Mary Gauthier - Melissa Etheridge - Susy Thomas - Indigo Girls - Alanis Morisette - Never The Bride - Muse - Jeff Buckley - Sting - Bessie Smith - Nina Simone - Everything But The Girl - Joan Armatrading - Beth Orton - Kristin Hersh - KT Tunstall - Lucinda Williams - Ani Di Franco - Eleanor McEvoy - Shakespeares Sister - Sheryl Crow - Sarah McLachlan - Evanescence - Jewel - Missy Higgins - Brandi Carlisle - Carly Simon - k d lang - Joni Mitchell - Shirley Bassey - Tori Amos - They Might Be Giants - The Waterboys - Bert Jansch - John Renbourn - Lenny Kravitz - U2 - INXS - Radiohead - Heather Nova - 10,000 Maniacs - Kate Bush - Tasmin Archer - Adam and the Ants - Sass Jordan - Allanah Myles - Rita Lynch - Dolly Parton - Garth Brooks - Sound Garden - Heart - Ed Alleyne Johnson...
BENITA JOHNSON lives near Bristol, England. She has been performing solo and in bands / duos at venues around the UK, and small festivals, for several years, playing alongside local legends Hazel Winter and Rita Lynch, as well as well-known singer-songwriters Boo Hewerdine, Patrick Duff (Strangelove) and Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers). She has released an acoustic EP "Stars & Fireflies" via Emu Bands online and received some very positive reviews including one from David Kidman, reviewer for Folk Roundabout, who called her "an extraordinary talent". Stars & Fireflies has also received airplay on local / regional Radio stations. It is available to download on I-Tunes, Tunetribe, Napster & Yahoo Music.
Benita has a website www.benitajohnson.co.uk where much of her recorded work to-date can be heard or ordered for download. Apart from the Stars&Fireflies EP, there are 4 other acoustic / semi-acoustic EP's in the back catalogue plus various other stray tracks.
Benita has also begun work with local studios AudioShelter, on an album.
This album has been a long time in the making because Benita isn't loaded or signed and can only afford to do so much at a time ... but it's nearly there now! Meanwhile the work continues with the formation of a new band and the writing of a lot of new material...
Both writing and performing feature strongly in Benita Johnson's long-term goals. If she could have her way this is all she'd do. . .
"STARS & FIREFLIES" EP OUT NOW ON NAPSTER, I-Tunes, Tunetribe :
There are some artists that have a certain, something, a tone of vocal, an inflection that makes them distinct from those around them. Often they do not have the best voices, but there is something about the flaws that give them something lots of other artists don't have. Benita Johnson is just such an artist. She carries emotion on her voice so well. She could make turning twenty seem like the end of the world, similarly she could bring hope to the hopeless. She keeps it simple, but by doing so makes sure it matters.
(Fatea Records)
Hi Benita, Hope all is well with you in Bristol and not working too hard. Good luck with the band hunting, hope to see them sometime at a gig this way. All the best.
If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work of the world has been done against seeming impossibilities. The thing is to get the work done.
Hey BJ! Didn't get a chance to tell ya' before I rotated your son 'We're Okay' into the inaugural 'FemAcoustica' show. It broadcasted out to Christchurch and the www on 12 Sep!! Great song! xo Lynette
Hi Benita, Still looking out for my favourite unsigned superstar. EP's still getting plenty of playtime. Hope the album is not causing to many headaches now. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, dont think the powers that be like people enjoying themselves anymore.
had it in my head that you'd taken a trip to see family? ah well...
yup, 'bought the other thing...could throw out a bunch of cliches, but not going to...guess ya' just gotta keep breathin' and writing sure is cathartic.
Thanks - my old band, Childe Roland was from the R. Browning poem originally then I discovered lots of interesting things about it. You should come and play at the Porter cellar Bar some time!
I didn't drag them, ha!... you seemed to have made an impression on most of the others aswell, had a few asking where you were playing next .. .Good times!!!... Also a few saying that Leanne was gonna be the next Jo whiley...lol
It was a good night, hope to see you playing again soon, and next time i promise to bring more friends.. :-)
p.s glad you're with me on the whole Angelina thing. ;-)
Sending over some pics from my journey to my familial and spiritual homeland. Was great catching up with family, eating Chile, taking in the high altitude air and chil'n
what is it with those temperamental diva musicians??? ...u giving the drummer a hard time or what..man thought you were over that after your grammy performance and all the publicity..remind me not to carry any drumsticks around you....;-)*
now, on a more, much more serious note, how things going?
Hey BJ, How's the mixing coming along? Can be rough on the ears to hear your stuff over and over, remember to take some sun breaks...looking a bit pale there...haha, just kiddin'!! ;-)
