Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Johnson.
Hi Brian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The story I’ll focus on is Over Yonder, the duo I reached out about. The band is comprised of Martha Larson, who sings and plays cello, and me, Brian Johnson, who plays guitar and also sings. We’re both composers and write much of the music we perform.
We first met about two and a half years ago, shortly after I moved back to Minnesota. Looking for people to play with, I did a quick Google search and discovered the Hot Spot in Northfield, which Martha runs. I asked her to join me for a couple of songs at an open mic, and the rest is history. We’ve been playing together ever since.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We’ve been pretty lucky in a lot of ways. Northfield is a great town with a surprisingly strong arts community for its size, and we’ve felt a lot of support and encouragement here. That said, music is never an easy career path. Making money from recordings is essentially a thing of the past, and it’s always been a competitive field. There are far more musicians than there are gigs. But I’ve found that if you’re professional and really good at what you do, it’s easy to stand out.
As for struggles, the biggest one for me personally has been caring for my dog, who has complicated medical needs. It’s basically a 24/7 commitment. He comes with me to gigs, rehearsals, everywhere. It’s definitely been a stressor and has put some limits on us, for example, we’d love to go on tour, but it’s just not possible right now. It’s been tough, but it’s worth it. And I don’t want to speak for Martha, but she’s a really busy lady. She balances a full-time job and two kids.
All things considered, though, I’d say the road has been on the smoother side. We both work hard, we love what we do, and have seen some steady growth since we’ve started.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Martha and I play a wide variety of music, and what really defines us is our adaptability and diversity. Most often, you’ll find us performing traditional bluegrass and folk songs, but we also love weaving in improvisation and jazz elements. We’ll often arrange songs on the fly so that no two performances are ever quite the same.
At the same time, we market ourselves for events like weddings and celebrations, where we tailor our setlist to whatever the environment calls for. Beyond that, we’re both composers, and what we enjoy most is playing our own original music. Our writing spans a broad spectrum from pieces that lean toward classical, to Americana and folk-inspired songs, to more experimental work.
We’re especially proud of our debut album, Valley Grove, which comes out in November. It’s all original music, recorded by us, and we feel it really captures the range of our influences and the spirit of what we do together.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me personally is my dog. Musically and creatively, what matters most is growth. I want to keep evolving as a musician, which means constantly learning, exploring, and polishing. I really enjoy the process of solving musical problems, experimenting with new ideas, and discovering what resonates with me.
It’s simple, but that’s really what it all comes down to. Every creative choice circles back to the question: does this serve the process of growing and evolving as a musician and artist? Not every choice doesl, but I strive to stay as close to those values as possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://overyondermn.bandcamp.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fannyandlannyshoot/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OverYonderMN
