Nancy Carey Johnson
With the release of Shine Your Light, singer-songwriter Nancy Carey Johnson continues her journey of heartfelt storytelling, blending resilience, reflection, humor, and hope into a collection of songs that celebrate life’s challenges and triumphs.
1. Congratulations on the release of Shine Your Light! What was the creative vision behind this EP, and how do you feel it builds upon the foundation you established with Chaos & Grace?
Thank you for your good wishes. To answer your question, Chaos & Grace was a labor of love (and fun), and it’s an interesting album because it’s very eclectic. So when it came to making Shine Your Light, the best way for us (my producer Matt Smith and the guys at 6 String Ranch Studio) to build on C&G was to continue making the best possible music we could (which is also an eclectic mix) and have fun doing it.
2. The songs on Shine Your Light explore themes of resilience, reflection, and connection. Were there any personal experiences or moments in your life that particularly influenced the writing of these tracks?
Absolutely. Life is hard on everybody, and I’m no exception. In terms of connection, I am a “people person,” so connection is very important to me. In terms of resilience, I spent a long time in a very difficult marriage; consequently, I had to become resilient. And while there are those who cringe at the thought of getting older, for me it is a gift because I’ve lived enough life to be able to look back and reflect with the gift of perspective.
When I wrote Shine Your Light, I was thinking about all the unkind things we believe about ourselves and wanted people to dig deeper and see just how wonderful they are. Perfect? Heck no. But you don’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.
3. Your songwriting received national recognition with “Birthday Cake For Breakfast,” winning First Place in American Songwriter Magazine’s heartbreak lyric contest. How did that achievement impact your confidence and approach as a songwriter?
OMGosh, when “Birthday Cake For Breakfast” won American Songwriter Magazine’s heartbreak lyric contest, I was in shock! For me, writing songs is no different than growing a garden or raising children, in that you spend focused time and attention pouring your heart and soul into them, and then when you deem them finished, the time comes when you put them out into the world and let them go.
Winning the contest gave me a big boost of confidence to continue writing, knowing that I must be doing something right.
4. As a Vermont homesteader, mother of four, author, and musician, you draw inspiration from many aspects of everyday life. How do these different roles shape the stories and emotions that find their way into your songs?
As a mother of four boys, having a good sense of humor is a must. As both a writer and songwriter, I find that paying attention to detail is essential. I’m not good at “puzzling,” with the exception of words. So as a writer, I dig deep to find the exact word to describe what I’m seeing, feeling, or experiencing.
Homesteading (and parenting) takes a lot of work and dedication, and as a musician, the music pours out of me, literally. Like anybody, on any given day you experience things that bring you joy, rage, laughter, bemusement, or empowerment. It’s my job to bring all of that together into a cohesive song and story, one that people connect with.
5. Songs like “Guano Loco,” “She Let Him Go,” and “Take Me To The River” each bring a unique flavor to the EP. Can you share the stories behind one or two of these tracks and what they mean to you personally?
I frequently look around at the world and shake my head at what we’ve become. I’m pretty sure most of us have, or at the very least know people who have, gone out with someone who looks great on the outside but underneath that attractive exterior is absolutely batshit crazy. Consequently, I wrote “Guano Loco” as a tongue-in-cheek warning!
Back to life being so hard for people. Because that’s true, it’s often easier to focus on what was “done to us” than to look at our roles in the dramas of our lives. To be fair, those same dramas are shaped by a million little incidents and experiences that become an unconscious, cohesive whole. So when I wrote “She Let Him Go,” I tried to paint the full picture of a woman who unconsciously pushed a man away due to all those experiences, tragedies, and small moments that added up over time.
6. Your live performances are known for blending music, storytelling, humor, and heartfelt moments. What do you hope audiences take away from a Nancy Carey Johnson show, and what’s next for you following the release of Shine Your Light?
When it comes to playing live, the most important thing for me is connection with the audience. With that, I have several goals: I love it when my shows provide a cathartic experience, but I also want my audience to have fun and leave feeling they’ve laughed, been inspired, and are uplifted and empowered.
My next steps are: 1) more performing (I love to play live shows!), 2) more songwriting, 3) more recording, 4) repeat steps 1, 2, and 3.