Q: When did you start making music and what were your major inspirations? Tell me about your first show as well.
Wow. The fist time I can remember writing a song was in high school, the 9th grade and it was called "Dead Rose" LOL! I had a little group, we were called J,K, L ; our initials and we were serious! We rehearsed, we picked days to dress in a girl group theme, we all sung in choir together and I just remember how great it felt creating something. I have always loved music, I would go to choir rehearsal with my parents and while all the adults were rehearsing I would rehearse all of the kids (mind you I was 7-9 years old at the time). I don't remember my first show because I have really been perfoming all my life.
My major musical inspirations changed throughout my life. When I was young it was whatever my Dad had on: The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Patti Labelle, Alexander O'Neal, Najee, Kenny G. Then it was Whitney Houston, Jody Watley, Madonna, Micheal Jackson, Janet Jackson, Lisa Standfield. Then I fell in love with Hip Hop: Common, The Roots, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, Kanye West, T. I. and now it's just good music: Esperanza Spalding, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Paramore, Maroon 5.....
Q: What is the best part about being a musician?
Freedom to be who you are and evoke an emotion in someone else because of that freedom.
Q: What are some major highlights or best memories in your music ventures thus far?
Major highlights, auditioning for American Idol season 9 and Mary J. Blige saying I could sing, she loved my look and the way I phrased the song. As well as Simon saying he liked me. Another time I'll never forget is singing a song at church and when church was over this little girl like 4 years old coming up to me and when she saw me she smiled and started singing the song I had sung in service earlier. Singing on the Orpheum stage, the same stage I saw Jill Scott perform on. Those stand out in my mind and I cherish those memories.
Q: What do you have coming up?
I am SO EXCITED, I have an EP that I'm calling T.I.M.E. I will be dropping it in less than 2 months! I really hope Memphis will support me on this one. It will be a mixture of R&B, Soul, Pop, just some good stuff!
Q: Is there anything about your music that you can attribute to living in Memphis or the south in general?
Oh my goodness yes! When I moved here, my voice changed. I was so upset for like the first year or two because the air quality was so bad it gave me this rasp on my voice but then I embraced that rasp and started to listen to different music, Al Green, The Staple Singers, Ruby Wilson, I listened really close and noticed most singers from Memphis have this rasp that they sing through and it creates this really authentic sound. It's what makes you feel what they're singing is real. I love it now! I love that Memphis is so rich in musical history and how everyone is so talented it breeds nothing but talented people. If you can stand up anywhere in Memphis and sing and get anyone to clap, you can perform anywhere in the world. LOL! Memphis is a tough crowd because excellence is the norm here. It's taught me a lot.
Q: Other than music, what else do you do?
I love to eat. No serious, I have a serious love for food so I'm always trying new restaurants or places. I love to dance and travel, I love a good book I literally have hundreds of books and I've read every single one of them, at least twice LOL! I work for a Multicultural Marketing agency, I like long walks in the park, oh wait this isn't an ad for a date right? LOL! Music is who I am but in general, I'll try anything at least once.
Keia Johnson's Memphis Recommendations:
Best Music Venue
Cafe Soul, Newby's, Hi-tone, the Orpheum
Best Place to Eat
Bosco's, The Beauty Shop
Best Place to be Enlightened
Benjamin L. Hooks Library
Local Artists
Janelle Monae, Eric Roberson, Jwhite, King Ellis, Skweby
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