Between smoky stage setups and stripped-bare blues ballads, JohnnyTheWidower is steering independent music into a space where authenticity is the standard. In this interview, he opens up about the heartbreak-fuelled pulse of Broken Piano, the intimate electricity of his live shows, and the broader mission powering FLOWCEx Music. There’s no PR gloss or industry fluff here—just an artist building a legacy out of grief, grit, and grassroots growth. From the Kickstarter campaign that’s setting the stage for a wider movement to the way each show becomes a live-wire retelling of personal rebirth, Johnny offers a candid and compelling glimpse into what it really means to be a modern DIY artist with a message. Whether you’re new to his music or already part of the VIBE sessions, this is one read that’s worth sticking with to the final note.
Welcome to A&R Factory, JohnnyTheWidower! Your passion for raw, authentic music shines through in everything you do, from your weekly VIBE sessions to the Kickstarter campaign for Broken Piano. Let’s dig into your upcoming tour, the live experience, and what fans can expect. Broken Piano is shaping up to be a major milestone for you. With your upcoming shows, how are you bringing the album to life on stage?
The album comes to life as a story—a journey through loss, loneliness, and heartbreak, but also resilience and rebirth. Broken Piano is deeply emotional, but it also lays the foundation for my next album, JTW Come Alive, which represents that turning point—stepping out of the darkness and into light.
On stage, I want the audience to feel that transformation. The scene opens dark and intimate—a dimly lit bluesy setting with an upright piano, upright bass, drums, and guitar quartet. There’s a bottle of whiskey on the piano, shot glasses on the table, cigars in the air. That’s where I introduce “My Lady Is Gone”, the song that truly defines JohnnyTheWidower.
From there, the emotion deepens with “I Never Let Go”, the second single from Broken Piano, followed by “Be My Friend”, a song from my COVID Universe album that shifts the mood toward connection and hope.
This set isn’t just about performing songs—it’s about immersing the audience in my world, taking them through the pain, but also showing them the strength to move forward.
VIBE has been a big part of how you connect with listeners. Do you see your live performances expanding on that, or will they bring something completely different to the table?
Expansion, without a doubt. If you check out my YouTube channel, you’ll see that I’ve already started building something bigger—I’ve done two episodes of JohnnyTheWidower: The Reality Series, I host open mic events, and heck, I even do Shakespeare!
VIBE has been about connecting with listeners in an authentic way, and my live performances will only elevate that experience. The energy, the storytelling, the raw emotion—it’s all about bringing people into my world in real time.
Moving forward, I’m evolving VIBE with new segments to deepen that connection:
Musicians Speak – A platform where studio musicians and struggling band members can share their journeys, talk about their grind, and promote their work.
The Healing Power of Music – A holistic segment where we’ll meditate and explore how music can heal, uplift, and transform lives.
At the core of everything I do, whether it’s VIBE or my live performances, the goal remains the same: to create an experience that resonates, inspires, and connects people through music.
You’ve taken a hands-on approach with mixing My Lady Is Gone but are pushing for professional mastering for the album. How does performing these tracks live help you refine their final sound?
It’s all part of the creative process. Mixing My Lady Is Gone myself was an important step, but when it comes to mastering the full album, I need fresh ears on it. It’s like being a doctor—you don’t want to be the one diagnosing and treating your own condition. I’ve been hands-on with my music for years, but this time, I want outside expertise to make sure Broken Piano reaches its full potential.
For a long time, my music was stagnant, and I know that’s due to one of two things:
1️-Lack of marketing and promotion (which I strongly believe is the issue)
2️-Mixing & mastering quality (which could play a role, but I won’t know until I remove that variable)
That’s why I’m making the investment in professional mixing and mastering—to eliminate doubt and give these songs the best chance to shine.
And hey, if you know anyone who’ll do it on spec—send them my way!
Is there a particular song from Broken Piano that you think will take on a life of its own in a live setting?
Absolutely—“Somebody’s Gonna Win, Somebody’s Gonna Lose” is built for the live stage.
It’s a blues jam session at its core—loose, raw, and unpredictable. This is one of those songs that can go on and onbecause every time I perform it, it takes on a new energy. I swear, I’ve never played it the same way twice—which my guitarist loves because he gets to rock out, but my drummer and bassist? Not so much.
But that’s the beauty of it. In a live setting, this song breathes—it becomes its own thing. And the audience feels that freedom, that spontaneity, that real musicianship happening in the moment.
When Broken Piano hits the stage, this track is gonna be a show-stopper.
With FLOWCEx Music in motion, do you see your upcoming gigs as a platform for showcasing other artists under your wing, or will the focus be on cementing your own presence first?
I’m only as good as my roster—my team. My project is out front right now because it was the most cost-effective wayto set the stage for FLOWCEx Music.
Since September 2024, I’ve produced:
Two full albums (8 tracks each) on myself
A 10-track compilation featuring 8 different artists
If I had tried to launch with another artist first, I’d still be working on one album—and I would have spent twice as much already.
This was strategic—I needed to establish the standard, create the blueprint, and launch a promotional campaign that will eventually filter other artists through the pipeline.
So when I perform, if my artists are available, they’re on that stage with me. Every time. Because FLOWCEx Music is bigger than just me—it’s a movement.
You’ve got the Kickstarter running alongside the tour. How much has the crowdfunding experience shaped your approach to engaging with fans?
Right now, my touring is local out of practicality—we’re a startup label, so I’m not booked on a national tour… yet. But that doesn’t mean I’m not making strategic moves to expand my presence.
I perform regularly at Kingston Public House, a whiskey bar in Brooklyn, and this spring/summer, I’ll be hitting Prospect Park at the BandShell.
Beyond that, as the creator of Performing Artists in Real Estate—a group of artists who also sell real estate—I’ll be performing at our monthly mixers, tapping into a network that blends business, art, and entertainment.
And I’m always on the hunt for bigger stages. I plan to throw my name in the hat for opening slots at major venues like The Barclays Center, Billie Holiday Theatre, Madison Square Garden, and Brooklyn Academy of Music.
That’s where the Kickstarter and marketing push come in. This campaign—and interviews like this—aren’t just about funding. They’re about building visibility and momentum. The more people engage with my movement, the more leverage I have to secure bigger opportunities and bring FLOWCEx Music to a wider audience.
What’s the one thing you want people walking away from your shows feeling—whether they’re hearing you live for the first time or they’ve been following you since day one?
Music is meant to make you feel good—but nowadays, a lot of it vibrates at an aggressive frequency. When you come to my show or listen to my music, I don’t want you to feel aggressive—I want you to feel happy, warm, loved, inspired, amused, and thoroughly entertained.
I want to make you smile and cry at the same time. I want to tell a story that keeps you riveted, one that stays with you long after the last note fades.
Most importantly, I want my audience to feel loved. When I cook for people, I do it with love—choosing the best ingredients for the most flavorful outcome. I approach music the same way. Every lyric, every melody, every performance—it’s all crafted to nourish the soul.
That’s what I want people walking away with—an experience they’ll never forget.
Beyond the gigs lined up now, what’s the bigger vision for your career?
My bigger vision is to run FLOWCEx Music as a full-fledged independent label. Right now, I’m out front, performing and pushing the movement, but ultimately, I want to fall back from constant gigging and shift my focus to mentorship, artist development, and strategic growth for the label.
The young, hungry artists on my roster? I want them gigging non-stop. That’s what they want, and that’s what I want for them. My job is to make sure they have the right opportunities, the right support, and the right platform to shine.
At my core, I’m a builder and a guide. I’ve walked this path, I know the struggles, and I want to pave the way for the next generation. FLOWCEx Music isn’t just about me—it’s about creating a legacy of independent artists thriving on their own terms.
Stream JohnnyTheWidower’s latest single on Bandcamp now.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast