Life isn’t about simply taking risks. It’s really about choosing the right risk. You could say that pop singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Johnny Stimson chose rather wisely.
After landing high-profile syncs on The Vampire Diaries and Trophy Wife and building a growing following, the Dallas native urged a European booking agent to get him a show in London. He had a gut feeling something would happen in the wake of it, so he went across the pond for the gig. The next day, he got a rather unexpected, yet extremely welcome call. Stimson reveals, “Someone at the show knew Elton John, told him about my music, and Elton called me the next morning,” he smiles. “In the following months we built this incredible partnership. I recognized the importance of taking risks, because it was the only way I would’ve been able to do this.”
Drawing from influences as diverse as The Beatles, Tom Misch, Sam Cooke, and Frank Ocean, Stimson brings a distinct sense of soul to pop music—not only through his silk-smooth vocals, but also through his impressive skills on each piano, guitar, and bass. Stimson fuses funk-fuelled soundscapes with soulful R&B rasp and leaned-back grooves, creating and maintaining an irresistibility throughout his music. Inspired by interesting chords and theoretical elements, Stimson’s releases mix the organic with the electronic. He confides, “I want to continue to have sonic variety in my music, but to have common thematic and musical ideas that help the songs work together to tell a complete story”.
Leading single ‘Flower’ highlights Stimson’s desire to use songwriting as a tool to journal his life and own emotions, including appreciation and being thankful for life’s journey. Thematically the single narrates that moment in time when you know something is so perfect and you just want to pause time and live in that moment for a while. “The most precious moments are here and gone in a little blink”, expresses the songwriter, "I got to surprise my wife at home for Thanksgiving for a couple days and it was the sweetest time, but it flew by and I had to head back out on tour. It reminded me of those flowers that only bloom for a little while. It’s so beautiful to get that time, but it’s so hard to let it go”. Featuring velvety vocals, romantic lyricism and smokey instrumentation, the single is sure to tug at your heart strings. With simplistic instrumentation, ‘Flower’ is a clear indication that sometimes less can be more.
Stimson’s second release ‘Vacation’ details the relatable feeling of wanting to take a break from all the responsibilities that come with growing up. Showcasing Stimson’s vocal ability, with his stunning falsetto gliding gently atop the bassline and slick jazz infused guitars reminiscent of Tom Misch, the euphoric track oozes a warm, sun-soaked vibe.
Stimson has seen success with his single ‘Holding On’ garnering the title of most Shazam’ed song by an unsigned artist in the UK, as well as reaching Top 40 in the UK’s iTunes charts. Last year, his single “Honeymoon” went viral in Indonesia and landed in #2 spot on iTunes. He has topped the Spotify Viral 50 charts in ten countries, accumulated over twenty five million hits on Spotify alone and received acclaim from publications such as Idolator, Refinery29, MTV Buzzworthy, Nylon, GRAMMY.com, and more. Having toured with the likes of SoMo and Tori Kelly, as well as headlining his own shows across Asia, Stimson is ready to continue the next chapter of his musical career.
Links
instagram.com/johnnystimson
facebook.com/johnnystimson
twitter.com/johnnystimson
