Tiffany Johnson releases debut album

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tiffany Johnson has deeps roots in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where she grew up performing, beginning at the age of 7.

Johnson’s love of being on stage began with dance. 

“When I was little, I did ballet and tap. That’s how I got exposed to performing and just loving that feeling,” she said. 

From being on stage to hanging out backstage, “from the first time I got to do it, I just loved that,” said Johnson.

Johnson’s own music career was inspired by artists like Taylor Swift, Kelsea Ballerini as well as her father, Ross Johnson.

“I got obsessed with songwriters and performers. Growing up, my Dad was in a band, and I grew up watching him perform, so I was exposed to it at a young age,” Johnson said. 

“I just fell in love with not only performing, but with songwriting from a really young age,” said Johnson. “I was inspired by my family and women that I had seen in the music industry making an impact on people.”

Johnson got her musical start performing locally as part of the Dahl Fine Art Center’s Emerging Artist Series. 

“I would challenge myself to learn a new song or write a new song for every open mic,” said Johnson, who also learned to play guitar at age 8. 

“I got a guitar for my  birthday, and my Dad taught me to play three chords. From there I felt like I could play any country song,” she said. “That kind of kick-started a lot of song writing and performing for me.”

Her performance at open mic nights soon led to bigger opportunities.

“My first gig was at the Central States Fair in Rapid City and to me, that was the biggest deal ever,” she said.

Johnson went on to tour extensively throughout the Midwest, performing at venues and festivals such as Levitt at the Falls, the Wild West Songwriters Festival, the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo and The Custer Beacon.

“I played at The Custer Beacon quite bit when I was in high school,” said Johnson. “I got a band together with a bunch of other high school students.”

The group played shows in Rapid City, Custer, Hill City and Spearfiish. 

“Any bar that would let me play,” she laughed. 

But, like many musicians, Johnson dreamed of moving to Nashville, Tenn..

“Being obsessed with Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton, and Kelsea Ballerini, it was like Nashville was the magical city where everything happened,” said Johnson. 

It was through the Wild West Songwriter Festival in Deadwood that she began making connections in Nashville. She recalls attending the festival at 7 years old, taking a demo of a song she had written. 

“It was a panel of judges from Nashville, people that worked in the record business, and people who were songwriters,” said Johnson. “I met my first publishers and record label executives at that festival. One year, an executive told me, ‘You should come take a trip to Nashville,’ and I did not let that go.”

At 13, Johnson attended a songwriting camp at the Country Music Hall of Fame and began returning to Nashville every chance she got.

“I would spend weeks during the summer in Nashville or take a week off of school,” she said. “I started making a bunch of friends here.” 

She said, “I knew I was going to move to Nashville once I graduated.”

Johnson graduated early from Rapid City Stevens High School and made the move to Music City.

“I signed a lease, literally the week I turned 18,” she recalled.

Since then, she has begun to build a career as a songwriter on Music Row while also emerging as a rising pop artist. 

Originally drawn to country music’s storytelling, Johnson’s songwriting blends pop, indie and alternative influences into a distinctive sound. Her work has gained attention, earning placements on Spotify’s Fresh Finds, Fresh Finds Pop, Fresh Finds Indie and New Music Nashville playlists. 

Johnson has shared the stage with well known artists such as Gary Allan, Chancey Williams, Emily Scott Robinson, Georgia Webster and Cecilia Castleman.  

As a songwriter, Johnson celebrated her first major label cut with, “I Miss New York City,” featured on Ben Goldsmith’s album “The Start of Something Beautiful.”

Johnson released her own debut album, “Temptress,” April 24 of this year.

“It’s my debut album and I wanted to make sure it really captured all the different genres that I love, different music styles that I grew up on, and what I evolved to love as well,” said Johnson. “It kind of jumps around palette wise, but I think it’s all very representative of who I am as an artist and as a person.”

“If an album was a journal, that’s how it would feel,” she said. 

The album features Johnson’s single, “Shocked,” described in a press release as “the dramatic ignition point,” for the nine-track project, “steeped in Gothic glam and Old Hollywood flair, wrapped in crimson red lipstick and pink, glittering guitars.”

Johnson will return to the Black Hills this summer with her Nashville band to include performances at The Custer Beacon July 2 and Spearfish Summer Nights July 3.

“I’m so excited,” said Johnson. “There’s nothing like a summer in the Black Hills.”

Johnson is looking forward to sharing the experience with her band.

“They’re some of my best friends, and I talk about the Black Hills all the time, so I’m just excited for them to see it,” said Johnson.

For Johnson, returning home isn’t just a stop on the tour—it’s a reminder of where it all began.

“It’s always good to play back home,” she said.

Check out Johnson’s debut album, “Temptress” on Spotify.