Paige Johnson is a female country singer and songwriter who values the roots of country music, and she hopes to preserve those roots with her own music. She grew up in Angier, NC where she began music lessons at five years old and began playing guitar a couple years later.

In 2017, Paige was nominated as Best Country Female in the 10th Annual Carolina Music Awards. She has performed for many local organizations, churches, NC congressional representatives, the Carolina Mudcats and Buies Creek Astros baseball teams, North Carolina Fall Festival, Harnett Regional Agricultural Fair, Angier High School Mega Reunion, Relay for Life, the Johnston Community College Country Music Showcase, the popular Opry Mills Unplugged Showcase Series, Belmont University’s Country Music Showcase and the legendary Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville, TN.

Paige’s debut single “That Cowgirl” gained major popularity after being featured on one of North Carolina’s most popular major radio stations, 94.7 WQDR, as part of the Homegrown Carolina Country Show. That song, along with her latest single “Heartbreak Catalog”, is now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, and many other music retailers.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Paige about her newest project, challenges, motivations, and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create?

I am originally from a small town in North Carolina called Angier. I have lived there my entire life until I moved to Nashville, on the same farm with basically the same neighbors. Angier is a place where you know everyone you pass on the road, and you go to the same hometown restaurants every day and end up eating with the same people. I love my hometown so much and miss it every day. It had such a huge part in shaping me as a person and has influenced my music greatly.

I write country music- REAL country music. I grew up listening to classic country on my parent’s radios, with legends like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. The stories that they told in their songs and the places they went to reach fans showed their dedication to the music and not just the stardom that they had as a touring artist. All of those classic country artists and ways of writing have really influenced the way I write for myself and the cover songs that I choose when playing shows.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?

My mom put me in piano lessons when I was just five years old to give me a deeper understanding of music and the theory behind it. I had been singing since I was very young in my church and school choirs, but had never been introduced to music formally until then. I also joined my church’s handbell choir once I got a deeper understanding of music. After seeing how much I enjoyed playing music and performing, my grandpa bought me my first guitar and insisted on me taking guitar lessons- so I did. Sadly, a few months after I began taking lessons my grandpa passed away. He knew how much I enjoyed performing and only wanted to see me happy while chasing after my dream of being a country artist, but he sadly never got to witness that. After his passing, my passion for music only grew, and my desire to become a country artist held a deeper meaning to me. So, I put all of my passion and time into practicing and playing and growing as a performer in order to make him proud and show him that the seeds he planted in me were flourishing. Still to this day I think of my grandpa each time I pull out my guitar or step on a stage; I hope that he is looking down on me from above and enjoying each show from the best view out there, but more importantly I hope that he is proud of me.

How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?

The release of the “Golden Rings” music video is very special to me because it is the first music video I have ever released. The whole process of shooting the footage, collaborating with the videographer, and working on a strict timetable was new to me, but it was all so exciting! In doing this project, I was trying to establish myself even further as an artist and make this next move in my career to show my fans and supporters the progress I have been making since moving to Nashville. This song, “Golden Rings”, has been very special to me from the moment I wrote it because it pays tribute to all of the great classic country music artists who have had such a big impact on me as a songwriter and artist. I knew when I wrote this song that I wanted to do more with it than just release a recording; I wanted it to be able to tell my story like all of the classic country songwriters did with their great songs. So, being able to shoot this video in Nashville with some of my close friends was my way of telling my story as a songwriter and artist now living in Nashville and going further in my career. The response from people already has been overwhelmingly encouraging, and I can’t wait to see what others have to say going forward!

Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?

As a country artist trying to “do it” on my own, with the help of my wonderful friends and family of course, it can be really challenging. The biggest challenge, I believe, is just feeling like you are being heard among the other hundreds of thousands of equally talented musicians chasing after the same thing you are. It can get discouraging from time to time when you constantly see what others are doing and the opportunities they are getting, but this industry is no place for jealousy or envy. I am so happy to see my friends and colleagues succeed and make progress, and I cheer them on each step of the way, knowing that my time will come too.

Technology has been a huge help in launching my career as a country artist. It allows me a place to stay connected with all of my fans from home, while also reaching new people here in Nashville and in other places that I travel to play. It has also allowed me different platforms and ways to share my music, performances, etc. with others so they can hear my progression as an artist and help me share it with others. Without all of the different technologies and internet services, I don’t think I would be where I am today as an artist.

Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?

The best places for people to stay updated on what I’m doing are my facebook page and my website. I update those regularly with the things I’m doing each day, new songs, videos, and show announcements. I really enjoy interacting with people on social media and seeing what they are up to, and I try to do the same by sharing exciting things that are happening for me as well. As for discovering more music, I have a couple of songs on iTunes and Spotify, and I upload new songs and performances on my YouTube page regularly.