KC Johns is one of the most exciting new musical acts in country music. She’s able to expertly combine pop cultural modernity with the traditional beats and sounds recently latent in the genre, in some ways birthing what I would call postmodernist country. As a result, in an era where partisan divide is the norm, you’re able to have the best of both worlds.
While forgoing this somewhat for more traditionalism in the new single Best Seat in the House, Johns still balances with lyrics that are raw, soulful, unapologetically feminine and focusing on interpersonal and family values. While thematically the song is something of a big tent, the central reference point is the example set by Johns’ grandfather, who has the titular best seat in the house having passed some years ago. Johns is able to sing sweetly about subject matter both bitter and sweet, having this upbeat presence making Best Seat in the House both instantly accessible, yet wistfully nostalgic for better times.
She’s often spoken about wanting to be accessible as a musical act, to entertain yet feel like an acquaintance. Someone you might know from a small town. More and more given the isolation prevalent in the country, this is a difficult trick to pull off, particularly as someone breaking through the establishments of popular music. But Johns makes it work, and her efforts seem…well…effortless.
“Just be yourself on social media and, hopefully, people will connect with you. I’ve done that my entire life, and just throw what you can on social media and hopefully people relate to what you’re doing and just have fun with you,” Johns said, reflecting this for Breaking Scene Media. She also stated that part of the act’s accessibility is the fact it really is, at the end of the day, a highly successful passion project.
Something birthed not from a desire for fame or fortune, but a genuine wish to entertain. “I think, honestly, my drummer and I have been playing together for like eight years,” Johns said. “He was the very first drummer I played with on Broadway. I met his wife, Lisa, who is my best friend to this day. She made me feel so much a part of the Nashville community that that was my ‘I belong here’ moment. I was like, I know that I’m going to make and build a community here.”
Nashville in many ways has proven itself as Hollywood South. It’s an exciting and dynamic town, offering numerous possibilities for alternative musical and entertainment acts, being something of a successor to the corporate status quo. Acts like Johns settling down in the Nashville area are incredibly exciting for a country fan, it reminds one of what’s been missing in the genre for so many years.
Country in many ways isn’t just a musical genre, it’s something of a cultural capsule. That Johns is able to make it work on so many levels isn’t just a testament to her talent, but to her genuine evocativeness as a storyteller. You don’t have to be a country fan to be a fan of a KC Johns song. That’s to be commended.
Heather Savage