Today we’d like to introduce you to Myah Johnson.
Hi Myah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Music has been ingrained into my life since I was born. My parents immigrated to the US in the Early 90s from Jamaica. They
made sure to instill as much of their culture as they could into their kids, showing us popular dancehall movies and old reggae music. Growing up our alarm clock on the weekends was my dad djaying in our garage stacked to the ceiling with Reggae vinyls and these huge-ass sub speakers that would shake the entirety of our home.
We had a casio keyboard laying around.
By age 6, i taught myself to play simple melodies and chords that id recall from songs i heard. Then, as i got closer to middle school, my older brother had started producing beats on Ableton but DAWs were completely foreign to me at this point.
He would let me record my melodies with his midi board, allowing me to just play around with different sounds and it became this incredibly fun and stimulating play-thing that I didn’t realize it would become the most valuable part of my life.
I ended up getting my first phone in 7th grade and found out about Garageband from an internet friend. I remember my first beat was chopping up “if we had your eyes” by Michelle Williams with basic drum loops and piano riffs i had made, which i didn’t really like but was proud I made.
By the time i was in high school, I had a few songs out of soundcloud that my close friends would listen to. Once i upgraded to a Mac, which gave me more sounds and instruments to mess around with, i was embedded into the screen.
Finally, in 2021, I released my first couple “real” single on all platforms called “Anti-Intelligence” and “Overthinking” which garnered more people in my city to check out my music. But when “Nasty” came out, that was the first time i realized people were genuinely interested in what i was making and saw that i could rap and produce. I was sent videos from people from my school and the internet playing my songs, sharing it, truly felt surreal.
I got to preform in NC, MIA, and Cali from following a dream i didn’t know i would have and that people would support. Today, i’m focused on mastering my sound so that I can continue to perform.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve understood that i am merely a fish in the ocean riding a wave. What I mean by that is, plenty of struggles. Whether it was physical, mental or an external conflict, i try to remind myself that i have a destination and i’ll get there by any means.
But there were plenty of times i wanted to quit music. I took too long of a hiatus from consistently releasing, posting on tiktok and instagram because it felt like what i had to say or make was no longer relevant. It didn’t feel congruent to what was happening to me in real life anymore.
I felt removed from my art and started to develop a sense of imposter syndrome because of the “rising peer pressure of becoming an artist”, as i like to call it..
The need to present you, your art, your thoughts, your personality to society as perfect as possible to remain “relevant”…it felt debilitating.
I have now come to terms with the fact that, as an artist, there is no expiration date for you to create and i am not a commodity made to preform and conform to whatever rules society has made up for being an upcoming artist nowadays. Do what you love to do because you love to do it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a music producer, artist and owner of BOYWILLBILL productions which is my production company. I also work in film production as a Script Supervisor, I’m a Freelance Photographer and Videographer for a digital magazine based in California called “Not A Phase” Magazine.
I’m most known for my beats being experimental and genre-defying. I like hearing that people are unable to compare my sound to another artists or that it’s a blend of different styles they’ve never heard before.
Honestly, i think what sets me apart from experience is simply being a black woman who plays rock music on her guitar. Especially from being in a small city in palm beach, people expect me to make Rnb/Hiphop/trap (which are amazing genres) but personally, just not what i resonated with sonically. i’ve been told i’ve inspired people to look more into rock/experimental music and that makes me proud.
Any big plans?
In the immediate future, this year i’m working on putting together a permanent band so that i could perform more while also expanding my sounds which means more music being released at an exponential pace.
I am, currently the lead guitarist in rock band based in Broward called “Lockhart” I joined in after they already had their few songs down and… they are truly a group of talented freaking musicians and im filled with appreciation to be apart. The music is just enthralling and fun and funky and fresh.
Be Very Aware Of Lockhart.
I’m excited for this next project releasing soon, an EP of songs that i feel confident in and can drop the visuals ive been conjuring up over the last year or any other opportunities that come up as the days go day.
Switching over artist names from “MYAH” to “ROSE THESPIAN” is a big change but i feel fits me and my theme so much better plus i really want to separate myself from my music a little. I genuinely can’t wait for everyone to hear and see the progress i’ve made over the last year.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31ChK7n9MEhut4pL6XWfHg?si=YdIiOASxTfuXu6IM502lIQ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjthealchemist?igsh=bmFpMGtzbnF5NDdx&utm_source=qr
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/0qVp7KMc2pn6FDCfLK
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/boywillbill?igsh=bWVyaTlpdm81bTd1&utm_source=qr
