Hannah Johnson, welcome to VENTS! We’d love to explore your latest single, Mine; where did the creative spark come from, and how personal are the lyrics? 

Thanks for having me! My debut single, “Slow Motion,” had a groovy Pop/R&B feel, so I knew that I wanted to do something different sonically right off the bat. I wrote “Mine” during the holiday season and immediately knew that I could make something special when I came across the guitar loop in Logic. The song has an Alternative/Rock feel to it, and this really just allowed me to have fun with the lyrics and melody, so I’d say that everything just kind of flowed from the strong presence of the guitar. While I’m not living out the lyrics right now per say, I’ve definitely had a similar experience in my life, so I’d say the lyrics are personal. Honestly, I feel that my lyrics are always personal. It’s been that way since high school. 

Your vocal performance has been highlighted as especially sincere and emotive. How have you worked on your vocal delivery to convey deep emotions effectively?

It’s always hard to answer questions like this because I’ve honestly been singing for as long as I can remember, and even when I was younger, I’d have people say things like “you sing from the heart.” I think it’s more a gift or talent than something I’ve learned how to do, but when I’m singing music that really resonates with me, it probably shows even more so. Singing and songwriting are very personal to me, so it’s natural that sincerity is conveyed. 

Could you share what it felt like the moment you learned your debut single had surpassed 100,000 streams on Spotify?

This was a goal of mine to be honest, so I wasn’t super shocked, but more just happy to have accomplished something I set out to do. Sometimes I get really goal-oriented, so I have to remind myself to smell the roses and be grateful for what’s right in front of me, but I’m definitely excited for what’s to come. I have big dreams, so I truly feel that I’m just getting started. 

How have your fans reacted to the new single compared to your debut, and what has been the most memorable feedback you’ve received so far?

So far, I think those closest to me and my family probably enjoyed “Mine” just a tad bit more sonically – it made them want to get up and dance – but I love both records. “Mine” is definitely a roll down the windows kind of jam, so I’m excited for more people to hear it leading up to summertime. The most memorable feedback so far happened recently at a music networking event. The DJ was playing “Mine” and he ended up stopping the track to show some love on the record and played it back all over again. The fact that he and I were complete strangers, but he just absolutely loved the song and took the time to do that, meant a lot to me. 

Having studied songwriting at James Madison University, how do you feel your academic background has shaped your professional music career?

The biggest thing that I walked away with after completing my Songwriting courses at JMU was confidence in my abilities as a songwriter. There’s so much power in the words that we speak over ourselves, and my professor instilled in us that we were songwriters and that we should view ourselves as such. This was pivotal for me as someone who is pretty shy and always wondered if professional success happened for people like me – people who get nervous or anxious. The class also grounded me to always be open to whatever flows sonically and to respect everyone’s creative expression, so we had great camaraderie all around. Songwriting was more than just a music course, it was a turning point in my journey. 

Being from Dallas, how has the local music scene influenced your sound and artistic choices? 

It’s always hard to describe my upbringing and really pin down my influences. I was born in Arlington, Texas and lived in a suburb of Dallas for the first half of my childhood. When I was in elementary school, I moved to Appomattox, Virginia and graduated from high school there. Appomattox and the DFW area are extremely different, so I went through a lot of changes personally and musically, but I’m grateful for my experiences. Because of the wide variety of sonic landscapes that I was exposed to, I have a greater appreciation for different genres and artists. Overall, I consider myself “from the South” to help make things simple, so I’d say that everything from Hip-Hop to R&B, Gospel to Blues, and even Pop to Country in some aspects have influenced me. I listen to a wide range of genres, sounds, and artists. 

With two successful singles now under your belt, what can your listeners expect next? Are there any new themes or sounds you’re eager to explore in your upcoming work?

You can expect me to continue to navigate my introduction to the professional music scene with curiosity. I don’t ever want to feel stuck in a genre or sound, so I promise to always write and release what is real to me. This can be intimidating because I don’t want to have people confused or wondering what my style is, but as long as it’s coming from me, I figure it’s my sound, so I’m going to keep releasing music that is sincere, authentic, and genuine. 

Follow Hannah’s journey on Instagram