A landscape made of Electronic, Chill, Rock, and BPM. Across them all are multiple layers and a variety of instruments, with the hope that these are songs you can listen to over and over.

My inspiration runs from Tycho, Blackmill, Little Dragon, and Odesza, to U2, INXS, The Doors, and anything Hope Sandoval does, to luminaries like Lewis Carrol, Borjes, Kafka, and Dylan. 

Thank you for listening; enjoy! 
nicoleboulderguitar@gmail.com

linktr.ee/bearisland
IG: @bearislandbruh
Booking: bearislandorg@gmail.com.

“Scott Albert Johnson manhandles his harmonica with a master’s flair. He is a triple-threat artist who can sing, write and blow his emotions clear on out of his harmonica like nobody’s business.”
Goldmine [USA]
 
“Scott Albert Johnson is a great songwriter. He writes about man's journey: who we are, where we stand and where our lives take us. His musings about life are cast in clever melodies, sung by a voice that seemingly knows no limitations. He is extremely versatile on the harmonica… sometimes you hear the influence of Toots Thielemans, then Howard Levy, and then Stevie Wonder. Johnson has made another excellent record.”
Rootstime [Belgium]
 
"Scott Albert Johnson’s new record Going Somewhere knocks me out. The songs are memorable, the singing intense, and the harmonica new and powerful... It’s the most daring rock harmonica record since Blues Traveler came along to shake everybody up with a completely different take on the instrument."
 Richard Hunter, author of Jazz Harp (the original instructional book on jazz harmonica), hunterharp.com

"Scott Albert Johnson is a virtuoso harmonica player and an excellent singer and songwriter as well. After a few spins, the lyrics remain all around in your head. Johnson has made an equally beautiful and special album. ”
Rudolf’s Music [Netherlands]
  
“Scott Albert Johnson is fiercely original. This isn't just an album to listen to. It's an album to explore. Great songs, vocals and harp and instrumentation.”
Jon Gindick, author of Rock N’ Blues Harmonica and one of the preeminent harmonica teachers in the world, gindick.com

 “There are harmonica players and then there is Scott Albert Johnson… One of the best harp players in the world.”
Cashbox Music Reviews

Born in St. Louis and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Scott Albert Johnson was bathed in the wide range of the American songbook, as well as the sounds of his 1970’s and 80’s childhood.  The soul and spirit of that diversity is at the core of his new album, Going Somewhere. Johnson incorporates elements of rock, jazz, blues, funk, country, and world music, mixed with thoughtful lyrics, strong vocals, and virtuosic harmonica playing, to create a unique, modern concoction of sound.

“I’m influenced by almost every kind of music that I’ve ever heard,” says Johnson.  “Growing up in the heart of the South, obviously blues has had a big impact on me.  It’s also the heart and soul of virtually every type of modern music.  But I also grew up a big fan of artists like Peter Gabriel, the Police, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Bruce Hornsby, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Daniel Lanois, John Scofield, and Rush, just to name a few.  So I draw on all of that, and I try to write lyrics and music that have an emotional as well as intellectual impact.  Then I throw in some harmonica for good measure.”

Johnson has become a true harmonica master, utilizing a unique and difficult technique known as “overblow,” which allows the diatonic harmonica to be played as a fully chromatic instrument.  He is one of a small group of players who can do this.  He also utilizes digital effects to expand the sonic palette of the instrument, and he counts such harmonica masters as Toots Thielemans, John Popper, Howard Levy, Stevie Wonder, and the late Chris Michalek as major influences.  Yet Johnson sees the harmonica as just one piece of what he does musically.

“I've always felt most influenced by artists who are kind of what I would call triple-threats,” says Johnson. “They sing well, they play at least one instrument very well, and they write great songs. I take each of these three parts of the equation as seriously as any other part. I also feel most in-tune with artists who kind of are ‘their own genre,’ borrowing from many different kinds of music. I hope my music reflects that.”

Worshop for Atome68 rock band. Many instruments : drums, harmonica, kalimba, shekere, maracas, woodblock, bell, agogo, birds, shells,... with à lot of sticks, rods and brushes.

Mount Famine are a duo from Derbyshire (UK) whose previous releases have achieved support from BBC Introducing (Track of the Week) and XS Manchester. The band are now on the return with a new sound and new music.

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