Haley Johnsen brought her sweet, loving spirit and formidable pipes to the PRP studio, and discussed keeping centered, her Tiny Desk Submission, her successful Kickstarter campaign-backed album, her appearance at MOGO Music Fest and much more.

Johnsen’s Kickstarter campaign has 163 backers who pledged $15,105 for her new, yet-to-be-named album. Since she released her Through the Blue EP in 2015, she has met many incredible people and experienced so much more of life, and she has poured all of this into her songwriting. Of Through the Blue, she says, “It feels like I was a different person (then) – I’ve evolved so much since that record. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Rob (Daiker) and figure out how to make a record and how to collaborate with a producer, but this next record has been about how to collaborate with a band and work with a different producer.” Her band has contributed their individual influences and approaches to music to this new album as well, bringing with them more “vintage and rock.”

Also contributing to the soulful sound of the new album is Johnsen’s friend, Anna, the niece of Michael Allen Harrison, a Portland composer/pianist. Anna appeared in Johnsen’s Tiny Desk Concert submission and has been singing at Johnsen’s live shows. “(Anna) is such a soulful, queen, goddess woman,” she says, and states that having that female harmony has changed her life. Johnsen is excited to work with John Askew, a Portland-based composer, musician, mixer and producer, on this new album. Askew has contributed to more than fifty albums, including albums by Laura Gibson and The Dodos.

Check out the podcast below for more.

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