Dan Johnson Releases Concept Album 'Hemingway'
Texas Singer-Songwriter Dan Johnson has released his latest album 'Hemingway'. The concept album features five songs that each tell their own story and a companion book and audiobook of short stories that show just how intricately the characters in the songs are related across time.
The title song and story 'Hemingway' is inspired by the life and tragic suicide of Dan’s father, an injured military veteran who lost all hope when he discovered his military skills didn’t translate to any sustainable job in the civilized world. The depression and eventual mental illness that followed led him to, as the songs says, “take the Hemingway out.” Dan was only 10 years old at the time and was instantly stripped of his childhood, to bear the responsibilities his father left behind. When he finally gained a life of his own he admittedly took a tremendously selfish turn, indulging in a reckless life full of drugs and women as depicted in the song “The Favor” and its accompanying story, ”The Devil’s Child.”
“Tom Waits For No One” and the accompanying story “Ice Water“ were born of a breakup scene from Dan’s own life staged in a dimly lit room, all romantically ready and waiting for a woman who would never return. “Bloom” is a sentimental piece, inspired by Dan’s three daughters and the pleasure of watching them blossom into strong, beautiful women, a precious experience he nearly missed out on. Through the guilt of his past and the general lack he felt as a person, Dan came very close to following in his dad’s footsteps, but at the last minute he decided he would see it through, and instead poured his inner battle into the hauntingly personal song “Lone Gunman’s Lament” and accompanying story “A Bad Man.”
The entire collection of songs (produced by Johnson and Adam Odor) and short stories is a heart provoking narrative about the relationship between decision versus chance in life, and the inextricable ties between good and evil in the world.
