*SELECT QUOTES*
**Something like Trent Reznor taking over the Smashing Pumpkins and
replacing Corgan with Tori Amos.**
**Johns creates music that is at once sweet and biting:
the languid tone of her voice providing a perfect lace overlay
to the harder-rocking arrangements beneath them.**
– The News Gazette
**Melodic and hypnotizing.** Best Local Singer-Songwriter 2013
**She lures her listeners to unearth
a deeper subconscious level.**
BIO
American alternative psychedelic rock singer-songwriter, Megan Johns, originates from a small urban oasis surrounded by endless fields of Illinois corn and soy. At age 16, she recorded her first album written secretly in early adolescence. Comparisons to Fiona Apple and Neko Case were common, with one reviewer describing the record as, "Alternative folk rock with unlikely flashes of Mazzy Star." She soon began receiving press and collaborating with artists such as Mountain Goats bassist, Peter Hughes, Zoot Suit Riot engineer Billy Barnett, recording engineers Andy Lund and Adam Schmitt, as well as accomplished string and horn players and emcees.
Johns has played hundreds of shows in the last decade, including internationally. Over the last 16 years, her style has evolved into dark, emotionally based originals with whispery vocals over harder, sometimes metal-like, rock arrangements, showcased in 2012 album, Hey, Lonely recorded by Adam Schmitt. Her latest 6-track full-band, Inner Voice EP (October 2019), recorded at Gung-Ho Studio in Eugene, OR, features psychedelic rock originals garnering recent comparisons to Tori Amos, Smashing Pumpkins and Chrissie Hynde.
Megan Johns is currently based in the Pacific Northwest with her rock band, Queen Mab. Her mission is to share and instill love, healing, understanding, positivity, epiphany and the value of creativity via music and art. She performs solo and with a full backing band, currently including Billy Barnett (lead guitar), Aaron Nelson (bass), Alis Gardner (drums), Jesse Greenlee (drums), and alternately as MoonWish.
DISCOGRAPHY
CURRENT/PAST COLLABORATORS
Alis Gardner (drums/percussion), Jesse Greenlee (drums/percussion), Billy Barnett (recording/guitar), Aaron Nelson (bass), Mo Talaba (Mastering), Ali Sater (bass), James Treichler (drums/percussion/recording/video), Dave Cohen (bass/sax), Sara Sasaki (violin), Susan Johns (viola), Shannon Swords (emcee/production/recording), Dylan Keim (production/video), Mike Arnold (guitars/recording), Whitney Peterson (video), Cloud Pemble (acting), Erin Gillis (acting), Tam (acting), Marlo Habeeb (acting), Morgan Orion Reisman (acting), Michael Brackett (guitar/acting), Hayden Cler (guitar), David Tcheng (multi-instrumentalist), Adam Schmitt (recording), Mark Rubel (recording), Andy Lund (recording), Garrick Nelson (drums/percussion/video), Matt Harsh (video), Sam Ambler (video), John Isberg (video), Kevin Coulton (photos/acting), Kristen Johns (cello), Mark Johns (design/album art), Rachael Johns (acting), Remy Tipei (drums/acting), Mike Ioannides (sax), Justin Thyme/Elephant Stereo (drums), Brendan Gamble (drums), Chad Dunn (percussion), Dorothy Martirano (violin), Carlyle Johnson (sax/clarinet), Otto Stuparitz (bass), Charlie Harris (bass), Tim Donaldson (guitar), Ben Donaldson (drums), Roger Prillaman (keys), Larry Gates (beats/remix/acting), Syd Gates (acting), Arthur Lee (videogame soundtrack), Peter Hughes (bass), Donovan Roediger (keys), Tim Bass (bass), Bill Kirby (bass), Chris Pankey (percussion), Elsa Enstrom (violin), Tyler Chen (bass), Nathaniel Ruiz (sax/clarinet).
PRESS LINKS
Local Press - The Register-Guard
"Hey, Lonely" Album Review - Middle Tennessee Music
Best Singer-Songwriter 2013 - Smile Politely Online Magazine
LIVE VIDEOS
Megan Johns & Friends Live at Old Nick's Pub, Eugene, OR.
(Ft. Billy Barnett, Jesse Greenlee, Aaron Nelson)
Video Clip: Shannon Swords
Megan Johns & Friends Live at The Wow Hall, Eugene, OR.
(Ft. Billy Barnett, Jesse Greenlee, Aaron Nelson)
Video Clip: Ben Worcester (Said The Whale)
1.24.17 "Hey, Lonely" Tiny Desk Contest Entry
Megan Johns & MoonWish Live in Living Room, Eugene, OR.
(Ft. Billy Barnett, Jesse Greenlee, Aaron Nelson)
Video: Dylan Keim, Sound: Shannon Swords
Megan Johns Solo Live on "Hey, Lonely Tour" at Kulturcafe Lichtung, Cologne, Germany.
Megan Johns Live with Timmy D & Blind Justice at Ellnora Guitar Festival, Krannert, IL.
9.29.12 "Hell & Highwater" by Shannon Swords
Feat. Megan Johns & MoonWish at Pygmalion Music Festival, IL.
(Ft. Susan Johns, Sara Sasaki, James Treichler, Shannon Swords, Dave Cohen)
Live Radio Performance as Megan Johns & MoonWish on WEFT 90.1 FM, IL.
(Ft. Sara Sasaki, Susan Johns, Dave Cohen, James Treichler)
Megan Johns & MoonWish Live at "Hey, Lonely" CD Release at Cowboy Monkey, Champaign, IL.
(Ft. Susan Johns, Sara Sasaki, James Treichler, Dave Cohen)
Megan Johns & MoonWish Live at Mike N Molly's, Champaign IL.
(Ft. Nathaniel Ruiz, Sara Sasaki, Tyler Chen, James Treichler)
Megan Johns & MoonWish at Mike N Molly's, Champaign, IL.
(Ft. Nathaniel Ruiz, Sara Sasaki, Tyler Chen, James Treichler)
Megan Johns & MoonWish at Red Herring Coffeehouse, Urbana, IL.
(Ft. Otto Giovanni, James Treichler)
Megan Johns with The Greytones Live, Champaign, IL.
(Mike Arnold, Garrick Nelson, Dave Cohen)
BOOKING CONTACT: