“Now the sun is out, it’s warming up between us,” sings New Zealand singer and songwriter, Greg Johnson in his hit song, “Now the Sun is Out.”
Johnson’s international tune was featured on Anyone Can Say Goodbye, his third album released in the United States, spending 12 weeks at the number-one spot on Hot AC radio in New Zealand.
Critics and fans share a similar opinion on Johnson’s music. It has been described by Melinda Newman of Billboard as “smart melodic adult pop,” as “smooth harmonies combining soulful, intelligent observations,” by Vicki Anderson of The Press and “dreamy, but vital to core,” by Steve Morse of the Boston Globe. Johnson personally describes his music as “stories with melody.”
“I pride myself in having a whole record of good songs instead of just a couple good songs,” Johnson said.
It seems that his hard work has paid off.
According to Johnson’s website, he has recorded multiple gold-and platinum-selling albums in his native New Zealand. In the United States, his single “Save Yourself” from Here Comes the Caviar (2006, Johnson Music Label) spent six weeks in the Top 50 at Triple A stations and received more than 60 station adds.
“I’m a songwriter as much as anything,” Johnson said. He won the Australian Performing Rights Association Silver Scroll for songwriting in 1997 for his hit “Liberty” from the album Chinese Whispers.
Johnson is a former member of the band Bluespeak, in which he sang and played the trumpet. He later decided to go solo in order to write and record pop music. His first solo album, Vine Street Stories, featured four top-20 singles.
In 2002, he moved to Los Angeles and completed Here Comes the Caviar.
When asked how his fame in his native New Zealand differs from his fame in the United States, Johnson said, “I’m very well known in New Zealand, but not as well known in the [United States], and it makes for an interesting contrast.”
Johnson’s shows are beginning to gain reputation and momentum in the United States.
He is currently scheduled to play shows in Cincinnati, San Diego and Seattle. Johnson’s website said that “Now the Sun Is Out” is going to radio in the United States this month.
Johnson has toured with The Wallflowers, The Corrs, Minibar, Natalie Merchant and Melissa Etheridge. His music has been featured on TV shows The Hills, Highschool Reunion, Road Rules and Beautiful People; and the films 50 Pills and Entry Level.
Johnson’s new album, Trouble Shooter’s Manual, is currently on iTunes, but it has not been released on hardcopy. The songs on this album consist of hits from his previous albums, such as “Anyone Can Say Goodbye,” “Handles of Pearl” and “It’s Been So Long.”
With all the success that he has found recently, it appears that now the sun is out, and things are warming up for Greg Johnson.
