Libby Johnston made her professional stage debut in 2017 as Liesl von Trapp in the New Zealand National Tour of The Sound of Music, produced by Ben McDonald Productions, and her professional American debut in 2022 as Samantha Fulton in Bottle Shock! The Musical, directed by J. Scott Lapp and with music directed by Vadim Feichtner. She studied singing under the tutelage of Dr. Morag Atchison from 2013–2018 in Auckland and currently studies with Samuel McKelton in New York City. Libby has trained in ballet, jazz, musical theatre, and tap and considers herself a motivated mover. When she’s not performing, you can find her at SoulCycle! She was the Under-18 Champion of the New Zealand Aria Competition, Best Performer of the Regional SGCNZ Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, and a 2021 Finalist in The American Pops NextGen National: Finding the Voices of Tomorrow Competition.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hey Libby Johnston, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Hey! Thank you so much for chatting with me! I’ve been obsessed with music ever since I was little and would listen to anything and everything I could get my hands on. I’m a newbie when it comes to songwriting but I’m so excited to keep creating and releasing music that I’m proud of.
Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.
My favourite part is the freedom. Nothing is more empowering than turning your thoughts into something tangible and being able to share that with others. My least favourite part is how hypercritical you have to be. We’re all hard on ourselves but artists tend to take it to quite the extreme.
Your latest song is 'Right Person, Wrong Time'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
I wrote “Right Person, Wrong Time” after coming to a breaking point with a person I really cared about. I wrote it on my guitar and pitched the song to Santino Cardinale as an electronic pop track with the sound of “Call It What You Want” by Taylor Swift and “Stayaway” by MUNA in mind. I had been hung up on the person it’s about for four years so I guess the most unusual thing that happened during the song’s creation was that I was able to completely get over him by writing and releasing it!!
How do you differ from most other artists?
I’ve been trying to navigate my way between the classical and contemporary music worlds for as long as I can remember. I learned how to sing in church and I’m a musical theatre performer but I adore pop music and have always been drawn to the power of the genre. I’m a product of all that wonderful confusion.
Where are you from and do you have a stable home or do you prefer travelling?
I’m from Auckland, New Zealand but I live in New York City. I left home in 2018 so I’m certainly not afraid of independence and travelling, but I love the comforts of home (it’s the triple Taurus in me.)
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Indie pop with a theatrical flair.
How do you nurture your own creativity?
I think it’s so important to surround yourself with people who inspire you to be the very best version of yourself. I want to grow as a person and as a performer because of how much I admire my friends and how they go about living their lives.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Without a doubt, Taylor Swift. Her “Speak Now” tour was the first concert I ever went to and I’d absolutely lose my mind if she even knew who I was.
Who's your ideal musician to collaborate with and why?
I’d love to collaborate with Gatlin! I’ve been a fan of hers for years and without fail, every song she releases really resonates with me. I’ve always found it uncanny how a stranger can write a song and the situation be identical to the one you’re going through.
What are your plans for the future?
I have a writing camp planned for June/July with my friend Joey Miceli, and I hope to have my debut EP released by the end of the year, produced by Santino Cardinale!