Music

Queen Of Songwriting

Anna Johnson’s prolific performances score scholarship, major props

Some teenagers fantasize about a scholarship to their dream college. Others imagine being famous musicians and canoodling with rock stars. Anna Johnson gets to do both.

“The band Queen – you know ... the world famous, super-talented, phenomenal songwriters, ‘We Are the Champions’ band Queen – is currently holding a demo with my picture on it,” Johnson told her fans on her MySpace band page May 7.

Since then, the 19-year-old won a four-year, full-ride scholarship to McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, a contest judged by the members of the infamous rock band.

“It was intimidating and scary,” said Johnson. “I didn’t think I had a chance, but they saw something in me.”

Johnson, a local singer/songwriter who attended UW-Eau Claire this past year, performed weekly shows this summer at the Living Room Coffee House. She was also previously half the duet Anna and Sarah with friend Sarah Jade.

Currently of Chippewa Falls, Anna attended Eau Claire Christian High School where she taught herself to play guitar at just 15. She wrote her first song, “Forever and Always,” when she was just a junior in high school.

McNally Smith awards All-Star Scholarships in songwriting, production and performance. The production and performance categories are judged by Ice Cube and Diana Ross while songwriting, the category Anna applied for, is judged by the remaining members of rock powerhouse Queen.


    Johnson submitted a CD of an original song, lyrics and an essay to the Queen Scholarship, given to only one McNally Smith student, in May.

 “‘Flowers on Monday’ sums up the whole idea of my CD,” says Johnson of her entry in the scholarship. “The form is different, and I am proud of the lyrics I wrote for that one – Sarah says they’re ‘clever.’”

Johnson’s guitar skills are also nothing to be scoffed at, especially while playing with her rotating cast of bandmates. She is often accompanied by her sister, Julia Johnson, on violin and friend, Jeremy Davidson, with djembe and shaker.

However, Johnson’s band is not the only thing evolving.

“Every song is different,” said Johnson. “It’s a different emotion, a different feel, a different genre.”

Johnson will pursue a bachelor’s degree in songwriting and composition while at McNally Smith in the hopes of becoming a professional singer and songwriter.

“The feeling is indescribable, it still doesn’t feel real,” Johnson said about winning.

Johnson plans to have her first CD, Roller Coaster Love, finished by the end of August. She’ll be selling copies at The Living Room, at her live performances, and online.

    Anna Johnson CD release shows: Roller Coaster Love. Saturday, Sept. 6 at 5pm at The Living Room Coffee House (free), and Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 7pm at the Heyde Center for the Arts in Chippewa Falls ($3, youth under 16 free with adult). www.myspace.com/annajohnsonmusic.