Meet Nedy Johnson

We were lucky to catch up with Nedy Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nedy, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I’ve learned that confidence isn’t a state-of-being, it’s an emotion. And just like all emotions, it comes and goes in waves. It’s not so much that I’m perpetually confident, but as long as you don’t tell people you’re nervous, they will have absolutely no idea.

For instance, I recently played a cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie” at the Hopvine Pub open mic in Seattle, WA. One of my friends (who has seen me perform numerous times) was flabbergasted the moment I sang, “Well, sometimes…” Meanwhile, by the middle of the song, the entire bar was enthralled, singing and dancing along to the tune. The problem is: I’m not the most proficient guitar player. Not only had I only started strumming with a pick the month prior, I had only learned the chords to the song within the previous two days. I was so focused on the pick that I almost forgot to enjoy the crescendo of voices as they all came together. However, I did find a brief moment to stop worrying and just be present. And by the final two lines, I gave up on the pick altogether; letting it fall out of my hands. Everyone was so enraptured (and I was able to do it on beat) that nobody noticed.

However, unlike confidence, self-esteem is a state-of-being. And I’ve developed mine through continual self-improvement: investing in my mental resilience, my talent, my hobbies, my relationships with friends and community. A healthy level of self-esteem is only able to emerge when you have a solid personal foundation. So prioritizing your needs and investing in your wants is a crucial aspect of a healthy mental and physical lifestyle.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a soul pop singer/songwriter based in Seattle, WA.

I was born and raised in Anchorage, AK, and moved to Seattle in 2017. By 2019 at the age of 22, I was performing my original songs at open mics. During the the pandemic, I experienced a situationship gone wrong (as they all do); the dynamic and fallout of which inspired my EP, “To You,” as well as the next two albums I have written and plan to release over the coming years. “To You (Deluxe Version)” is available at my website: nedyjohnson.com, and contains two additional tracks that are not available on streaming, as well as a link to the booklet: “To You: The Nedy Johnson Diaries.”

Ultimately, I hope my audience develops the ability to feel their emotions. To stop suppressing, to allow themselves to indulge in the whirlwind, whether good or bad. To feel the emotions in their bodies (something I’m still working on myself). I choose my lyrics carefully, based on attempting to say truths in ways the listener either hasn’t heard before, or in a cliche way that will speak to them anew through a combination of poetry, melody and instrumentation. We are emotional beings, and I want my audience to embrace themselves through their feelings.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Passion, passion, and, oh yeah, passion! If you’re passionate about an endeavor, you’ll be better able to invest in the following qualities I list below. I have always been someone that either, a) will absolutely not do something I have no interest in doing, or b) cannot be stopped when I put my mind to something. I can’t quite put into words why I am this way for neuro-typical people to understand, but I do think passion is a driving force. Why would you dedicate time and money toward a hobby/creative career if you weren’t first passionate about it?

Drive: a personal investment and dedication to the craft. While encouragement from others is a plus and is always helpful when pursuing a creative endeavor, it cannot be what moves you to perform. Early in my music journey, I had a lot of people say they were supportive of my music, but only one – Katie Gill, my vocal coach and mentor – that actually was. If I had relied on the input of others, I wouldn’t have gotten to this point, where I’m releasing music, performing on stages and being interviewed by Bold Journey magazine. You have to have your own motivations, your own reasons for the journey. It’s also vital to take breaks as needed (or desired). But you cannot rely on the will of others. You have to have the drive to keep going on your own.

And lastly, I’ve been described as, “studious.” You want to find a balance between developing your craft and applying what you’ve learned. I’ve currently reached a point in my songwriting, specifically, where I’ve written all the songs I feel I can with the technical skill I currently possess. So instead of being mad at myself for not inherently being more creative, I’m taking time away from the act of songwriting to develop my skills on guitar and keys.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

I am someone who has gone no-contact with her family. And as I know Bold Journey is a magazine dedicated to mental health topics, I want to take this time to address people who either have also gone no-contact, or who probably should:

I initially went no-contact with my mom in Sept. 2022. I had this realization that as a young adult, I had already learned more about healthy relationship dynamics and self-respect than she had to teach me. And with nothing more to learn from her, I also discovered she didn’t like me as a person: something I told her directly.

I reached out again this past April. We had one conversation about how she treated my autism, and the next day she sent a long email saying she didn’t want to talk again unless I was willing to accept that she was, in fact, a good mother.

All of this is to say: the most impactful thing my parents ever did for me is just be themselves. Exist along their own journey, so I’m able to see that I deserve better. If you’re also no-contact with anyone in your family, just know that you had your reasons for doing so. You’re not wrong for wanting better, and you’re not at fault for not healing them, because you can’t make anyone change but yourself.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Nedy Johnson – Bold Journey 1: Dale Batoon
Nedy Johnson – Bold Journey 3: Asia Tanis
Nedy Johnson – Bold Journey 4, 7 & 8: Mat Clifford
Nedy Johnson – Bold Journey 5: Victory Pisarek
Nedy Johnson – Bold Journey 6: Brittany Danielle

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