Meet Your Neighbor: Johnny Kasun

By: LiliAnn Paras | June 30, 2021 |  Meet Your Neighbor |  Fair Haven

Photo credit: Marnie Dougherty

Meet Johnny Kasun, the new talent in the local music scene.

Johnny Kasun of Fair Haven has released his first album, Point of Interest, highlighting a unique fingerstyle guitar playing technique and his original songs. Johnny expressed gratitude to his parents, Dan and Meredith, for supporting all his aspirations, his sister, Anna, for lending her voice to countless background harmonies and to his brother, Michael, for “listening to the same three second interval of a song a million times over.” 

CM: What is the best music advice you’ve been given and who gave it?
Johnny: One of my mentors, Tom Smallwood, simply said, “Play less.” I had fallen into the trap all beginners face: I was obsessed with playing as many notes as possible and never took the time to sit back and just listen. Once I approached my music from a more simplistic and purposeful perspective, I was able to progress much faster and write much more impactful songs.

CM: When did you first become interested in creating music?
Johnny: I was nine when, on one seemingly routine summer afternoon, my dad brought out an entry-level Fender Squier Stratocaster. He very patiently taught me a single-stringed version of Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple. I spent weeks and weeks perfecting this simple part to the point where I’m sick of the song even to this day! Eventually, my parents signed me up for classical and electric guitar lessons.

CM: How did you develop the fingerstyle guitar playing?
Johnny: I love classical guitar but all its rules were becoming a drag! Fingerstyle guitar is when the melody and accompaniment is played simultaneously by one musician on one guitar, adding a bit more “pizzazz” to classical guitar.

CM: Do you play all the instruments on your albums?
Johnny: Primarily I am a guitarist and vocalist. I learned piano, bass, and drums out of necessity since the majority of my music is recorded just by me. On Point of Interest, about half of the songs are played solely by me, while on the other half, keys, bass, and drums are played by my mentor, Todd Wright.

CM: What is your creative process for composing songs?
Johnny: It is quite freeform and heavily relies on how things “feel”. I typically begin with a melody or idea that has been floating around in my head for a few days. I sing it to myself repeatedly, trying to imagine all the possible directions it could go and continuously narrow down my options until I land with one that I feel is unique and satisfying. I tend to write the music before the lyrics, deriving from the fact that I began as a guitarist and then over time evolved into a lyricist as well. Once I finish the basic structure of a song, I start the recording process, which I consider a second writing stage. I often get ideas for new parts to add as I listen to how the song is developing.

CM: Besides your own music, what music do you most enjoy listening to?
Johnny: I listen to any music that is good-whether it be pop, country, rap, or whatever- I’ll listen if it gets my foot tapping. Probably sixty percent of my music library consists of Classic Rock – that’s where all the shredding guitars are, how could I not love it? Some musicians I admire most and could not live without are Cory Wong, Vulfpeck, Pink Floyd, Jim Croce, Billy Joel, Tommy Emmanuel, the Eagles, Todd Wright, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, Greg Koch, Joe Bonamassa, and the list goes on. Oh, and I can’t forget Spinal Tap!

CM: Who is the dream person or band to collaborate with, and why?
Johnny: Absolutely it is Tommy Emmanuel. On top of being one of the greatest performers and songwriters of all time, he is also an incredibly kind and humble man. I have been to many of his guitar workshop camps across the country and even had the opportunity to play with him on stage for a tune! I have tons more work to do before I’ll be on a collaborating level with Tommy, but maybe in the future it’ll happen!

CM: Favorite philosophy?
Johnny:  “Do something today your future self will thank you for.” I’m a huge proponent of steady and incremental self-betterment.

Visit johnnykasun.com to enjoy Johnny’s music and learn more.