INTERVIEW: Johny Dar — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Johny Dar

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THIS is not the first time I have spoken with Johny Dar…

but he is a busy man so there is always something brewing in his camp! I have been speaking with him about YOUNOTUS’ remix of his song, Be Free, and how that project came together; whether there is more work coming down the line and what he wants to achieve before this year is through.

Dar reveals a few albums that are special to him and how his love of fashion and music intertwine; who he considers as musical idols and whether he takes from past music and mixes it with his own expressions – he ends the interview with a great song selection.

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Hi, Johny. How are you? How has your week been?

Bitching. From London Fashion Week to a Paris trade show; I am now enjoying my weekend in Amsterdam.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

If you really want to know who I am - your question will be answered with my next song… - I am a child that never stopped playing. I see life as one big playground. My art is always true to an emotion that is aching to respond to what life brings my way.

Your song, Be Free, has been given a remix by YONOTUS. How did you come to hook up? What do you think of the results?

Bitching. The wizards of P.R. put it together. We are an arranged marriage - but with a great looking baby; what do you think?

Is there going to be more material coming along do you think?

Don’t have to think about that one: once I start, I don’t stop. So you can expect much more…

Who do you rank as music idols and inspirations? Did you grow up around a lot of music?

Looking at my pictures being a kid; I tried hard to look like Michael Jackson…and, eventually, after he turned white, we looked alike (smiles). So; I started with wanting to be Michael Jackson and then realised that Johnny Cash is not so bad.

I didn’t grow up around a lot of music which drove me to discover the music within me, so it worked out in the end.

I know you are a big fashion lover and have graced catwalks around the world. How does fashion and music intertwine do you feel?

If you wanna see architecture as frozen music, fashion can be the bendable music - or body music. To me, in one way or another, it all ends up being music since everything is vibration when you break it down anyway! You can be satisfied with just creating a song or, in my case, I need more and have to keep expanding into the song of life; whether that’s building a car or creating a fashionable piece. I just keep creating so it all intertwines within my grander creative vision.

Do you draw from other artists when writing music or come at things from a fresh perspective?

I do my best to forget everything that I know about art, music; fashion and design before I am able to find that space of having an inspiration. As an artist, I don’t believe in sitting there and attempting to produce anything - other than finding greater flow or ease within the best medium to express my emotion in that moment.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of 2018?

Staying alive till the end of 2018 - cause I have many projects that are coming to their final stages before the next chapter of Johny Dar unfolds in 2019. From Art Forever to Dardelica to my novel, Darya; to the complete IQ-ME series to the launch of my new fashion collection and my body-art book, Wild Wild World. 2019 is gonna be rocking.

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Pink Floyd - The Wall; Bob Marley - Greatest Hits and Jimmy Hendrix - Electric Ladyland

Those are just classics that never cease to inspire me.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Björk. I will bring aliens from the skies and rock it all…

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

You can make a living copying others, or you can be great being you. If you are not an artist with the ability to come up with an original idea and concept in any moment given then it will be difficult in the times to come since artificial intelligence will be taking over.

Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

We have a world tour coming up…ask my manager the details!