Laura Johnson

by Alyson Vykhovanyuk

This month's chick pick is Laura Johnson, a 27-year-old bassist who's been playing for almost thirteen years, but has been involved with music since she was a child. She's been in a variety of different bands, including punk, goth, blues/jazz and all kinds of rock. With four official album credits (and one unofficial) under her belt, she has a lot going for her resume-wise and has even made a professional music video.

Laura can sing and harmonize (including the harsh growling/screaming you hear in a lot of heavy music) and play a variety of instruments including guitar, keyboard and drums. Her improvisational skills are impressive--she can pick up a guitar and play a song from the radio, even if she's never tried to play it before--and she feels comfortable "jamming" all kinds of music. She is also talented at writing both music and lyrics.

Until about a month-and-a-half ago, Laura was always in a band. Recently she left her band and risked a lot to join what she thought was a very promising, money-making project. Unfortunately that didn't work out, and she found herself unemployed and bandless. Currently in the process of getting back on her feet financially and trying to wipe the bitter taste out of her mouth, Laura is now trying to find the right people to work with musically and move forward again. I took a few moments with Laura to discuss what it's like trying to make it in the music business today and above all, to follow your dreams.

AV: At what age did you get involved with music?

LJ: I guess my mom, who is also a musician, noticed that I had some talent at an early age, and got me started on piano lessons when I was four. That was pretty funny -- I had a really good ear and never really learned how to read music. Instead, I would come home and ask my mom to play the sight-reading piece I'd been assigned, then go back to the lesson the next week and play it from memory.

I started playing violin in the fourth grade, and continued into high school when I joined the school orchestra. At that point, I heard these very cool low notes being played from the back of the room, and discovered the bass. When I was 15 or so, I was asked to join a goth-y band playing keyboards. Well, the bassist wasn't all that great, and I ended up borrowing a bass and small amp from a friend of my mom's and taught myself the basics by playing along with R.E.M. and They Might be Giants tapes. I replaced the bassist of the band and have been playing ever since.

I've also been singing my whole life in school and church choirs and also singing backup vocals with the bands I've been in.

AV: How do you feel that music has influenced your life overall?

LJ: Music has always been a big part of my life and to be honest, I can't picture a life in which music WASN'T involved. I feel like it's a part of my identity -- people just know me as a musician. I'm the one who picks up the acoustic guitar on camping trips and improvises drunken songs. I'm the crazy chick who goes up and sings Madonna songs at karaoke, followed by a Black Sabbath tune. I've met a lot of interesting people through music. When people (musicians and non-musicians) find out I play and sing, they always seem to think it's pretty cool. I like to be able to entertain and provide others with a fun time.

AV: Who are some of your musical role models and influences?

LJ: I think my mom is my biggest musical influence. She can play almost any instrument you put in front of her and has a LOT of talent. For rock, my favorite band is Tool. My favorite music tends to be melodic, heavy and progressive stuff. I like bands that throw weird stuff in there -- sitars and unusual instruments. I like bands with a lot of dynamics (quiet to heavy, building in intensity). I don't really have any particular bassists I admire -- I tend to listen to the music as a whole instead of picking out specific parts.

AV: What was the last CD you bought/downloaded?

LJ: I think the last CD I bought was Finntroll -- Jaktens Tid. They're this insane polka/death metal band that actual has accordions on top of the evil growling. It's hilarious! I like a lot of music that is relatively unknown to most people, but I can also get into a well-written pop song that you might hear on the radio.

AV: Do you use music as an outlet for your emotions? Just to have fun? Both?

LJ: A little from column A, a little from column B. I've had times where something was going on in my head and I couldn't rest until I'd written a song about it. If I'm angry or upset, rocking out for a while can be a great way to let it out. And of course, I also do it for fun and hopefully to provide others with entertainment.

AV: Music seems to be where you are "at" and I know you enjoy performing, but if you were offered a job behind the band like doing mixes, etc., would you be fullfilled doing that?

LJ: That's an interesting question. Yes, I think it would be rewarding and fulfilling to make a living doing that kind of thing. I've gotten interested in the behind-the-scenes aspect of music lately, particularly producing and mixing. I think that since I have a good natural ear, I would be good at helping to achieve the desired sound. I need to learn a lot more before going into that -- there is a lot involved, and I simply don't have the knowledge--yet--to be able to get behind a mixer and make a band sound good. I hope to get there someday, and hopefully sooner rather than later, but I'll need a lot of practice. I love performing, of course, but I would totally take a mixing job if I had the right knowledge and was offered the opportunity.

AV: What's the strangest thing that ever happened to you before, during, or after a show?

LJ: There have been a couple of funny things. I was recently watching an old videotape of a show I played when I was around 19, and this old dude was standing right in front of me the whole time. After every song he'd try to strike up a conversation, and I was in the middle of a freaking set!

Another time I played a show with a blues band on my 20th birthday. The singer announced "Happy 23rd birthday to Laura, our bassist!" and I took a bow. Afterwards everybody was buying me shots and beers and asking me how it felt to be 23. I'm thinking to myself, "It's pretty awesome, especially when you bypass 21 and 22!"

There are always drunk guys who somehow feel entitled to come on to you. Once after a show I was talking to two friends of mine, who both happened to have big old lumberjack beards. A guy kept trying to butt into our conversation and I was completely uninterested and kind of ignoring him (in a nice way, of course). After a while he gave up and went "Fine, I ain't messin' with no Amish dudes," and walked away. I guess he thought he was going to get stabbed with a pitchfork or something.

AV: How is your stage persona different from your own persona, or is it?

LJ: Onstage I try to keep my mouth shut so I don't look like too much of a dork! Other than that, it's not too different. The energy is pretty intense up on stage--I like to move around a lot and put on a show. But then, I kind of like putting on a show off-stage, too.

I dress differently and wear cooler makeup and generally act like more of a rock star while I'm onstage--after all, that's my job!! No one wants to see their next-door neighbor up there; I think they'd rather have something larger-than-life. When people pay good money to see a show, I try to make sure they get one.

AV: Do you have any pre-show traditions, and if so, what are they?

LJ: Nope, no rituals. I just do the normal stuff like make sure I'm in tune and that I hooked up everything correctly. Oh, one thing that drives me crazy is when bands take forever to set up, so I try to kick everybody's ass into gear and keep the set-up time as minimal as possible. Again, you didn't pay your hard-earned bucks to see a bunch of lazy band members wander around on stage for a half hour.

AV: What's your favorite thing about performing? Fame? The creative outlet?

LJ: Another good question. Well, I think I really like the recognition. I know that music is the thing I do the best in life and it means a lot to me to have people see that and tell me they liked the show. With other things in life, you may not get any feedback--say you're doing some data entry at work. You're not going to have crowds of people screaming for you and applauding how quickly you entered that column of numbers (at least I don't). But when you go up there and do your thing and do it well, people love you. Maybe I have some kind of psychological problems--I really enjoy and appreciate the recognition!

AV: Do you find yourself being discriminated against being a woman and playing heavy music?

LJ: Sometimes it comes up--usually before the person actually sees me play. Unfortunately women have a pretty bad rep in heavy music. It doesn't seem like there are many females out there who can really PLAY. So sometimes people will think "oh, female bassist" and think I'll just be playing really boring, one-note bass lines. I love getting the chance to prove them wrong!

So yeah, that has definitely happened to me. The other time it will happen is when I go to audition for a band, or play with people for the first time.You can just see it in their faces -- they're super-skeptical. Then I do something cool or complex and their faces light up. That's a really good feeling.

I want to mention, though, that this kind of thing doesn't happen very frequently. For the most part people are very welcoming and respectful of a chick who knows her instrument. (Or maybe they're just trying to get in my pants.)

AV: As a female, how do you balance your appeal as a sex symbol versus your substance as a musician? Are you disturbed by people who judge you more for your external qualities?

LJ: I just have to hope that that my musical talent and skill show me to be a real musician and not just eye candy. People usually get a sense that I know what I'm talking about if I get into a conversation about music or bass playin'. And most people can see that I'm up there playing stuff that usually requires some skill, so I don't think I get lumped into the "eye-candy" category too often (at least I hope not).

When I get into a band, it's because they want the whole package--my experience, talent, skill and also looks. You really can't escape the fact that appearance makes a difference in the music business. Would Britney Spears have the same kind of success if she was unattractive? Probably not.

If you're female and playing or singing, you're expected to look attractive. This is one thing that is totally different for guys and girls, especially in heavy music. The guys can be overweight and greasy and still be successful members of bands. Most metal fans and industry people don't care about appearance as much as people dealing with pop music, which is cool. In a way that's kind of the nature of genres like alternative and metal -- it's supposed to be outside the norm, so if the drummer doesn't look like a model, it's no big deal. But women just plain have a much, MUCH harder time making it if they don't look a certain way, no matter what style of music it is. When's the last time you saw a non-hottie on MTV?

It's true for all aspects of entertainment, too. Look at TV and the movies. You always see an older, not-so-attractive man with a completely drop-dead gorgeous woman. There are certain standards out there, and unfortunately, I don't see them going away any time soon. It's totally unfair and biased, but if you're going to try to make it in the popular music business, you'd better look decent.

No matter what you do, there are always going to be a few people out there who simply refuse to accept you for your abilities and choose to judge you in other ways. Sure, it bothers me, but I just continue to do the best I can and hope that they see the light. I kind of feel bad for those people for missing out. Maybe they're not getting the best doctor or lawyer because they discriminate based on appearance.

AV: If you could join any band you wanted, who would it be?

LJ: Tool or Opeth. Opeth isgreat -- I would love to be in a band that so effortlessly flows between intensity levels during a song.

AV: You're helming a new supergroup (like Earth Wind & Fire, not like the Justice League) -- who's in it and why?

LJ: Aw, I wanted to pick Wolverine. Well, I'd probably have Mike Patton (Faith No More) singing, the drummer from Tool, some crazy shredding death metal guy on guitars, and myself on bass. It's hard to pick individuals because I pay so much more attention to the overall sound of a band than its members. You need the whole package to really make it work, so any musician from any of the bands I like would be welcome additions to a supergroup I'd put together. I'd want musicians who are well-versed in all different types of music and are open-minded enough to try something unique or different.

AV: Is being in a band the only thing that would make you happy, or would you venture out as a solo artist?

LJ: My best friend just brought this up last night, actually, with the idea that I should take some of my acoustic stuff out to an open mic. I can't picture myself doing that all the time though. I think it would be cool to put out an acoustic solo album, but I really like the band dynamic and I've come to rely on the help of other musicians to give ideas for a song and make it complete. I mean, I'm not a drummer so how am I going to write the best drum part? I can picture myself being the singer and primary songwriter of a band, but I wouldn't go out as "Laura Johnson" if you know what I mean. I would come up with a band name and have loud guitars and a backing band.

AV: What are the biggest challenges to reaching your dreams? Money? Flaky band members?

LJ: Money is always a problem. I wish I had the money to put together a home studio and then write and record full-time. But I gotta work, and I don't have the cash to buy the equipment I'd need. It can be exhausting to work full-time and then go to band practice until 11 p.m., or to go play a show on a weeknight and not get home until three in the morning! If I were somehow independently wealthy, I think I'd get a lot more done.

As far as bandmates go, it can be tough to find someone you're on the same page with. Different people have different goals and diffferent life situations. A band always works better when everybody has the same goal, whether it's to play at bars for fun or to try to get signed to a major label. Finding the right people to work with is definitely a challenge for me.

AV: Who are your biggest supporters? Your parents? Your boyfriend?

LJ: I'm very fortunate to have people in my life who are supportive of my musical ventures. As I've mentioned, my mom is a musician too and understands a lot of what I go through in terms of struggles and successes. I feel like I can always talk to her if I need advice. My boyfriend is also very supportive -- he even brags about me sometimes (although not too often since he doesn't want me to develop a big head). And the rest of my family and friends are cool and understanding about it, too. I feel really lucky.

I've heard too many stories about musicians, artists, actors, etc. whose parents aren't supportive at all. One of my recent acquaintances is an outstanding drummer who graduated from high school and college with honors. He was practically the perfect kid. But somehow, even though he was doing all the right things and living his life in a good, moral way that his parents should have been proud of, they refused to approve of him or even treat him like a son because his goals were to be successful in the music industry. I find that reprehensible. Music and the arts bring so much to the world. If your kid shows creative or artistic talent you should really encourage it. Every parent wants what's best for their kid. That means being supportive of the things they show interest or talent in, while giving them every opportunity possible to be a success on their own terms.

AV: If you could do one thing over in your journey toward your dream, what would that be?

LJ: For one thing, I would be more ruthless about who I worked with. Too often I've found myself letting situations happen to me. Like joining bands because a friend of a friend asked me, even though I wasn't really into the music or didn't really think it was a worthwhile project (I'm not saying this has specifically happened; it's just an example of the KIND of thing that has occurred).

Instead of really seeking out the best possible people to collaborate with, I've found myself in musical situations that weren't the best thing for me. And once I get into a band, I have this fierce sense of loyalty to it -- I'll do everything I can to push it along, even if it's dragging. I've offered to pay out of my pocket for the pressing and reproduction of a CD just to "save" a band, even though I hadn't written any of the songs and had almost no creative input.

The other thing I would have done differently is accept that it's possible to make a living in the music industry. I never fully understood all the different avenues there are for a career in the music business, and didn't realize that there's more to it than being a rock star. If I'd known that, I could have gone to school for production or actually have been a music major. That kind of education could have opened a lot of doors to me a lot more quickly!

AV: If you could change the world, how would it be? What about if you could just change the music world?

LJ: Wow. Well...if I could change the world in general, everybody would have equal access to education and health care, no one would live in poverty, and everyone would have the same opportunities. I would change a lot of other things, too, but let's start with a little equality.

There are a lot of things I would change about the music industry. I would like to bring people an interesting variety of talent-filled music instead of the same five songs you hear on the radio every day. I'd like music to be more about personal preference than what's shoved down your throat every day. I'd like people to be able to develop their own taste instead of following musical trends. Lots of people listen to certain artists by default, because that's all they're exposed to through the popular media.

AV: Where do you see yourself in five years?

LJ: I hope I'm doing something musical for a living, preferably performing my own material with a band! Music aside, I would like to be married to my boyfriend and living comfortably in a nice house. Decorated with skulls.

Laura Johnson lives in Philadelphia and can be visited at http://home.comcast.net/~laurabassist/.