Shimmer Johnson Following Her Dream
When did you first get into music? What was your inspiration? Music has been a part of me my entire life. I started singing with my father Aaron when I was just 3 years old. We would sing on the weekend with family and record our favourite country songs. It was a great experience. As I got older I started doing talent competitions and at 18 got into my first cover band. At 21 I met my co-writer Corey Johnson and since then we have been writing originals.
You ask what my inspiration is. My inspiration is myself and my journey I am on. The type of music I write seems to connect with people at the core. I write about real life feelings and emotions that everyone can relate to. I like to think that people feel a sense of calmness when they listen to my music. To know that they are not the only ones that experience the feelings that they are feeling. Plus my music is very memorable and easy to sing along to.
How has your music evolved since you first began creating music? It has crazily evolved since I was a kid. I started out singing country music. Then I fell in love with pop music. I would listen to all the diva’s like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. They taught me how to truly sing. I always connected with their music inside my soul. I knew that Adult Contemporary Pop was the style that was my “true” me. In my teens I experimented with rock and grunge. Fell in love with groups like No Doubt and 100 Watt Bulb and singers like Kate Bush, Tori Amos and Alanis Morisette. When I started writing original music I went more on the contemporary pop rock edge doing a mashup of the genres. I still do that today! I finally found my unique sound after listening to contemporary christian artist Lauren Daigle. She inspired me to write my album “Inner Me”. Had I not had access to Lauren’s amazing talents on her album, I don’t think I would have ever written songs so personal like I did on Inner Me. Examples of songs you should check out on Inner Me, “You Keep Me Grounded”, “Priceless”, “Candle” and “Rise.” Plus I even did a contemporary rock version of the 1989 Billboard Hit Toy Soldiers, that was originally made popular. by Martika.
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