Artist Interview: Joe T. Johnson

By Rosie Burgess | December 18, 2023

Words by Binki Elsbury

Resonate’s Binki sits down with indie artist Joe T. Johnson to discuss the records that shaped him. 

I had never been much of a fan of the ‘new wave’ indie that Joe T. Johnson has been described as spearheading. I guess I always had lumped it together with the self-involved masculinity of Brit-pop bands from the 90s, admiring only their attempts at capturing something quintessentially British about the time. I preferred the dark comedy of classic records such as Original Pirate Material from The Streets, which I always felt were more self-aware in their observations of Britain and men. 

However, I was immediately struck by the humility in Joe T. Johnson’s releases. You can still cop the fantastic English Elegance on Rough Trade Records now and hear how Johnson combines the sarcy observational lyricism of his British rock ‘n’ roll predecessors with a touch of warmth and a lo-fi production in standout tracks like Twist. Intrigued by what records must have shaped him, I sat down with Joe T. Johnson to track his musical journey. 

Joe enthusiastically pulled out 10 of his classic records: 

St. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club / The Beatles 

“I like to think a good record represents a time/era, and this album does that perfectly for me.”

Never Mind the Bollocks / Sex Pistols 

“I would have loved to have been involved in this album. For me, it’s iconic.”

Ram / Paul McCartney 

“One of the first true indie records.” 

Nevermind / Nirvana 

“This still sounds fresh today.”

A Hard Day’s Night / The Beatles 

“It was the first Beatles film that I had watched. I was about 13 and loved it so much I cut my hair into a bowl right after watching it.” 

Bleach / Nirvana 

“My teenage years summed up in a nutshell.” 

English Tapas / Sleaford Mods 

“They were my favourite act that I saw at Glastonbury one year.” 

The Clash / London Calling 

“Since moving to London, I’ve had this record on repeat.”

Crybaby / Lil Peep

“I wish I knew about Lil Peep sooner.”

 Is This It / Strokes 

“Brings back good memories. This album will forever be in my heart.” 

Originally hailing from St Ives, Johnson described having to make a two-hour journey to any record store with a substantial enough collection. Having spent my childhood on the fringes of what might be considered Bristol, I can understand the frustration of digging through charity shop CD stands only to find some Michael Bublé and the occasional Kylie Minogue. It’s perhaps no surprise that Johnson then went to study here at BIMM, recommending hidden gem Longwell Records in Keynsham and the occasional pop-up in Whapping Warf, stocking a mix of classic records and new Bristol releases 

Digging through Rough Trade Bristol is how many may have discovered Johnson’s work. His debut EP, English Elegance, was released as an in-store CD in 2020 with cover art from photographer Rob Bremner. The photographer is known for his images of everyday life in Liverpool during the 80s when, as Bremner described in The Guardian, “you’d only take photos if you were on holiday.” This collaboration made for a stylistically solid debut from Johnson, with themes of British mundanity and grey skies taken further in releases such as Cold Streets. On this track, Johson makes new-wave his own, with a soaring brass section that commands the same bravado as teenagers chucking rocks as they ‘ironically’ hang out in the park’s playground. 

Inspired by the imagery provoked by his music, we spoke about what movies and television his music might soundtrack. He went for.

This Is England

Young Offenders (my suggestion!)

Any cheesy indie film starring Timothee Chalamet 

Any coming-of-age dramedy from Channel 4. 

His choices of records reflect his love of imagery. Many of them, notably St Pepper’s, are credited with blurring the lines between high art and popular music. But like any BIMM student, Johnson started gigging around town, describing a night at The Fleece with a couple of friends rapping over an acoustic instrumental as his first taste of Bristol’s scene. It’s not hard to see why Bristol drew Johnson in, with its plethora of amateur bands and hip-hop collectives representing the city’s music as a little bit punk, regardless of genre. 

Though it’s a testament to the physical release’s ability to allow us to stumble upon artists like Johnson, the now London-based musician has been growing a fanbase through radio play on BBC Radio London and a steady stream of online releases online. When I asked how vital quality over quantity was to his music, Johnson explained that if it’s the right time in his life, and he likes it, it’s time to let a tune go. This answer felt refreshing at a time when up-and-coming artists really want you to know about their new music amongst a tornado of lip-synced reels and ‘candid’ photo dumps. 

But to keep things light, I asked Joe what artists and tunes he would put on a mixtape for a potential lover: 

French two-piece Video Club 

A lot of Beach House 

In My Life / The Beatles 

She’s a Rainbow / Rolling Stones

Je T’aime / Serge Gainsberg 

This list gave me the impression that Joe T. Johnson could be a pretty romantic, but when I asked Johnson what the cover of his debut full-length project might look like, he answered pretty plainly: my grandma. We had been talking about whether there is such a quality as an essential Englishness in music, throwing albums such as Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black and the Sex Pistols into the ring, all of whom with short-lived careers and talent to burn. Winehouse had Camden’s heart, and the Sex Pistol’s had the Queen’; still, Johnson’s answer had me thinking about whether cross-generational relationships, however difficult and complex, are what makes us question whether there is such a thing as an essential Englishness. Although Johnson might now live in the big smoke, moving towards our urban cultural hub and putting your grandma on the cover of your debut must suggest that ‘home’ is as unavoidable in rock and roll as challenging the status quo. 

But what’s next for Joe T. Johnson? A possible single titled Tennis, he teases, that he’s been recently recording in the studio. He’s as cryptic as the title suggests, giving no more than to anticipate a darker sound than his most popular release, Twist. Whatever Johnson gives us next, be assured that he’s an artist aspiring to make something as classic as the records he holds most dear. 

Tunes that I would include on a mixtape if I was in a Joe T. Johnson mood: 

I Couldn’t Say It to Your Face / Arthur Russell

Liverpool Fool / Browning Bryant

Only A Fool Would Say That / Steely Dan 

Cold Streets / Joe T. Johnson