For Stephen Peck (hommage To Lucier)

christian taylor and derek johnson
a beautiful demo of david lang's setting of lou reed's heroin

HEROIN 2012 01 31

Sean Friar's Album

Breaking Point (Sean Friar)

composed by Brendon Randall-Myers
performed and recorded by Derek Johnson

DOUBLE DOUBLE 2016 REV

Endless Deeps (2015)

Derek Johnson • “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL”

The Murphy Arts Center in Fountain Square has had a long life serving artists, and has been home to several music venues over the years. When asked to write a site-specific composition for a place in Indianapolis, percussionist and composer Derek Johnson instantly thought of the “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL” sign on top of The Murphy building—a mural installed in 2007 by the creative efforts of the Department of Public Words (DPIndy). Their efforts encourage positive words and messages of empowerment. This mural, seen nearly every day by residents when moving around this vibrant neighborhood, is even more well known to artists like Johnson who live and work in the Murphy Building. Johnson’s YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL is a love letter to a place that embraces the sign’s message—it creates a state of being that is intrinsic, but also constantly strived for through consistency and practice. Art in all its forms reminds people of the inherent beauties that exists in every human being. The repetitive vocals set to an electronic track feel radiant as they emanate from the brick wall in an upbeat and hopeful cascade into the heart of the city.

GPS Location: 39.752849, -86.140922
Duration: 03:44
Year: 2017
Commissioned by Sound Expeditions

Photo by Mandy Crandell

Derek Johnson - YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

August 2012
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Tony Arnold, soprano
Jeffrey Milarsky, conductor

Tony Arnold's Album

Oliver Knussen: Requiem: Songs for Sue, mvts 3 & 4

Demo for BECK SONG READER INDIANAPOLIS
Music & lyrics by Beck Hansen
Produced by AMPERSAND 
DEREK JOHNSON/CHRISTIAN TAYLOR & CALEB McCOACH
Engineered by DEREK JOHNSON
Recorded at JoHNsoNgs, FOUNTAIN SQUARE, Indianapolis
Friday December 21, 2012, 6:45-7:33PM
Mixed & mastered by fast-acting, benevolent robots

The Wolf Is on the Hill demo

From Musical Family Tree.com's "EP In A Weekend" project.
Source Material by Generation Elevators is the first EP in the series. It was written and performed by Christian Taylor, Derek Johnson, and Cole Nicholas in one weekend, June 8 - 10, 2012.

Engineered and mixed by Andy Fry, with Ben Bernthal.

lyrics adapted from e.e. cummings (CP pg. 449) by derek johnson
music composed from the source material of steve reich and cole nicholas by derek johnson
christian taylor - lead vocal, freakout guitar
derek johnson - rhythm and freakout guitars, bass, drum programing, backing vocal
cole nicholas - freakout guitar and backing vocal

HEROIN 2012 01 31

derekjohnsoncomposer