Autumn 2019Local singer SJ Johnson

SJ Johnson is a local singer who is hoping for chart success with her recent release ‘Lady’

SJ began her singing career in 2005, when she was 22, after successfully auditioning for a local band, Crimson Scarlet, who at the time needed a replacement vocalist.

Following a two year stint gigging and recording with Crimson Scarlet, SJ began working at the Back Door Music project in Rochdale where she met DJ Absolut - regarded by many as being one of the best ‘scratch masters’ in the business, and she left Crimson Scarlet to concentrate on a new musical direction as a session vocalist recording ‘Trance’ in a studio.

SJ secured a publishing contract with 23rd Precinct Music/Notting Hill Music and has been featured on a number of Notting Hill music releases.

During this time she met Si Paul (aka ‘Lost Witness’), a DJ and record producer who had a number of singles released on major electronic dance label Ministry of Sound.

In the recording studio, SJ also met record producer Jim Neild, who she went on to marry in 2007 and divorce in 2014.

Jim encouraged SJ to start writing her own material and her first ever trance song, produced by Si Paul, was snapped up by Armada, the biggest dance label in Europe.

‘Chasing Rainbows’ reached number 4 in the Beatport charts, number 2 on Armada’s Spotify chart and was featured by Armin van Buuren, a Dutch DJ who hosts the radio show ‘A State of Trance’, which is broadcast to more than 37 million weekly listeners in 84 countries on over 100 FM radio stations.

SJ made a move from recording Trance to House music and has been featured on a number of different House labels, including one signed to ‘Armada Deep’. Deep House music is a fast growing genre.

Released in August, SJ’s latest song, ‘Lady’, was co-written with Sally J Crawley and was produced by well known remixer and radio show host Morlando. ‘Lady’ is described as a ‘bubbly, fresh deep house groove with lyrics that will have the clubs in harmony’.

The track is already proving popular and is being played by Des Mitchell on his daily dance radio show for Radio One Mallorca.

The song can be found on Spotfiy, Beatport, iTunes, and other streaming platforms and, along with a promotional video filmed in and around Rochdale, on Youtube.

Along with continuing her House music career, SJ has recently returned to her musical roots and after a 12 year gap, is collaborating with local guitarist/songwriter Malcolm Journeaux on new material, which they will soon be recording.