Johanna Kuvaja
Interview conducted on June 2, 2022
By Dan Locke
Johanna Kuvaja, is a classroom teacher/music teacher from Tampere, Finland. Who has decided to take a leap of faith and follow her passion after experiencing a lot of hardships and losses in her life, so she quit her job and started to produce her own pop songs.
She believes in order to find her true purpose. Writing music brought her joy and cured her from depression. Sometimes music really is the only medicine the heart and soul need. She hopes you can hear her passion for music when you listen to her songs, and she hope that she will be able to bring you joy as well.
You are from Finland. What is your upbringing?
I grew up in a Christian family. My dad was a judge, so he was very protective and demanded us to behave well and do our best at school.
My parents always appreciated culture and learning, so they encouraged me to study music at a very young age. My dad drove me to the piano lessons in Kuopio ( 2 hours drive away from my home town Kiuruvesi) every week. I’m grateful for that now.
How did you discover music?
My dad had vinyl records and I used to dance to those songs and sing. I loved Beatles.
Then he bought a piano and my mom knew how to play it so she started to teach me. They noticed that I was talented so they hired me a private piano teacher. Then I got into conservatory.
How did you start to write music?
I used to play Kantele, Finnish national instrument, and we won Finnish championship 3 times in a row with our Kantele ensemble. They arranged a song writing competition for Kantele, I wrote a song called “Tango of hope”. I won and they published notes of it. I hear that people still play my song in the Kantele contests and typically the person who plays my song tends to win cos my song is technically very difficult, even though I was 11 when I wrote it.
Then I started to write pop songs with piano once I started to date guys and they gave me heartache. Lol 😉
Do you feel that your music has changed since you have gone from New Age to Christianity?
I’m in a transition phase now. Corona, war in Ukraine and constant fear living next to Russia have made me think about death. I haven’t felt inspired to write music ever since corona started.
I’ll see how the situation in the world changes before I even think about investing in a music career.
What was your first performance at like?
It’s so long time ago that I can’t even remember. I used to perform by piano and Kantele a lot. Then I started to sing in an pop orchestra and tour in Finland. I’ve always loved singing in front of the audience.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?
I belong to Teosto and Gramex in Finland.
What makes a good songwriter?
I think a good songwriter is someone who can make memorable songs and make people feel something. I appreciate the “feeling” and beautiful melody / surprising cord structure in a song. Good songwriter makes songs that can stand the test of time.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
My first single is called Shower. I went to Helsinki to sing it and it was recorded at Saumaa records.
What is the process of writing your music?
I either start to hum something out loud and I’ll record it with my phone if it sounded good. Or I’ll play something with my keyboard and sing whatever lyrics pops into my head with the melody. I record it and listen to it again. I try to play different versions until I like the melody. Then I write lyrics.
You said that the video “Shower” was a new beginning for you. Tell me why?
I got divorced, left my steady job as a teacher and I just wanted to feel free and start afresh. So I took a shower and washed away my old life.
Shower rose to number on Finland Spotify viral list and the hit list of 5 other countries. How was it to see your music on the charts?
I couldn’t believe it. It was so unreal. I knew it was a catchy song and it sounded like a hit. I had worked so hard for it and I really put myself out there with that song, but that success took me by surprise.
Shower was charting in Netherlands for 15 weeks. It still gets regular plays around the world. I’m so happy that people loved it.
Tell me about the making of the song “Wanna to Make Love You”?
We filmed the music video during the corona restrictions, so it was a bit difficult to do with masks on. We also had a hasty schedule due to lockdown. I’ve always loved Spain so I had this idea to film my music video there during my visit. I went to check out the area cos I wanted to move in Fuengirola later in the Fall. We filmed the video in February, so it was a bit windy at the beach. But it was a wonderful experience.
What is your favorite track on your album?
I love my ballad: Back for Good. It’s my most beautiful song and I’m so proud of myself that I wrote it.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
It’s not fair for artists. But that’s the way it is.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
Haha! I think I forgot # existed in music for a brief moment when you started to talk about hashtags. I’ve been doing too much Instagram lately. Definitely dangerous 😜
Digital vs. vinyl?
I don’t have vinyl’s anymore, so I gotten say digital, unfortunately…
How was it to pose for Playboy in Portugal. The last issue ever?
At that time I thought that it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, as it clearly was cos it was the last printed issue. So I felt flattered and it fitted my “sexy image” as I was called Finland’s Sabrina. I could decide what I wear and what I reveal, so the pictures turned out classy and I was in charge. So I felt comfortable posing for the Playboy and I had a familiar photographer.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Careless whisper, by George Michael. It represents my divorce. My ex-husband was my best friend for 17 years. You can lose it all when you make one foolish mistake.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I’m not too optimistic. I haven’t toured ever since the covid started. We’re expecting another variant within a few weeks in Finland. It’s not over yet. Maybe it never will be…
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
How could it be a plus? In my case, it came at the worst possible time. I was supposed to perform in a huge Radio gala in Belgium as a special guest, I had radio live performances agreed in the Netherlands etc. Everything got canceled.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I have children so I’m always busy. 🙂
I developed new skills and did a lot of studying. Now I’m designing my own merchandises and I launched an online course.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
I try to go for walks and eat salads. Also mental health is important. So I talk to my friends a lot and listen to uplifting podcasts.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
My new hobby is Bible study. I’m addicted to learn about God’s word.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
It all has to go online. That’s what I do too. You can stream concerts from your home and set up an online store.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Yes. I think it’s quite possible and maybe necessary in the future.
In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
I’m actually already a teacher. I love children, so I love that work. I’m also doing drop-shipping and designing products.
What is your happy place?
My happy place is my bed and all my 3 kids around me there. It’s the company that matters. 🙂 Ok… I wouldn’t mind lying on the beach and listening to the sounds of ocean and birds while enjoying the sunshine.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180-song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
Let’s say… everything is negotiable. Depends on the price. 😉
What is your feeling about TikTok? With Sony Music and Warner Music strucking an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
Let’s see. Right now I’m just waiting to see how the world is going to change. For the better or worse.. ? I’ll use it more if I make more songs.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thank you so much for interviewing me. I appreciate it a lot. Wishing you all a lot of strength and health during this chaotic time in the world.
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