. My Song “Getaway” is about suicide prevention. I have a close friend of mine that suffers with bipolar disorder. She tends to get very depressed from time to time. I wrote this song to help remind her that she’s okay, that life is good. She uses it on a regular basis. It’s a great concept for a song. Being that’s its pure piano and vocal. It’s very honest and pure sounding. Really grasps at your soul.
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Tell us about the problems you are facing as a musician.
Today it’s super easy to get your music distributed now with sites like CD BABY and TUNECORE, you can get all your music in the stores. The main issue is keeping up with your social media. It’s a full time job and like me being a mom I can’t pay others to do it for me. I just don’t have that kind of money. So I do it myself. I do pretty well considering I have 190,000 streams of my song PRIDE and over 100,000 streams of my song “Getaway” on Spotify. I also have over 200K streams on SoundCloud of my song “Don’t Break Me” and over 9K followers on Twitter and over 53K likes on my Shimmer Johnson Facebook page. So this all takes time and also a little money to do adds on Facebook to get people to even look at your pages and listen to your music. It’s a challenge. Hard to get on mainstream radios as well. Also hard to find ways to go on tour without a lot of cash in your pocket.
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Tell us about the recording and production of the song.
Most of the time as I said before I start with just a piano of my song.
From there I write the melody and then the lyrics.
After that is added I do a nice acoustic mix of me and the instrument
Then we decide if we are going to do a “Full Production” on the song or if we are going to leave it honest sounding as an acoustic song. If we do full production we add drums, bass, guitar, strings backup vocals you name it gets done. “Pride” is one of my full produced songs with a ton of layers. Every song is different in the studio.
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List the names of blogs, radio or TV stations that have supported you so far.
Ava Live Radio
Bree Noble Woman of Music Podcast
Chat & Spin Radio in the UK
Poze TV
Simple Pleasures WSP – Indie Music Show
Eclectic Music Lover
Big Time Radio
Chat Song
Ally’s Attick Show
Reverbnation
Pandora
I Heart Radio
Spotify
Apple Music
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Tell us more about your music career, experience and future goals.
Currently I am working with billboard songwriters in LA and putting together some great music with them. Hoping to use some on my upcoming album and also try to get some songs placed for sync deals and so forth. I think music and movies really go well together. I would love to get my song in a movie.
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Brief us what inspires you to write, compose and sing.
Honestly I write when I am upset over something.
Usually that’s when I write the best songs.
When I’m happy I get NOTHING! lol!
So I will pull from past experiences and make them into songs that reflect me.
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Brief us the top-secret behind making a hit song.
Top Secret about making a good song in my opinion is being honest while you’re writing the song. Make the song your diary that you share with the world. It’s an amazing feeling to get out all the upset feelings you go through when you get hurt. It’s great therapy and it makes for great hit songs like “Getaway” or “Don’t Break Me”.
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Tell the kind of advice you will give to an upcoming artist.
Just never give up. You will get lots of “NO’s” before you get “Yes’s” take chances go to music festivals and network. Networking is the key nowadays. It’s totally who you know!!! And how good of a songwriter you are. Be the best you can be!
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Discuss at length your music careers, albums, songs, tours, recognition or awards you might have obtained.
I have been writing music for the last 17 years and have over 500 songs recorded.
I have had my music featured on “Saturday Night Live Skit”.
I have had my music on the show “MADE” with MTV.
I have been featured in Canadian Musician Magazine.
I have had my music used in indie films.
I have never applied for any awards before. But this year I am nominated for BREAK OUT WEST and Edmonton Music Awards for 2018.
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Tell us how you write your lyrics, compose, sing and record in the studio.
I start with the piano or the guitar. Then I write the melody and then I sing and write the lyrics and then I record the song. That’s kinda how I work.
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Name the artists you are willing to collaborate with.
I’d love to collaborate with Hedley one day or Adele.
My dream collaboration would be Celine Dion. I grew up singing her music. It honestly going to be an honour to work with her.
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State the links to your social networks and stores for purchase of your songs.
Shimmer Johnson renders an ethereal pop delectation decorated by susurrant vocals and spare percussion backing – ‘Pride’ is ambient bliss.’ 1st Single that is currently getting some attention! Over 190,000 Streams on Spotify as of August 2017. Album “PRIDE” to be release on May 2018!
REVERBNATION : http://www.reverbnation.com/shimmerjohnson
@shimmerjohnsonmusic
https://twitter.com/shimmer_johnson
https://www.instagram.com/officialshimmerjohnson/
YOUTUBE
https://youtu.be/CKthAVFMsRE
SPOTIFY
https://open.spotify.com/artist/10WVCn26WQmyEvkONJrLNM
APPLE MUSIC
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/pride/id1262115419?i=1262116184
SOUNDCLOUD
