Carrie Johnson Brings a Bit of Nashville to Connecticut

In the traditional town of Simsbury, where fleece vests, Volvos, and Vera Bradley find a comfortable home, there is a prolific songwriter named Carrie Johnson and she is creating country music.

You may know her as a children’s performer and teacher, but that is only part of what Carrie Johnson does. Having just released her eighth album of original music titled Strength to Move, Johnson is also a songwriter who has been bringing a little bit of Nashville to central Connecticut.

“The storytelling in country music is what draws me. In pop music you try to be more cryptic and as a country writer you get more to the point. You tell your story in three and a half minutes, which is a challenge,” said Johnson, whose album is a cross between country and pop.

And Johnson does have a story to tell in her new album.

“I have gone through a lot of life changes since 22 Brides, (her original band),” she said as she explained about the last three years of her personal life.

“This record is my redemption record. Having seen my daughter become ill, which is in the song ‘Double Dare’; healing from divorce, ‘Another Day’ and ‘There’s the Door’; healing from the loss of my father ‘Don’t Be Gone’ two and a half years ago; falling in love after being divorced ‘Perfect’; ‘Strength to Move’ a song about depression; and ‘Finally Found’ a celebration of recovery from alcoholism,” explained Johnson.

From a childhood of listening to bluegrass and pop music, along with Joan Baez, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan and a bit of everything else, Johnson has found her comfort zone in songwriting circles in Nashville where she frequently travels to connect with the music industry.

In Strength to Move, Johnson uses her own hard-won wisdom to reach her audience. She hopes like-minded people will seek her at venues like The Iron Frog in Simsbury on Friday, July 29, the Terryville Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 6, or on radio stations like 92.5 FM.

“I’m certainly not singing about dancing on table tops and doing shots,” Johnson quipped while commenting on current pop music norms.

She is still a believer in music that inspires and especially loves performance venues like Bridge Street Live in Collinsville.

“The women in my songs are not going to stay down, which is why this record is called Strength to Move” Johnson said.

Likewise, Johnson hasn’t stayed down in her personal or professional life. In fact, she is a hard working mom who is getting paid to do what inspires her.

“My work is fueled by my music. My whole vocation, whether it be writing, performing, teaching or recording is I get to do what I love to do. My heart is at peace, and I do take some time off. It is also fueled by this economy. I have to work, but I love what I do.”

Strength to Move can now be found on iTunes and at www.carriejohnsonmusic.com.