Stephanie Anne Johnson
Can’t Go Home
Wow. That’s the first word that comes out of my mouth every time I hear Stephanie Anne Johnson’s music. Every note, strum, word, groove - everything drips authenticity. They have been carving out a musical existence since they were 15, when they were “lovingly pushed on stage” to sing “Blue Skies,” scared. Something clicked, because over time she’s opened for such acts as Mavis Staples, Chaka Khan, Ani DiFranco, Joseph, Cedric Burnside, Black Joe Lewis, and Bernie Saunders - seriously. Chances are, you also saw her on The Voice.
A regular around the Tacoma and Seattle scene, they have become a respected staple of the community for their music, and their activism. Listening to their discography it’s easy to see why. In a world where so much music and art is forced, deliberate and lacking honesty, Stephanie Anne Johnson is a rare blend of soul, country, gospel, pop and pure acoustic music. They are a shining example of everything that’s great with music today, a direct affront to the greedy and shallow world of “musicians” who are more interested in celebrity than art. On April 7th, they release a new record called “Jewels,” here’s our review of the first single, “Can’t Go Home.”
Track starts simple - a strum in C with a sus pattern accent. With the first vocal line, you get hit with a heavy story of cleaning out a home that you can’t afford and have to leave. With the end of the first verse, the band gently steps in - bass, electric, pedal steel and drums - as if to give you a hug to get through the ordeal. Love every part being played. The electric and lap don’t get in the way of each other, and the kick and bass sway perfectly, with just the right fluidity. Vocally, it’s a simple and effective hook delivered with Stephanie’s solid tone. Nothing is forced or understated - it’s an honest delivery that denotes longing, sadness and fond memories - all in one. With the second verse, the band picks up the intensity just a bit, and we get to hear a bit of Stephanie’s incredible range and power, even if it’s just in a few simple riffs. Absolutely hooked by this point.
Second chorus has us singing along, and we can see this being a huge crowd pleaser - a massive sing along that everyone can relate to - what a beautiful and relatable lyric, “I got a call from Portland, and it made me think of you.” It’s a sign of great writing when you can take a common phrase like that and make it a beautiful lyric. After the chorus we get a beautiful guitar solo - sounds like a 335 through a Twin, with just the right touch of distortion and reverb. Beautiful phrasing. Textbook playing for Americana music. The B3 behind it all is absolutely lovely - a wispy addition that adds incredible depth.
With the bridge we see a change in chord progression and the addition of more backgrounds that have slowly worked their way in through the whole track. And when you think you’re going to get a repeat of the final chorus, you get a wonderful surprise in it’s absence, with a soft ending that uses the title as it’s repeating phrase. Great way to end a stunning track. Kudos to the Producer and accompanying musicians - great work.
Make sure you scroll down to catch their socials and other tracks. In addition to hearing her tracks for her appearance on The Voice, you get to hear some beautiful gems that will soothe your soul. You must check out her work with her band, The Hidogs. “2am” is a lovely ballad driven by an ukulele with a groove that is as deep as her vocals. Absolutely love the chord progression on the chorus here - such beautiful writing. “American Blues” is a perfect. Damn, those vocals are utterly amazing. The whole track is moving. “Naturally,” from 2021, is probably my favorite. Lovely, simple groove, fluid bass line and a great set of lap steel tones underneath Stephanie’s soulful delivery and pocket perfect acoustic. A perfect blend of Soul and Americana.
So thankful for your work, Stephanie. You’re a treasure to the music world, Tacoma is lucky to have you!