Nick Johnston is a Canadian guitarist and songwriter who records as a solo artist.[1] As of 2024, he has released six solo records. His albums have featured the work of notable artists such as Paul Gilbert, Marco Minnemann, Guthrie Govan, and Bryan Beller. He has also played on songs by other artists including Intervals, Scale the Summit, Periphery, Polyphia, David Maxim Micic, and Mike Dawes. He has toured extensively with artists including Plini and David Maxim Micic. In May 2019 he went on a North American tour with Between the Buried and Me and The Contortionist.[2]
Nick Johnston | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Johnston in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | June 18, 1987 Rockwood, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Instrumental rock |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Website | nickjohnstonmusic |
Johnston has cited musical influences such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Jeff Beck, saying "I sound nothing like those guys, but I’m massively influenced by them".[3] Another influence was Joe Satriani. "Before listening to Joe, I don't think I understood how important a role the melodies played in building compositions", Nick stated in a Total Guitar interview. "I realised he was the guy who'd really figured it out—the balance of technique, tone, melody, and production. While players were learning blues from Hendrix and Clapton, I was learning them from Satriani".[4]
The guitarist released his own signature guitar through Schecter in 2016.[5][6] Schecter has since released additional variants of his signature guitar, splitting them into the USA Signature Series and Traditional Series, with these being premium and affordable versions respectively.[7] He is also passionate about comics and has hired comics illustrators to create his album art.[8]
Discography
edit| Nick Johnston discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 6 |
| Music videos | 20 |
| Singles | 7 |
| Featured artist | 2 |
| Other appearances | 9 |
Albums
editSolo
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Public Display of Infection |
|
| In a Locked Room on the Moon[9] |
|
| Atomic Mind |
|
| Remarkably Human[10] |
|
| Wide Eyes in the Dark |
|
| Young Language |
|
| Child of Bliss[11] |
|
with Archival
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Fear and Fate |
|
| Your Kingdom |
|
Singles
editAs lead artist
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Silver Tongued Devil" (featuring Guthrie Govan) | 2014 | Atomic Mind |
| "Gemini" | 2019 | Wide Eyes in the Dark |
| "A Cure Promised" | ||
| "Young Language" | 2021 | Your Language |
| "Silver Moon Rising" | ||
| "Child of Bliss"[11] | 2024 | Child of Bliss |
| "Moonflower" |
As featured artist
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" (Mike Dawes featuring Nick Johnston) | 2017 | Era |
| "This Is Living" (Afterwake featuring Nick Johnston) | TIL[A] | |
| "Krytonite" (John Connearn featuring Nick Johnston) | 2024 | Non-album singles |
| "Diving into the Unmapped" (Juanpa featuring Nick Johnston) |
with Osmanthus
edit| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| "Becoming" | 2022 |
| "My Heart is Slowly Burning Down" | |
| "Diamond Tragedy" | 2023 |
| "All the Things" | |
| "Oceans Rise" |
Music videos
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Sandmonster" | 2013 | In a Locked Room on the Moon |
| "In a Locked Room on the Moon" | ||
| "Even If It Takes a Lifetime" | 2014 | |
| "Silver Tongued Devil" (featuring Guthrie Govan) | Atomic Mind | |
| "Ghosts of the Robot Graveyard" | ||
| "Atomic Mind" | 2015 | |
| "Ultra Force" | ||
| "Remarkably Human" | 2016 | Remarkably Human |
| "Hypergiant" | ||
| "Impossible Things" (featuring Gavin Harrison, Bryan Beller, and Luke Martin) | ||
| "Fear Had Him by the Throat" | ||
| "Weakened by Winter" | 2017 | |
| "A Sick and Injured Brain" | ||
| "Gemnini" | 2019 | Wide Eyes in the Dark |
| "A Cure Promised" | ||
| "Wide Eyes in the Dark" | 2020 | |
| "Silver Moon Rising" | 2021 | Your Language |
| "Strange Silent Places" | 2022 | |
| "Child of Bliss" | 2024 | Child of Bliss |
| "Moonflower" |
Other appearances
edit| Title | Year | Credited artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Parade of Ashes" | 2014 | Periphery | Clear |
| "Champagne" | Polyphia | Muse | |
| "Disorder" | 2015 | David Maxim Micic | Ego |
| "Slight of Hand" | Intervals | The Shape of Colour | |
| "Goddess Gate" | 2017 | Scale the Summit | In a World of Fear |
| "Sleep Walker" | Technopath (featuring Tristan Fitchat and Nick Johnston) | Ontology | |
| "Ache" | Organized Chaos | Divulgence | |
| "Ghost Town" | 2019 | Zac Tiessen (featuring Nick Johnston) | Non-album single |
| "Pythoness" | Keith Merrow | Reading the Bones |
Notes
edit- ^ TIL is the name of a three-song single.
References
edit- ^ "Interview: Nick Johnston". gitarrebass.de (in German). December 17, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Between the Buried and Me announce summer tour with The Contortionist and Nick Johnston". loudwire.com. May 15, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Q&A Scene: Guitarists' Special: Nick Johnston". whatsmyscene.com. June 23, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ Sharma, Amit (May 19, 2020). "Nick Johnston, Lari Basilio and Plini on the genius of Joe Satriani". Guitar World.com Total Guitar. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "Nick Johnston on Instagram: "My guitar is now available on the @schecterguitarsofficial site!"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
- ^ "Me and my guitar: Nick Johnston". musicradar.com. December 21, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Nick Johnston - Independent". www.schecterguitars.com.
- ^ "Skulls in Space: The Atomic Rock of Nick Johnston". terrorizer.com. December 12, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ Maneuver, Henry (October 29, 2013). "Interview with Nick Johnston; the Guitar Wiz Talks New Solo Album 'In A Locked Room On The Moon'". Pure Grain Audio. Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ Larson, Tyler (August 30, 2016). "Guitar Wizard Nick Johnston Drops New Single, "Remarkably Human"". Guitar World. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ a b Vigezzi, Jacopo (February 4, 2024). "[News] Nick Johnston unveil the official video for the title-track from upcoming new album "Child of Bliss"". Prog Rock Journal. Retrieved February 10, 2024.