What’s your stage name and where are you from?
My name is Johnny Smoke, and I’m from America. Born in NY, lived in MA, NH, FL, and now I live in LA.
What’s the story behind your stage name?
I self-medicate with cannabis. When I start to spiral, my lady always says, “Smoke up, Johnny!” (a quote from the movie The Breakfast Club). The name just stuck: Johnny Smoke.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
I started rapping & performing around 1981, but I stopped in 2012 due to a vocal injury. I sold everything, moved to LA, became a chart-topping producer, and after much hard work, learned to use my voice again at 50 years old.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
While filming the music video, I stopped the crew to sit and talk with a homeless man rolling a blunt. After a few minutes, he passed it to me. It wasn’t until they called “cut” that I realized it was laced with something wild. I was tripping hard for hours after that!
What message do you want to convey through your music?
That owning yourself, scars and all, is the only way to find peace. In the end, we’re all just walking, talking, future ghosts.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
I produced, wrote, and performed the song Future Ghost. Honestly, the only challenge was trying to sing with this voice I got.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Bruno Mars, because he’s the truth!
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
Hoping to place some songs with artists for commercial release and find more opportunities for sync.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
I’m finishing up a three-song EP. Hoping to release it on all platforms soon!
We occasionally feature artists on our Bird of Paradise Podcast for in-depth discussions. Would this be something you’re interested in exploring?
Hell yes!
Are there any other promotional opportunities you’re looking for to boost your visibility?
Looking for a manager/representation to help elevate my brand.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
My latest project is on SoundCloud and YouTube.
What is the best way to contact you if fans want to give feedback or if other artists/producers want to collaborate?
Email: johnnysmokeproduction@gmail.com
