Minimal Mag sit down with Toronto based musician and DJ/producer Brian Johnson following the release of his ‘That Culture’ album on his own Master Chef Music imprint.
Brian Johnson - Interview
I feel like it really helped me build a strong foundation of enjoying and playing music from many different genres. Understanding how someone can compose something, and not feeling intimidated by complex sound design.
Your sound is distinctive for your fusion of old school reggae, soul and gospel – deriving from your native roots – with current deep electronic beats. What role do your sources play in your musical identity today?
Artistic visuals are something that has always been synonymous with your releases. The artwork on your upcoming album takes it to a new level with a futuristic, cyber-punk feel. What was the idea behind this artwork?
I was looking for a new graphic designer, and I saw Rad Design online and thought, “Wow, I need something just like that!” I reached out to him to see if he was interested as he is such a phenomenal designer. I think his style brings a visual depiction of the sound I created to life.
Brian Johnson - Soundcloud
In a previous interview, you stated that you briefly moved to New York before returning to your home city, Toronto. Tell us, what makes the Toronto music scene unique to you?
In your signature style, the new LP blends a variety of registers ranging from heavenly female vocals to sinister, foreboding basslines. What was your inspiration for this album? Does it differ from your previous work?
My previous work was more of a deep house soulful vibe. My new album is a more up-tempo tech house sound. I want people to get up and dance into the late hours of the morning with this one.
Is there any track in particular from the new LP that holds a special place in your heart?
To be honest, I love all the tracks on my album. They all show the different emotions and diversity that I wanted to bring to the production table; I can’t really pick one. I’ll let the audience decide what they like for themselves.
Your imprint Master Chef Music has been gaining significant traction recently. What’s in the pipeline for the latter part of 2022? Are there any artists we should be looking out for?
I have a couple of releases coming from Toronto’s own Greg Gow and Wes and a new group I’m working with called Organic Life and Petrichor. Look out for them in the upcoming months!