Meet Noel Johnson from Country / Rock group Johnson Crook.

Johnson Crook will be featured this Sunday when Allen Bell presents his show New Music

Where are you from and what do you do?

I’m from Cochrane, Alberta/Canada and I play the guitar and sing in Johnson Crook. The band was formed in Toronto, Ontario but the other members come from Minnedosa, Manitoba and Greensburg, Pennsylvania/USA.

What triggered you to do music and work with this genre?

I have been drawn to writing and performing music since I was 16 years old. Country music is very popular in my home province of Alberta so I grew up listening to it and naturally it came out through my writing. The same goes for the other members of the band.

Walk us through your creative process, how do you create music, where do you do so? Do you have any rituals that help you creatively?

We all write songs in the band. Sometimes one band member has an idea that he brings to the band, other times someone has a fully finished song. Personally, I try to write as much as possible to keep my mind in “writing-mode”. Just like working any other muscle, the more you do it the better you get!

If you had the chance to collaborate with any artist in the world who would it be and why?

It’s hard to pick just one, but I’d have to say, Bruce Springsteen. He is such an incredible lyricist and has hundreds of great songs. Would love to sit down with him and see what we could come up with.

Which track of yours do your fans HAVE TO listen to (what is your favourite track) and why?

I really love all the tracks on this album for different reasons. If you’re sitting having your morning coffee I’d say listen to “Shadows”, if you’re having beers with friends about to go out for the night, I’d check out “Old School Rock & Roll” or “Minnedosa”. My favourite track, however, is “Mr Nobody” since I got to sing it with my hero, Tom Cochrane.