Exclusive Interview: Johnny Manuel Talks Taking His Career Into His Own Hands, Younger Skin EP, and More

Soulful artist Johnny Manuel has had quite a tenure in the music industry. But in some regards, he’s just getting started. After years of censorship, Johnny Manuel has emerged as the artist that he always wanted to be and knew he was.

Earlier this fall, he released his highly-anticipated debut solo EP, Younger Skin, which finds the gifted vocalist and songwriter taking his career back into his own hands.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Johnny about Younger Skin, stepping into his own, and more!

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Johnny: It started at a really young age for me. I was six when I first sang in public. It was for a family reunion. I fell in love with it from there. But also I was in the church choir. My mom was the director. I came from a musical family, so it’s been in my bones. I’m also from Flint, Michigan, which is close to Detroit, so Motown was a big thing for me.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Johnny: Professionally, it was Motown. I was influenced by Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and the Jackson Five. I love Michael Jackson. I’m obsessed. But also Anita Baker was a huge influence on me and Donny Hathaway. Personally, my parents have always been so encouraging. They’ve always supported me in a way that has helped me to keep my dream alive, so I’m grateful for that.

PC: You’ve been really open about the adversities that you’ve faced navigating this industry. During those more challenging times, how were you able to persevere?
Johnny: A lot of faith. I had to keep headstrong about it. I clung to my spirituality big time. I’m a big believer in manifestation and focusing on what you want and setting your intention on that. I focused on that a lot. Then along the way, I had a few people here and there that were always willing to help step in and take a chance. I’m very grateful to those people.

PC: On the flipside of that, you’ve also had tons of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Johnny: There have definitely been big moments that have happened over the years. Meeting David Foster and being able to work with him was a big deal for me when that happened. Then also taking back control from the industry and stepping out and doing TV shows. That solidified for me the fact that there is an audience. People are interested in me and what I have to say.

PC: You’ve got a new EP out now, which marks an important chapter in your career. Tell us about Younger Skin and the inspiration behind it and the message that you hope to get across to your fans.
Johnny: Younger Skin is definitely a labor of love. We recorded it really, really fast. I met Aidan Laprete, who produced all the songs on the EP. We started working, and within two weeks we had the body of the EP. It happened really fast, but I feel like that was the culmination of years of experiences that were flowing out of me. This was the first time that I got to speak in depth about my experiences in the industry and what that did to me personally. I’m singing about that in the music, but I think the main message of the EP is perseverance. You have to keep going. If I had quit, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.

PC: There’s so much vulnerability on the EP. Was it ever a scary feat to tap into that emotion?
Johnny: Definitely. I didn’t really know how it would come out when we sat down together, but it did. It felt vulnerable in a way that I hadn’t felt before while creating music. But I also felt safe because Aidan is such a genius at being able to pull out of artists their individuality and stories. It was a lot of us talking about what I’d gone through and him sonically matching that with the lyrical content. It was an extremely liberating experience for me.

PC: You have an incredible voice. How challenging is it to find that balance between getting the message across and finding places where you can let your voice shine?
Johnny: That is hard, especially coming off the shows that I did. I sang all these big songs by Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. Coming off of that, I wanted to show people that I was more than just a big voice and that it’s about my artistry. I didn’t know how that would come out in the music, but once we got in the studio I pulled back vocally in a way that I never had before and there was a tone in my voice that felt different than anything that I’d done before, which was really interesting for me because I’ve been singing for so long. I went in thinking that I knew my voice completely in and out, but obviously, there was something more in there. I feel like it was the right tone for bringing that story to life.

PC: This is your debut solo EP. Did anything surprise you about the overall experience? What was the biggest takeaway that you’ll apply to the next body of work?
Johnny: The authenticity shocked me a lot because I’ve spent so many years in the industry. I started really young. I wasn’t able to be myself fully because I was told not to. There was a lot of editing and censoring that I did for myself that I thought that I’d gotten past years ago, and clearly I hadn’t. There was something about recording this music that brought that out. I’m learning every single day, and more and more is coming up. But my authenticity is something that has become extremely important to me and always being honest and speaking the truth at all times and not hiding things. That’s what I’ve personally taken away from the experience.

PC: What sparked that empowerment and taking your career back into your own hands?
Johnny: Honestly, I have a team of people surrounding me who support that fully and encourage me to be myself. I’m being told for the first time that my uniqueness is what’s going to create longevity for me in this business. It’s important that you’re always honest. They helped facilitate that. They bring it out in me, which is good. They push me, which forces me to push myself even further. I’d say it’s the team of people I have around me now.

PC: If you had to pick a song off the EP that best encompasses who you are as an artist now, which would it be and why?
Johnny: That’s so hard because I feel like the entire body of work represents my journey from where I started up to this point. I will say that I felt very connected to “The Others,” which is the single out now. Something about creating that song in particular felt guided in a way that I hadn’t felt before. It felt bigger than us. It felt like my ancestors were somehow listening in and pushing us in the right direction.

PC: What can fans expect from you in 2023?
Johnny: A lot more music. I’m actually going back into the studio next month to record another project. I have one project already in the pipeline. It’s completely different from my solo material. It’s going to be released under the name: The High Ups. Nick Littlemore from Pnau and Empire of the Sun produced the entire record. It’s a dance record. It’s upbeat and completely different from my solo material. So that’s coming out next year—and a second solo project.

To keep up with Johnny, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music.