From the living room to the stage, the Johnson family continues to bring their dreams to reality
The Start of The Journey
Shania (29), Batchlor (27), and Corey Johnson (22) are three siblings born in Southern California and raised in West Houston, Katy, Texas. They aspire to create music together that inspires their listeners and helps people feel love and connection through the stories they tell in their music.
The siblings’ musical journey began long before they were born. The Johnsons’ passion for music is deeply rooted in both their mother’s and father’s sides of the family. On their mother’s side, the musical journey started on the island of Samoa, where family members performed in their band, entertaining audiences throughout the island wherever they could. On their father’s side, music also played a significant role, with their dad being a rapper in the 1990s and their grandmother, Barbara Lynn, a renowned electric guitarist, singer, and songwriter, best known for her iconic R&B song “You’ll Lose a Good Thing,” released in 1963.
Coming from a highly talented family, the three siblings began their performance journey at family gatherings, always entertaining their relatives. Their father envisioned his children performing together one day, and that vision became possible once the youngest sibling, Corey, was old enough to join. Their musical careers gained momentum when Batchlor wrote his first song, “Dance Floor,” in junior high. Their father encouraged his talent, taking him to a studio to record, producing music videos, and organizing performances at malls and festivals. The family even auditioned for shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, X Factor, and other singing competitions.
Throughout their lives, the siblings have drawn inspiration from artists like Michael Jackson. Batchlor recalled watching an interview with Michael Jackson as a child, where Michael said he “never sang something he didn’t feel.” That message resonated deeply with the siblings, shaping their approach to music and motivating them to create songs that genuinely connect with their listeners.
Incorporating Culture Within Their Music
When it comes to culture and music, the siblings stated, “Culture is a lifestyle that can’t be separated from music.” As Polynesians, they strive to reflect the essence of a Polynesian family: raw, authentic, talented, loyal, and consistent, in their music. They cited artists like The Jets, who embody the Polynesian family spirit. In the future, they hope to create songs incorporating the Samoan language, their mother’s native tongue, to produce something as powerful as Pati’s song Tali Maia.
In September 2024, the family had the opportunity to perform at the annual Polynesian Festival in Lehi, Utah. However, the process wasn’t easy. Inspiring the Polynesian community through music has always been a goal for the siblings, but with stiff competition in the music industry and the abundance of Polynesian artists in Utah, they faced challenges. Many people weren’t even aware that the Johnson family was Samoan. Through faith and prayers, they secured a performance spot at the festival when acts from the original lineup fell through.
Grateful for the opportunity, they dedicated their performance to their uncle, who was gaining recognition for his music in Samoa before tragically passing away during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the festival, they performed a song that had gone viral in Samoa, a collaboration between their uncle and their father, paying tribute to his legacy.
Goals and What’s Next for the Johnson Family
The Johnson siblings have ambitious goals for their music careers in the coming year. They plan to embark on a tour to countries like New Zealand, Samoa, Ethiopia, Japan, and Dubai. Some of these destinations will also involve speaking engagements with youth, where they aim to integrate their music to inspire and connect. Domestically, they hope to perform in cities like Houston, Idaho, Dallas, Colorado, and various parts of California, as they’ve already received invitations to perform in these areas.
While each sibling continues to pursue individual music projects, they are also working towards releasing or re-releasing music as a family.
Through their songwriting and performances, the Johnson family aspires to remain authentic and tell stories that resonate with listeners, whether from their culture or not. Their goal is to inspire others, foster feelings of love and comfort, include everyone in their journey, and always honor their roots, their identity, and the family they represent.
