Brit graduate and iconic songwriter Louis Vann Johnson stopped by MoggBlog HQ to chat about hidden talents, why music is the right path for him, if he prefers performing or live and lots more!

To anyone new to your music, name 3 words that best describe your sound.

Dynamic, colourful and emotive.

Introduce yourself and your hidden talent!

Hello MoggBlog, my name is Louis Vann Johnson. I’m a singer, songwriter, composer, producer and musician. My hidden talent is mimicking voices, sounds or beats. This led me on to beat boxing which I actually use in my own production. I can do various character voices and
weird things with my voice. I’ve also been able to touch my nose with my tongue for as long as I can remember and do those tongue looping tricks, I don’t know what they are called lol.

What made you decide that music is the right path for you?

I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember so I’d say rather than something or someone made me want to get into it, I feel more like I was made or built for it. Before I could play the guitar, I could hold it properly as a baby. I knew so many songs off by heart, singing words I couldn’t possibly comprehend as I was still in nursery. I come from a musical family. They always supported my journey with music but never forced it on me, it was always my choice if I wished to pursue it. However, my dad saw that I loved it and used to do little musical games with me like copying rhythms. He’d tap out or seeing if I could hear other musical parts in a song. I loved it! So it’s something I’ve always wanted to do but I was nurtured well and I’m sure if I didn’t want to do it when I was young I would have stopped, and there’d be no way of forcing me down that road lol.

Do you prefer performing live or recording and why?

I feel like both have their seasons. They both serve a level of expression I wish to fulfil and I feel they are a natural progression of each other. E.g you may come up with an idea to record and so you do but then want to express that same idea in a different format so that’s where live performance could come in. On the flip side, you could have a song you gig live but never record but over time the more you play it, say with a band, or the more musical interpretations you hear of it inspires you to want to record it a certain way. Both processes are magical. For me, they do come at certain times and very rarely together as I like to really indulge in a space if I’m gonna go there. I think they require a certain amount of energy so ideally I’d put the time into recording and live in that space. Once I have what I intended to record I can start focusing on live. At most I may write and record very little ideas while in a live mind set but I’ll be banking those ideas for when the live session is over.

What’s the best advice you’d give your younger self?

I love this question! The best advice I’d give my younger self at this stage in life is to learn to let go and not worry. Do not hold back who you are out of fear or judgement even if that judgement comes from people who are close to you. Learn when it’s appropriate to be silent and when is appropriate to speak your truth. Be ok with being self serving when there is a time for it. Your emotions and opinions are just as valid as anyone else’s but approach situations with balance. Take in every moment because things change very quickly, enjoy whatever moment you’re in and trust your gut. Like Bruce Lee said “Don’t think, feel”.

Louis’ forthcoming single ‘Backfired’ is out worldwide July 7th

You can follow Louis Vann Johnson on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.