Alexz Johnson could have fallen off your radar however she’s by no means actually disappeared. After her practically 5 yr run as Jude Harrison within the Degrassi co-creator-helmed collection Prompt Star, the Canadian singer-songwriter and actress was synonymous together with her angsty alt-rock on-screen alter-ego. However Johnson’s personal identification was nonetheless being cast. Johnson was extra Carole King than Avril Lavigne, although Spotify would have you ever fooled — all of Jude Harrison’s music is categorized underneath her identify
After the collection wrapped in 2008, her album was shelved after some inside adjustments at her file label, and she or he ended up going indie; she launched 4 LPs together with 2010’s Voodoo, 2014’s Let ‘Em Eat Cake, 2017’s A Stranger Time, and 2020’s Nonetheless Alive. Now 36, Johnson is about to launch her fifth studio album Seasons, a extra basic singer-songwriter file that grapples with tough transitions and the resilience that she’s discovered all through them.
In an interview with AP, Johnson reveals how her sound has advanced since Prompt Star, the potential of rebooting the collection and the trauma that formed her newest album.
You by no means stopped placing out music even after Prompt Star resulted in 2008, however how did your profession shift after the present?
It wasn’t actually essentially supposed to finish. I had signed with Sony, my second main file deal. Season 4 had wrapped, and we might have executed a fifth season, nevertheless it was virtually prefer it was okay to finish there, as properly. I did not actually drive it ahead with a fifth season. I used to be like, “Look, I actually wish to fly away, and I wish to do the music that I wish to do. I’ve cherished taking part in Jude for 4 and a half years, however this is a chance for me to make music for me.”
All of the songs I wrote for Prompt Star had been written for Jude, and thru the method of taking part in Jude, I sort of morphed into Jude in a manner. I used to be combating that a lot. After I have a look at the tip of Prompt Star, I am actually leaving Tommy and flying off to London, which is what I did. I mainly went off and pursued my very own music profession. And after doing the file of my desires I put a lot work into for six years, it simply obtained shelved. My file by no means obtained launched. It was fascinating as a result of that yr I had additionally turned down one of many lead roles for 90210 [the reboot], Silver. It was my likelihood to do what I’ve all the time wished to do. I like performing, however music has all the time been my ardour.
How has your sound advanced through the years?
I feel it is pure to evolve as an artist, life does that to you. Since placing out my final album, I misplaced a sister to most cancers. She was youthful than me and that was actually fast. The course of that was like a being pregnant — it was precisely 9 months from when she was recognized to when she handed. I used to be pregnant on the identical time and bringing life into the world, I had a child at house after which COVID occurred. All these issues can actually change you. I’ve grown, I am a mother, I’ve realized. I’ve invested in studio gear. I am studying methods to make music alone.
When it comes to making this file, what was your supply of inspiration?
I used to be impressed by these gardens that we develop in our yard, chickens, elevating these youngsters on this property, planting, rising and watching the evolution of the seasons. I actually was impressed by simply taking a look at my window, creating this file, pregnant with my son, the songs advanced from every thing pure.
Is there a theme that runs all through the file?
This file represents survival. I wished to carry individuals by means of the seasons by means of sound, in addition to push them by means of any private fears and mountains that they really feel they need to climb.
How does the sound of this file in comparison with your final one?
I feel my voice has modified. I tracked my very own vocals on this. I’ve by no means had the chance to try this as a singer, and it was actually fascinating how a lot I pushed myself. While you’re doing it by yourself as a vocalist and also you’re listening to each phrase and each vocal, I actually, actually challenged myself and it was a extremely troublesome course of as a result of I do not like something I do. It is so trustworthy, it is so emotional. It is an expertise for the listener as a result of I do not know what number of vocalists observe their very own vocals. It is an added feeling behind it, I feel, that makes it completely different.
How did Prompt Star change your life?
I am from a fairly middle-class household, and all of us work collectively. After I was 12, I walked all the way down to a dance studio that was related to a expertise company, and I did not know what that was. I walked myself down and stated, “I wish to sing,” and the agent stated, “Okay, properly, we’re a expertise company, so I suppose we’ll get you out on auditions.” A pair commercials later, I landed the lead of So Bizarre on the Disney Channel. You do not say “no” if you’re from a center class household in Canada — you do not say no to getting a possibility to be the lead of a Disney present. Henry Winkler known as and informed me I obtained the half. I used to be flown all the way down to LA. I used to be hanging out with the Fonz. I additionally wrote some music for that present, however from then on, they set me up on this trajectory. I believed that after I had executed So Bizarre, I am executed with the TV factor, I’ll do music, I’ll be an artist, and I’ll final so long as Anne Murray.
I began to deal with singing and songwriting, and Prompt Star got here proper into my life. It was a good friend who instructed I put myself on tape. She was mates with [the producers] Steven [Stohn] and Linda [Schuyler] and performed my supervisor on So Bizarre. I used to be like, “I do not know if I wish to get again into this world of portraying a unique musician. I wish to do my very own music. I wish to earn this.” I stated, “Okay, I will take Prompt Star if me and my brother can write nearly all of the music for the present.” They stated, “Yeah, you bought the half and you may write the music for the present.” Now, in hindsight, was that a good suggestion? As a result of after I go to Spotify now, with all of the information I put out in my life, and I have a look at who my contemporaries are, if you take heed to my final couple information that I’ve put out, they’re nothing like Jude Harrison and Prompt Star. However my contemporaries are all Jude Harrison contemporaries, and I am unable to change that. I want it was uploaded as Jude Harrison. It gave me a lot, nevertheless it shadowed my identification a bit. I’ll all the time be Jude to some individuals.
Have you considered what an Prompt Star reboot would seem like?
We now have to return. I really feel like Jude must be a decide, [Tim Rozon’s character] Tommy must be a decide. Let’s go, like a miniseries — 5 episodes. I do know that Steven and Linda haven’t got the rights to the present anymore, however in fact, I would be down.
On the subject of Jude and Tommy, their relationship was very consultant of the age hole and the facility dynamics in relationships that usually come from the music business. Do you suppose that might have been a plot line in the present day if the present got here out?
It’s so integral to what artists take care of within the business. Placing every thing else apart, being a younger, feminine pop star, it is actually handy {that a} producer actually picks and chooses to return right into a artistic course of and make a music child collectively. It is tremendous susceptible for an artist — you’re creating your sound, your music — and 7 out of 10 instances, you’ll not directly fall in love. There’s so many layers if you find yourself being so artistic with someone who understands you and will get you in such a susceptible, intimate [way, like] creating music. So I like that Stephen and Linda went proper there as a result of with their Degrassi historical past — they go there. I am stunned I did not get an STD on the present, I used to be ready for that episode.
You launched your single “Damage Me” final month. What is the story behind that tune?
It felt prefer it was a pleasant, simple approach to introduce the file, but in addition I actually wished to cease individuals. With this tune, there’s part of us that looks like as a result of we’re damaged or points of us are damaged that we’re not worthy of affection, and “Damage Me” is mainly an anthem about displaying someone that you just’re there no matter their flaws. It is like, “Okay, you may like shit on me, and I will be effective as a result of I have been by means of sufficient in my life at this level that I can truly take it.”
Inform me about why you determined to finish the file with “Mad World.”
As a result of I feel the world goes mad. There’s plenty of hazard within the entry that we have now. Individuals are having a extremely exhausting time navigating the world proper now. I really feel like we’re on this bizarre place the place we do not know what the long run holds, and we’re all swimming, swimming, swimming. “Mad World” was a mirrored image of like, “Yeah, I am gonna make it work it doesn’t matter what finally ends up being thrown.” I am hoping that it is a tune that uplifts individuals by means of and makes them really feel like they will push by means of this.
Is that this the sonic route you wish to proceed with for future information?
With out which means to within the course of of constructing it, I stored throwing down, “I need basic. I’m doing basic chords on the guitar. The songs are being written from the bottom up. I need stay drums, I need stay musicians. I need it to be only a basic file.” After I hear it now, it actually does carry me again to some old-fashioned stuff like Paul Simon. Folks have stated to me after they hear the file that it jogs my memory of Paul Simon combined with Rickie Lee Jones combined with Carole King. I hear these items, and I am going, “Wow, what an enormous praise.” That is the precise sort of file I wished to make.
