Tyler James Johnson and Jennifer Croden set off sparks with their smouldering new duet Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The Victoria guitarist and singer-songwriter’s searing Americana single is the latest release from his new EP Songs For Everyone, and was inspired by a classic musical matchup from the ’80s: Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks. “I was driving in my car one day and … Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around came on the radio,” Johnson recalls, “For some reason I was inspired and thought I really want to write a similar style duet song to this. Turns out not long after a close friend of mine was having relationship challenges, and it inspired the story behind this.”
On the track, Johnson and Croden spin a yarn about a woman begging for a second chance from the man she left behind. Evocative of the great Americana duet tradition, Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire is all at once heartfelt, bitter and red hot. “My friend had fallen for this seemingly wonderful girl,” explains Johnson, “Turns out she would up and leave one day with no notice to travel the world. He was incredibly heart broken and struggled for months because of this. Time passes and he moves on and she returns and wants a relationship again… I was really frustrated for him.”
Johnson was first inspired to pick up the guitar after hearing his father’s record collection at the age of 12. Today, his repertoire spans many genres, including folk, rock, blues, country, Celtic, traditional and pop. Over the years he has lent his talents to numerous artists and bands, assuming roles as both a frontman and a sideman. In 2022, he was the resident lounge performer at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta. Presently, he can be found performing throughout Victoria, both as part of the duo Second Fiddle and as a solo artist.
“I’ve been a cover musician for the past many years 4-5 years,” says Johnson. “I was playing in a lot of bands before I moved to Vancouver Island, mostly classic rock and blues… I have never really considered myself a songwriter or really a true musician. More of a guy who just likes to play guitar.” Despite his humility, his new EP Songs For Everyone is really just that.
Check out Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire above, hear more from Tyler James Johnson below and keep up with him on his website.
