Carissa Johnson releases ‘I Surrender’.

People are surprisingly difficult and complex animals. We change so fast, and not always for the better. It’s in our nature to only remember the bad – the hurt, the pain, and the trouble people bring to our lives. But, it’s worth it to step back and remember the good times. On her newest single ‘I Surrender,’ Carissa Johnson reminds us that letting go and holding the good with the bad can help bring balance into our fragile little lives.

After cutting her teeth in Boston, Carissa Johnson and her energetic live band have been traveling all over the US playing her raw, honest rock and roll songs. Winning New Act of the Year award at the Boston Music Awards in 2017 and opening up for acts like TORRES, The Damnwells, and Dorothy, Johnson has continued to grow her talent for performance, production, and songwriting. Now living in Brooklyn, Johnson is itching to release new music.

‘I Surrender’ is a driving song that recalls the heartfelt 00s indie rock of bands like Rilo Kiley and The Killers. As cymbals crash and guitars churn, Johnson’s lyrics remind us that every thorn has its rose. Selective memory can have us throw out the good with the bad. But, part of surrendering is bearing witness and carrying all these memories with us. She sings, “Lost all the photographs / But kept all the words / I feel you now when the fall comes back around / only vaguely remember you in that daisy crowd.” The past and present are gathered here in Johnson’s slant-truth lyrics, resting on the backdrop of Johnson’s visceral and emotional guitar playing. Johnson recalls, “Letting be and letting go has been a recurring theme in my life recently and it seems to be the only antidote for change and growth.” It seems as though Johnson has grown both personally and musically, pushing herself to new musical heights with this single.

Johnson has a knack for weaving memories into beautiful rock and roll tapestries. “I Surrender” brings listeners a universal message of growth and change but also reminds us that it’s okay to remember the good things about a person or circumstance even if the ending turned sour. We are complex creatures, and Carissa Johnson is making music that tackles the emotional roller coaster of life. What’s not to love?

“I think memories are so powerful…”

Do you feel your songwriting has shifted since you moved from Boston to Brooklyn? How has your new environment impacted your creative process?

I don’t feel like my songwriting has changed, but the amount that I spend sitting down and writing has definitely changed. I haven’t been able to access the same headspace I was in a few years ago, which has been a blessing but also an adjustment. Living in NY is a big challenge but it’s really fueling me. I don’t think my environment has impacted my creative process so much as realizing I just don’t want to keep writing myself into the same cycles I didn’t want to be in anymore. My sad songs started manifesting themselves over and over and I got tired of it. It’s been a really positive shift being here and although I’ve been writing less, I’ve had a lot less time to sit and be sad, which I am endlessly grateful for.

Why do you think our memories are such powerful forces in our lives?

I think memories are so powerful because they’re so potent and they’re basically remnants of experiences that have made us ourselves.

Talk to us about recording ‘I Surrender’. Did you go in with a pretty good idea of what the song would be, or did it change once you got into the studio?

I recorded ‘I Surrender’ at Mad Oak Studios in Boston MA with Benny Grotto. I had a demo of the song that I was really excited about that I gave to Benny to lay down as the foundation of our session. Then we just took it piece by piece and started building it, shifting it a little, and adding way more piano than either of us had planned. That was the best part though! It evolved quite a bit in the studio piano-wise and harmony-wise but it’s pretty close to the demo. A couple of words changed and we wrote some breaks and the bridge together. This song has had many versions, and was originally titled ‘Daisy Crown’ with a completely different chorus.

Can we expect more music from you this year? Were any other songs recorded when you made ‘I Surrender’?

I really hope so! I have some songs I am sitting on that I began at Mad Oak last year, while recording I Surrender. I also have a ton of demos that I want to compile into a large release at some point of home recordings. I’m going to get creative with the next release, and maybe even experiment with spending $0 on it. Budget or no budget, more is on its way!

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