Will Ellis Johnson

Will Ellis Johnson is a new American troubadour, weaving a little weird into the classic musical traditions of gospel, folk & bluegrass. Will plays guitar, dobro, and mandolin with aplomb, and is currently holding down pedal steel duties with Nashville’s Emily Nenni and Teddy & The Rough Riders.

Will’s Canaanland record is one of the first Dead Currencies releases, and it remains an under appreciated gem. There is a haunted ease in which our protagonist leads us through the familiar, traditional & primitive old-time Americana via a far less accessible channel rarely travelled but for the likes of Jim O’Rourke or Bill Orcutt. Canaanland is a hypnotic blend of the traditional and experimental, with vibes to spare. Alternately, “Along the L&N” finds Will exploring a more historic route, conjuring visions of a bygone era of folk singers riding the rails, singing about life and work in harder, but simpler times. “No Bosses in Heaven,” with it’s pro-union dreams of an honest days’ work in Heaven without the company squeezing you for your last pennies for basic provisions, could’ve easily been written by a coal miner in Pennsylvania at the turn of the last century. And the closer, “Solemn Thoughts of the Future” perfectly encapsulates the feeling of resignation at a life spent as a cog in the great American capitalist machine.