Rooted in Faith and Culture
Victoria Johnston’s music is set to hit all the high notes
Vincent Hughes (UCB Ireland Radio and VOX’s own music reviewer) met up with Victoria Johnston to chat about her music and her debut recordings.
(From the April - June 2020 issue of VOX)
Life is very busy these days for Spirit Radio producer and singer/songwriter Victoria Johnston. As well as putting in the early shift at the Christian radio station where she researches and produces the morning chat shows, she has been hard at work putting the finishing touches to her debut double A sided recordings which were released on Friday 13 March. Already dubbed by Hot Press music magazine as the “New Enya”, and that before the songs were even released, Victoria’s schedule has been a hectic one of promotional photoshoots, social media publicity and video shoots in the Wicklow Mountains in near zero temperatures.
On the day I met her in the beautiful Gathering Grounds Cafe in the grounds of Kilternan Parish Church, this hectic schedule didn’t seem to have adversely affected her at all. She was quite relaxed and fresh, and simply enjoying this latest adventure in a musical journey that stretches right back to when she was nine years old. According to her mum, Victoria was singing before she could talk, and the soundtrack of the The Sound of Music formed her repertoire back in those early years.
Victoria attributes her love of music to the fact that both her parents were music lovers, too, and while there was a lot of Leonard Cohen, U2, Sting and Elton John to be heard in the Johnston household, it was her mum’s love for classical music that shaped Victoria’s path. Her mum was an accomplished pianist, as indeed were her grandmother and great grandmother She speaks highly of her grandmother, who encouraged both her music and her faith with constant reminders that her talents were a gift from God. This was something that Victoria acknowledged over and over again during the course of our meeting.
By the age of eleven, Victoria was a member of the Royal Irish Academy of Music and working towards her dream of studying music full time. She talked in glowing terms of the huge support and encouragement she received from her parents in her teens, and how they devoted so much of their time to practicing with her and accompanying her to the many performances and competitions during those years.
Her mum often jokingly thanked God that she was an only child because there simply wouldn’t have been enough hours in the day to raise a second one! When I asked her if she ever considered her parents to be pushy, like so many parents who try to live their dreams through their children, she told me that music was her own choice - she absolutely loved it, and her parents were only too happy to support and encourage her in everything she wanted to do.
At 18, Victoria got through the demanding entrance competition for a place at the DIT Conservatory of Music in Rathmines where she studied for four years for a Bachelor of Music degree in which she majored, with a first, in composition. She had chosen this more difficult path in order to give herself a greater challenge and to obtain the maximum training and experience in writing and composing.
According to Victoria, this was all part of God’s plan for the future direction of her music. Further study in Trinity College led to a Master’s degree in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship and a scholarship to sing with the renowned Trinity Choir. During this time, her songwriting was blossoming and the desire to perform her songs and touch the hearts of audiences was growing.
The formation of her vocal trio Celtic Calling afforded her the opportunity to perform on the bigger stages, including the prestigious Helix Theatre in Dublin City University where they sang at the Fearless Women Conference. She has also performed at the National Concert Hall and the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin’s Docklands.
Victoria wants to bring her music to as big an audience as possible and has ambitions to perform at the 3 Arena. She believes in setting her sights high and believes that God expects her to do so.
“God wants us to have high expectations. When we raise the bar He opens us up to bigger opportunities than we could ever imagine.”
“He’s my biggest fan,” she told me. “He is cheering me on and He wants me to succeed. God wants us to have high expectations. When we raise the bar He opens us up to bigger opportunities than we could ever imagine.’’
It’s hard to disagree with these sentiments given the success she has had so far and the ease with which great things just keep on happening for her, for instance, like meeting Denis Woods.
Denis Woods is a Grammy award winning producer who has worked with numerous big names, including Clannad and Enya. His many years’ involvement with the world famous Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin has made him one of the most sought-after producers in the business.
Victoria was put in touch with him following the performance at the Helix Theatre. He immediately saw her tremendous potential and produced the two songs that comprise her debut recordings: Tar Liom and You Are the Peace.
Victoria had already arranged these songs for acoustic performance, but in the hands of Denis Woods they have been elevated to a level more suited to a bigger stage. The 3 Arena perhaps? When you listen to the songs, you will have no doubt that this is a distinct possibility.
I asked Victoria about her songwriting technique. She told me that because of her studies and years of experience, the melody comes very quickly to her. As for the lyrics? Well, she starts every songwriting exercise with a time of prayer in order to ground herself in God’s presence and then the words just come from within. She writes whatever He places on her heart.
“These songs are beautiful. Rich. Melodic. Deep. Songs rooted deeply in her faith and in her Irish culture and Celtic heritage.”
It is a tremendous partnership, because the fruits of this collaboration are very sweet indeed. These songs are beautiful. Rich. Melodic. Deep. Songs rooted deeply in her faith and in her Irish culture and Celtic heritage. She loves the Irish language, and while not professing to be a fluent Gaeilgeoir, she believes that the Irish language is so melodic, it has to be sung. When you hear these songs I think you agree.
Tar Liom, with its swirling melody and ethereal vocals, extends to us an invitation to follow Jesus, while the second song, You Are the Peace, based on an ancient Celtic Christian prayer, speaks of the ever presence of God, and how we just have to ask Him to bring us peace. As she explained these lyrics to me, I realised how she just seems to exude peace and calmness. As she had told me earlier, she knows Jesus is her number one fan. He always wants the best for her. And she relies on Him to provide her with everything she needs to succeed.
So, what of the future? Well, she says it’s in His hands. She will use the talents He has given her and believes He will open the doors and provide her with the opportunities. Given the doors that have already been opened, it certainly looks like the future is going to be exciting for Victoria Johnston.
Download Tar Liom and You Are the Peace from iTunes and all other digital music platforms. You will have the opportunity to see Victoria performing live as part of the One King Music tour in July, which will feature a host of Irish, US and UK Christian performers. To keep up to date with all that is happening with Victoria, you can follow her on Facebook and Instagram and her website is www.victoriajohnstonofficial.com.
Reviewed by UCB Ireland Radio producer/presenter Vincent Hughes. Listen to his programme 12-3pm Monday to Friday and 11am-3pm on Saturdays on Virgin Media Channel 918, on Sky Channel 0214 or via the smartphone app. You can contact Vincent at vhughes@ucbireland.ie | www.ucbireland.com.
