Johnny grew up in South Dakota, USA, surrounded by cornfields and gravel roads. He became a state champion runner in high school and later attended college on a scholarship. In his dorm room, he started recording and producing music but eventually left college to pursue his passion full-time. In his mid-twenties, a friend suggested he move to the small beach town of Charleston, SC. Unfortunately, Johnny didn't have the money for relocation or studio time. His luck changed when a tree fell onto his old RAV4, which he estimated was worth only $2,500, and his insurance company paid him $10,000. With this unexpected windfall, he finished his album, Secret Wave, in 2013, with the help of his friend and producer Wolfgang Zimmerman (Band of Horses, Susto). While in Charleston, Johnny helped produce and record various artists' records and co-created the band SUSTO. In 2016, he left the band to start the prog-rock group The Artisanals. After touring internationally as the frontman, Johnny is now focusing on his solo work. His new album, Para Llevar, is set to release in November 2024 with the New West Records team.
