We were lucky to catch up with Ava Rose Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ava Rose, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My recent release is “Sweet Home Oklahoma”. It was written by myself, Billy Dawson and Kelli Johnson. The video was shot by Russell Sun Eagle of Sun Eagle Media. The song is about just that-sweet home Oklahoma. The things we do living in a small town in southeastern Oklahoma like fishing, hunting, feeding cows, everyone gathering to eat, driving around and of course the Friday night lights along with riding atvs at the local ATV trails. My video followed the lyrics perfectly-just like I had envisioned it! We used my friends, family, my high school-Go Eufaula Ironheads! local ATV trails-Twin Mountains outside of Quinton, Oklahoma and the Cabin by the Caves near Robbers Cave State Park. We also live in District 6 of the Choctaw Nation and the Choctaw Nation Councilwoman-Jennifer Woods was also in the video along with pictures of my great grandmothers (Avis Johnson and Betty Scraper Garner) who were Osage and Cherokee. I love Oklahoma and no matter where my singing career takes me-Oklahoma will always be special.
Ava Rose, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Ava Rose Johnson and I am a 16 year old Osage and Cherokee, Nashville Recording Artist, from Oklahoma. I am the 2022 Native American Music Awards Best Female Artist of the Year. I made history in 2019 at the age of 12 by winning Best Independent Recording By A New Artist at the Native American Music Awards. I am a 2 time Next Gen Under 30 Oklahoma Award Winner for 2023 and 2021 and I am the youngest to win the award NextGen Under 30 Oklahoma in 2021 in The Arts category and in 2023. My music is currently being heard in 68 countries. My song, “There’s A Boy” charted at #2 on the SiriusXM Indigenous Music Countdown. My song,”You Were Just A Dream” hit #5 on the IMC Countdown. My latest release “Sweet Home Oklahoma” was released on Nov 1st and is receiving rave reviews. I have been entertaining audiences (since I was 4 years old) with some amazing venues from singing the National Anthem at the Oklahoma City Thunder game to performing shows at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, in NYC, in studio at Good Morning America and on the Good Morning America Summer Concert Series Stage in Central Park. I have performed in Nashville, Branson, at the Nashville to New Mexico event along with Denver’s Rocky Mountain Chamber of Commerce Gala and the Global MindED conference in Denver. I’ve performed for the Tribal Self Governance Conferences in San Francisco and in Tulsa, Oklahoma to name just a few.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I think the most rewarding aspect of being a singer songwriter is connecting with my audiences. When the comment on my social media, send messages or at venues when they share with me how my songs connect with them and mean so much to them is the best feeling.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My goal really is to reach as many people possible with my music. Whether they identify with me, my songs from Heaven’s Window, There’s A Boy, You Were Just A Dream to Sweet Home Oklahoma and all the other songs I have covered, that is what continues to drive me. Definitely the connections and people I meet and have met along the way of this singer-songwriter journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.avarosejohnsonmusic.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/avarosejohnsonmusic
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/avarosejohnsonmusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avarosejohnsonmusic
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@avarosejohnson945/videos
Image Credits
Sun Eagle Media, photo credit for the one personal photo. Ava Rose Johnson Music, photo credits