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Hey Johnny! Thanks for joining our 2nd Ones To Watch showcase in Singapore, we had a blast! How was your Asia tour and what were some of your favorite highlights? Your most memorable fan encounter? 

Thank you so much!! It was really an incredible experience to be in Asia again. It has been so special to connect with everybody in real life. I think one of my favorite moments was meeting some of the "Stimmies" in the Philippines. There's a little group of superfans that call themselves the Stimmies and they are the most wonderful people. We've really connected over the past couple of years, so it was super sweet to spend some time with them and finally meet them in real life. They even brought me a "johnny happy jar" that has all these encouraging messages inside for me anytime I need them. they are the best. every show has been so so special and i am feeling really encouraged out here.  

Throughout your work, there is a sense of nostalgic inspiration reflected across, from 8-bit video games, lomo photography to vcr & lo-fi videos. Tell us more about your artistic vision and where It stems from? 

That's so cool of you to notice! You know i think it's probably just a reflection of what i've been thinking about the past few years. i feel like life is passing so quickly and i've been writing a lot about that. haha maybe it even comes out in the artwork, because i just love that era. i had a grey gameboy when i was a kid and i have always loved to draw. that comic book, lofi, 8-bit world just feels like a cozy blanket for my music to be wrapped up inside.  

Where do you draw the biggest inspiration from for your songwriting? 

Really from my own life! sometimes i like to write about concepts outside of myself, but i think my songwriting has become much more personal in the past few years. it's like the journal and the soundtrack to my own life.  

Friends is one of our favorite songs on the album? Can you walk us thru the lightbulb moment for the song’s creation? 

Friends is one of my favorites! my nephew actually thought it would be nice to write a song for his friend. it was so sweet so i made a little voice memo of the first verse and refrain. i just kept humming it so i decided to write the whole song. i thought about my friends in real life and how much it means to have rich friendships. i thought about all the "stimmies" who have become true friends over the past few years and it's an ode to them too. it's such a beautiful thing to have people to care about and people to lean on in tough times. this is my way of just saying it out loud - "i love my friends." 

In Episode 5 - Friends it looks like you had a lot of fun bowling. What are some of your favorite activities to do with your friends when you are back home in Dallas? What important qualities do you look for in a friend? 

Haha we actually did have a great time! those are two of my best friends in the world, luke and hunter, in the video. i do actually love to bowl! i was in the bowling class with my roommates in college and we had the best time going there at 8am once a week. i always love a great breakfast and a coffee with a close friend. i am out of town often, so i really enjoy sitting down for a meal and having a great convo. you know i really tried to put some of my real feelings about friendship into the song, "friends." to me, a friend is loyal, kind, and always on your mind. haha and lots of other things too! but one thing i learned from my grandma is that it takes effort to be someone's friend. you have to care and spend time and energy to be there for them and with them. she did that beautifully and it's something i always want to work on in myself. 

How has 2023 been so far? What are you looking forward to?

Last year was a really special year. I feel really grateful for so many close friends and such a loving family. We lost my grandma in 2022 and that has been hard. She was really special. but i think there has been a lot of growth for me personally and i am glad to be right here in this moment. I want to release more music and play more live shows this year. This last tour has encouraged me SO so so so much and I have a really big plan in mind for 2023.  

What are some upcoming projects we can look forward to? 

Final two episodes came out february to wrap up "the way it was before" album. and then.... NEW ALBUM!!! NEW TOUR DATES!!!! tons of stuff. I hope we will be back out to Asia again soon!! 

If you can switch lives with any artist for a day, who would it be and why? 

Paul mccartney. i think i would just play piano all day and sing songs and it would be a really nice day. actually that's what i do mostly at home anyway haha so i am happy being me. 

Which artist is on your Ones To Watch List right now and why? 

I just can't get enough of vulfpeck right now. i've been playing drums a lot lately and i love playing along to those jams.  

What piece of advice would you offer to new artists just starting out? 

Hmm. here's something i need to remind myself sometimes. just remember that you are the one who has to care the most about the art you make. you can't wait on another artist, or connection, or producer, or business person to care about it more than you. i think it has really benefited me when i remember that it's my ship to steer and to be confident in my decisions. and of course having a willingness to learn in humility when you inevitably make some wrong moves along the way. 

Thank you Johnny, It's been a pleasure!

Thanks for all the great questions! 

Check out Johnny Stimson's Ones To Watch Singapore Interview!

Make sure to check out his latest single - Best Day Ever!