Johnny Lima – Interview

Johnny Lima – Interview

31 Dicembre 2013 0 Commenti Alessandro Lifonti

Interview by Alessandro Lifonti

INTERVIEW (italian version)

MR: Hi Johnny, before we start this interview I want to thank you for giving me this great opportunity!

JL: I’m the one that should be thanking you!

MR: Let’ s start from your new album. I know you are struggling a lot to give birth to this record. Can you tell us a bit more about it?

JL: This album was two years in the making. Obviously I wasn’t recording for two years straight, but I started it two years ago. However, that was around the time I started playing live gigs again. So there were the few gigs we did here in California, then Firefest, then my acoustic tour, so there were a lot of breaks during those two years. When I came back from Firefest, I lost my voice for like 5 months. So that was a tough time for me. However, looking back, I think my vocal problems were more mental than physical.

MR: When will it be released? Will it be easy to find here in Europe?

JL: I don’t have an official date yet, as I want to make sure that the Limited Edition CDs are gone before I start pushing the official release. AOR Heaven will have 250 copies of the Limited Edition CD in January. I’ll have some on my website too as I’ll be selling any left overs from the campaign. So it will be very easy for anyone to find. All you have to do is get on your computer and go to www.aorheaven.com or go to my store at www.johnnylima.com/store.

MR: You wrote so many great songs along your career. If you had to pick 2 or 3 up, which whould you choose and why?

JL: I’d have to chose “Made In California” from that album because it just rocks my ass off every time. “I Can’t Love You Any More” from the new album because I feel it’s the best, most heartfelt ballad I’ve ever written, and I think the 3rd would have to be “Hate To Love You” from the Livin’ Out Loud album, because to this day I’m still not sick of hearing that song. I love the chorus on that one!

MR: “Fly angel” is a great song with beautiful lyrics. Who did you dedicate that song to?

JL: That was a song I wrote for my brother when he passed away in a car accident. No one ever wants to have to write a song like that, but it was part of my healing process. There’s three versions of that song floating around. The first was recorded with my band Attitude, the second was on the debut, and the third version was on Version 1.2 album.

MR: In the song “in someone else’ s arms” you sing “that ring around you finger doesn’t mean a thing…. ‘cause I know inside your heart you still long for me…” Wow…that’s a great sentence. How did you come up with that sentence and song?

JL: Not sure really as that song is well over 10 years old. Wish you would’ve asked me that when I wrote it. I just don’t remember where the inspiration came from for that one.

MR: Next year you will go to the swedish festival. I know of course it is not up to you but are there any chances to see you playing some other gigs in the rest of europe?

JL: Yes, there’s a chance. I’m actually talking to someone about doing a tour but I think the only countries mentioned were England, Spain, and Greece. I don’t have any further information in regards to that tour, but I do plan on coming back to Europe to perform more. That’s my biggest market, and I love going to Europe. I also plan on doing some acoustic shows on my own, but right now, I need to worry about getting this new album pressed and released before I worry about doing any shows.

MR: Who are your favourite artists and bands?

JL: Def Leppard, White Lion, Bon Jovi, Scorpions, Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Bryan Adams, Rick Springfield, Motley Crue, The Rasmus, Within Temptation, Thousand Foot Krutch, Ratt, Alice Cooper, Kiss, and the list goes on!

MR: Which is your favourite Johnny Lima’s album and why? Don’ t count the last one please

JL: I’d have to say Livin’ Out Loud then if I can’t say My Revolution. I really love what I did on “Livin’ Out Loud”. The production, the songs, everything just came together really well. And the songs kick ass live, which is why the majority of my set are songs from this album.

MR: How many times people told you “hey, is that you singing on that record or Jon Bon Jovi?”

JL: Never heard that before! HAHAHAHA!!

MR: If you weren’t a musician, what would you do for a living?

JL: Not sure what I’d be doing, but I would definitely like to be doing something creative. Maybe photography or graphic design.

MR: Johnny, thank you once again for this interview. Looking forward to listening to your new album. Ciao from your italian fans.

JL: Thank you Alessandro! I really appreciate the support and hope that someday I can come to your beautiful country and play these songs for all of you live!

© 2013, Alessandro Lifonti. All rights reserved.