Singer, Actress and Youtube star Lia Marie Johnson has just released the video for her debut single “DNA,” which centers around her father’s constant battle with alcoholism.
Lia first met the entertainment world when she started a YouTube channel several years ago ranking in over one million subscribers. Lia was even a part of the Emmy Award-winning web series, REACT .
We got the chance to talk to Lia as she gave us the scoop about finally finding her passion, the process behind writing “DNA,” getting signed and much more!
Let’s talk “DNA.” It’s a pretty great song. I’ve heard it and it’s really heavy. I heard you wrote it. Can you tell me a little bit about that and what that was like given the subject matter?
Lia Marie Johnson: The day that I wrote it was the first time working with the producer and writer that also worked on “DNA” with me. I had no idea that I would be writing a song like that that day. They kind of started asking me about my life and what I’ve been through and I was just like well I’ve never had people ask me about this in a session. I started talking and I was getting emotional and then I don’t know I was just kind of like, “ugh I guess you can’t stop DNA” after talking for the longest time. We all kind of looked at each other and were like that is a really cool title for a song lets write that! We were like ok and a few hours later we wrote it and yeah. I didn’t expect to write “DNA” that day, but I’m happy that we did cause it was like therapy.
Tell us about the video?
Lia Marie Johnson: We filmed the music video about like two weeks ago. That was an incredible experience. I had all my friends in it and incredible actors who played the mom, dad and the little me and my friend Braden who plays my love interest.
With your acting projects do you usually work with your friends or was this the first time you actually got to work with them?
Lia Marie Johnson: Well I had all my friends come in and be extras and just party with me. They were all down for that because my friends love to party. I’ve worked with my friends before on other acting projects, which is the coolest thing ever because when you’re acting it doesn’t feel like you’re talking to your friend it feels like you’re talking to a different person, it’s like a different bonding experience.
These last few years have been non-stop for you congrats on getting signed to Capitol Records. Can we talk about that? How did that come about?
Lia Marie Johnson: Thank you! I had a meeting with them and they loved me and I loved them. Yeah that was what happened.
Did they call you?
Lia Marie Johnson: I don’t know it was just hard work. Everyone expects like some crazy story about how I was like scooped up from the street, but it was really just years of hard work and making music for a couple months. Then they heard the music and they liked it and I’ve always wanted to be at Capitol Records. I remember as a little girl driving pass the buildings it was the coolest thing ever.
When did you discover that you were such a force with music and acting? When as a little girl did you discover that you like to sing and act?
Lia Marie Johnson: I was in fourth grade I think, but ever since I was little I was singing. I started doing talent shows and school plays. I was just in love with being onstage and singing to people. I loved acting and my dad actually got orders to move to San Diego cause he’s in the Navy. When my mom was like how do you feel about moving to San Diego I was like, “No no no I do not want to do that” and I started crying, but because of that I was able to have so many different experiences with acting and singing more than I would have ever had living in Virginia.
When did you guys move to San Diego?
Lia Marie Johnson: I moved there the summer before I went to sixth grade. It was a pretty difficult time for a little girl.
This year has been pretty crazy for you, and even last year with being named top 100 YouTubers in 2015. How do you manage just juggling all of your different roles whether it’s being on a new show “T@gged” or new movie “The Thinning,” or just getting these songs ready for the new album?
Lia Marie Johnson: It’s difficult. Really difficult. I have an amazing team that is always helping me and constantly there for me. I think it’s just giving 100% on everything you do like I had to stop doing music for a month because I was filming in Albuquerque. I think it’s just giving 100% to like everything you do even though I would have loved to be working on music at that time, it would have been to stressful to do that. I mean I still wrote lyrics on my phone and wrote melodies whenever I had them now and then, but I wasn’t going to studio session. You have to give 100% I think.
What do you want your fans to know about music and what can they expect from it?
Lia Marie Johnson: I think the album is very moody, dreamy and has a lot of nostalgic feelings in it. It is very visual and sexy I think “DNA” is definitely the most darkest and moody song on the album. Well who knows I might write an even moodier song than that, but that might be kind of hard to top. I don’t want to make people cry throughout the album, but I kind of do. Just kidding.
Well like you said it was like therapy so it might be therapy for someone else.
Lia Marie Johnson: That is what a lot of people have been telling me. The response to the song has been so crazy. People have been telling me that it has been helping them and that they are relating to it and I honestly didn’t expect that when I was putting it out. I thought it was so true to my life, but people are telling me that they relate and that just means so much to me and makes my heart so happy.
Are you still in the studio now making song for the album?
Lia Marie Johnson: I am still working on this album and it will probably take a couple more months to finish.
What else is going on? Are there any more roles happening at this time or is it just music right now?
Lia Marie Johnson: A movie that I’m in called The Thinning just came out and I just got done filming so hopefully for the next few months I’ll just be working on music.
What was your first major experience, whether it was with music or acting that was transformative?
Lia Marie Johnson: To be honest with you it’s been this year that I finally feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. For the longest time I felt like I wasn’t doing what I was meant to be doing. I felt so lost and I was making money off of things that I didn’t want to be making money off of and it sucked. People had this image of me that wasn’t really me. It was sh***y feeling and now I feel like when I’m in the studio and I’m writing music and I’m making music that I’m in love with, that feels right. That feels like this is what I’m supposed to be doing this is where I’m supposed so be in my life right now. It’s like the universe is like, “Yo you got it girl! This is where you are suppose to be!” and it is just a good feeling.
I hear it in your voice and you’re giving me that feeling right now, so I totally hear it congratulations! I can only imagine what that feels like.
Lia Marie Johnson: Good! Damn I’m good at that.
So what else do you have going on for the rest of the day?
Lia Marie Johnson: For the rest of the day I have another interview and then I’m gonna be in the studio and then I’m going to a concert!
Whose concert?
Lia Marie Johnson: Troye Sivan’s.
Is there anything else you wanted to share with your fans?
Lia Marie Johnson: I am thankful for all the opportunities they have given me and I’m happy that they liked “DNA”.
Was acting your first introduction to the entertainment industry?
Lia Marie Johnson: I realized that I loved acting and singing at the same time, but I guess I don’t even remember, oh my gosh, I feel like an old lady right now. I guess I was focused on acting for a really long time and even though I loved acting it didn’t feel right. I wasn’t doing the projects that I wanted to be doing and now that I’m doing music it feels right, like this is the type of stuff I’m supposed to be making.
What has the fan response been like to “DNA”?
Lia Marie Johnson: I go on like twitter and Instagram and I see all of these people tweeting me and taking screenshots of “DNA” on ITunes and it’s like an overwhelming because I feel like people now know the real me. Maybe not 100%, but they know more of a me than they have known for the past three or four years. It’s like I’ve been hiding my true self and people are constantly telling me what to say and what I can’t say and what I can do and what I can’t do and what I can post and what I cant post and it’s like no f**k that. I don’t want that anymore. I want to be who I am and I’m going to do whatever the f**ck I want. I’m going to be who I am because I’m so sick of hiding. I feel like when I’m in the studio I can just write whatever I want and I can make this art that is just real. I think that people can relate to it more than they ever related to me in the past.
Check out the video to “DNA” here!
Interview by Sade Graham
Photo Credit: Max Fairclough
