Born August 7, under the sign of Leo, Samantha Johnson isn’t your ferocious, aggressive feline. Decidedly shy, reserved and demure, the 27-year-old advertising sales executive won the New Female Songwriter of the Year Award at the 2015 Cott Awards, held on November 4, at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
Johnson was born in Scarborough, Tobago, and grew up in Lambeau Village. A past student of Lambeau Primary, Scarborough Secondary and UWI Sixth Form, she is now enrolled at the West Indies Theological College in Santa Cruz, pursuing her BA in Social Work. Raised by her mother, Juliet Hector, and uncle, Trevor McClatchie, Johnson was in love with singing and music for as long as she can remember.
“I remember walking around the house singing,” she said. “And sometimes I’d go outside and sit on a rock all by myself and sing. I also have memories of playing the piano on Twelve & Under.”
Johnson was also athletically inclined and represented T&T at the Junior Carifta Games in Bermuda in 2004. Unfortunately, she had to abandon track and field because of injury.
“When I was injured,” said Johnson, “I became more drawn to music. One of my uncle’s friends opened a recording studio in Tobago (Stone Tower) and I began helping out there. This perked my interest even more, especially as I was now rubbing shoulders with a number of popular recording artistes. After doing background vocals for one of them, I realised that this would be my calling.”
Johnson has been writing poems and stories since childhood with her sister Tricia. She has four sisters and one brother. She said: “We used to write just for the fun of it. I cannot explain how ideas for songs come to me. I would simply sit by myself and out of the blue a song would come, complete with the words and music.
Take for instance, the song Freedom, which won me the Cott award. It came at a juncture of my life when I was going through a challenging period. I was sitting in the gallery in Tobago by myself and I began hearing drums and a rhythm, like sounds of freedom and deliverance. It was an amazing experience. My uncle, who I call Baba, encouraged me to record the song and join Cott.”
Johnson named Isaac Blackman as her mentor. “Isaac advises me a lot and I admire his humility and experience in the music industry,” she said. “At present he is producing one of my songs titled Greater. This is a song people should look forward to.”She also admitted a love for Bob Marley’s music.
Johnson is a devout Christian and is a member of Church on the Way Open Bible in Tunapuna. She said: “As a child, my grandmother attended Lambeau Church of God so I was raised in the church. When I attended church and heard the songs and the word of God, I felt like that was the life I needed to live. I have had no regrets.”
Johnson met musician Jeriel Johnson five years ago when she performed at a concert in Tunapuna. Three years later he became her husband. “Jeriel is my strength,” Johnson said. “He helps me with my compositions, and you can say he is something of a musical director to me. Because of school, my career and the music, I don’t have any immediate plans to have children.”
Johnson is currently working on an album and her band Exusia, which means “to have power and influence.” “I am expecting and looking forward to more awards. I really appreciate this award from Cott and I think it is the start of a new chapter in my musical journey. Cott is really doing something positive by recognising and rewarding the nation’s young composers and songwriters,” she said.
In closing, a humbled Johnson was most appreciative of her sponsors Compass Bang Bang; make-up artist Amelia Pinky Razzaq and hairstylist Gorgeous Bravo; the support of her working colleagues at T&T Guardian Classifieds; church members and family.