Finding Your Own Musical Cosán

Ahead of her October 20th afternoon concert with pianist Jonathan Stanley, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter VICTORIA JOHNSTON charts her musical journey.

Growing up I was surrounded by music, mostly listening to Sting, U2, Neil Diamond, Leonard
Cohen… some of the all-time great songwriters (in my opinion!).

I also grew up watching film musicals, especially Disney, and through Mary Poppins and also The Sound of Music, I remember Julie Andrews’ voice making a strong impression on me as a child.

Alongside that though, I had a lot of classical music influences, as my mum and nana were always playing the piano, going to concerts and encouraging me musically at a young age with playing the piano.

I received the entrance scholarship in piano to the Royal Irish Academy of Music at the age of 9, and trained there until 18 where then I went on to study at the TUD Conservatoire, where I majored in composition. It was after this that I knew I wanted to focus on pursuing singing and songwriting rather than performing classical piano, but it was fantastic to have had the classical music training, to understand musicianship and have a classical music composition education.

I remember from a young age going to concerts and thinking to myself, I don’t necessarily want to be in the audience, I want to be the one on stage singing instead!

I really enjoy songwriting, I’d happily decline a night out, to be songwriting instead, apparently Paul McCartney is the same! I heard him say in an interview that he’s often at his happiest when songwriting.

I released my original debut single, Tar Liom, in 2020, which went on to be shortlisted for the 2021 Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, which I was immensely proud of considering it’s a song in the Irish language being considered by the international Grammys.

It’s a strange thing to release a debut single, to then be in the running against the likes of Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish – who I lost out to, but this was expected as I’m an independent self- managed artist with no record label behind me. So I felt being shortlisted was a great achievement.

Since then, I worked on writing and releasing my debut album Where The Lights Glow, that was shortlisted for Best Pop Vocal Album of the Year at this year’s 2024 Grammy Awards. I’m grateful to Marty Whelan for also making it his Album Of The Week at LyricFM and for supporting me with airplay on his Marty In The Morning show.

The album placed No.17 in the official independent charts, based on CD sales, upon its
release. Again, this was an achievement, considering artists like Adele and Arctic Monkeys are allowed qualify for the Independent Charts (although they’re all signed to big labels).

I imagine it can be easy for songwriters and artists to follow latest music trends in terms of production and what songwriting formulas are proving popular, but I never write a song with an agenda in that regard. I just write what flows from me, and what inspires me.

I never sit down to write a song with a specific format agenda or to ‘tick a box’.

The music industry is a large and complex industry to try and navigate, but when I’m getting to write songs and perform concerts and doing this job that I love, I’m glad to say it doesn’t feel like work.

Earlier this year I was invited to open the Irish Italian Cultural Centre in Rome, which
was a huge honour. It’s moments like that which make me so grateful that this is my job.

Now I’m set to release a new original album, Change is Coming, which is a collaboration
with pianist Jonathan Stanley. I can’t wait to perform at the Whale Theatre on October 20th. It’s a very special venue. I performed there a few years ago with the group Celtic Calling – of which I’m the founding member – and it was such a great time.

You can find out more about Victoria Johnston here: http://victoriajohnstonofficial.com/
And grab a ticket for her afternoon performance with Jonathan Stanley on Sunday, October 20th right here: https://whaletheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873648645