Review Fix chats with João Nogueira and André Vasconcelos from the Brazilian Johnsons, a rock and roll foursome from Brooklyn, New York that employ nifty three-part vocal harmonies and casual, but catchy musicianship. Discussing their current EP, Nogueira and Vasconcelos chat about the band’s origin, tracks off the EP and their future.
Review Fix: How was the band formed?
João Nogueira: The band was formed out of mutual will that evolved into a choice of making rock music with friends.
André Vasconcelos: Being the last member to be added to the group Ill focus on how I found out about it. I saw one of their first rehearsals in a practice space near Michel’s house and I was very impressed by it. I really wanted to join from that moment on. I got invited to be part of the band after they recorded the basics at the studio in CT. Laid my guitar parts on it and have been a full time member ever since.
Review Fix: What are your influences and how do they differ from the other members of the band?
Nogueira: The Black Crowes, Dr. John, Lynyrd Skynyrd and 70’s music, some other members are more into pop contemporary stuff.
Vasconcelos: The Black Crowes and Skynyrd are obvious examples of where we draw some of our influences. Being a person with a very diverse musical taste ranging from Pop to Jazz Fusion. When it comes to Rock I listen to a lot of Stones, The Beatles, Jack White and Zeppelin.
Review Fix: SOS is a cool track. How was it written?
Nogueira: Michel wrote it and brother Johnny Johnson gave it some finishing touches like let’s get rid of this chord here and go to this chord earlier, stuff like that.
Vasconcelos: Brother Johnny Johnson and Michel Johnson are guilty for that one.
Review Fix: What song on the CD best exemplifies your sound?
Nogueira: I think every song has a particular shade of our sound.
Vasconcelos: Although every song shows a different part of our sound I’d say that S.O.S would exemplify our sound better. It’s rock n’ roll, it’s heartfelt, it’s got attitude and three-part harmonies! (Were working on the fourth one, right Bruno?).
Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you?
Nogueira: Old school American rock n roll played by young Brazilians.
Vasconcelos: Rock n roll that isn’t afraid of being honest. 5 Brazilian musicians who love to play, sing and compose coming together to create an interesting take in what it is essentially American music.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the band?
Nogueira: To show that this music is still alive and speaks to the human soul, instead of dwelling in cyber space.
Vasconcelos: My goals are to tour with this music, to write/record more of it and to eventually be able to bring it to a large number of people, who will be preferably, at that point, singing along to it.
Review Fix: How do you want this CD to be looked at a few years from now?
Nogueira: As the jumpstart of our career.
Vasconcelos: The 5-track EP they all wished that had 10 more songs in it.
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