SINGLE “FREEDOM” FEATURING HYMN

 

Singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer, Martin J. just released a powerful new cut with Breakout artist/rapper HYMN. Together they are introducing fans to Freedom, under Mondez Music—, available now across all streaming platforms. Freedom serves up a high energy track produced/written and performed by Martin J. Complementing his melodic vocals, Martin J.’s nephew, Hymn provides lyrical assistance with powerful conscious and relatable controversial content that ranges from 5G, Chem Trails, peace, struggling, suicide and fear. The song leaves you to wonder if we are really free when you look at the state of the world today. Martin J.’s rich soulful sound encompasses the modern-day vibe of Donny Hathaway, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. Similar to Marvin Gaye’s classic hit, What's Going On, Freedom is a conscious-raising track that was birthed during a time-period where there is escalating social problems and vexing global issues. With the release of Freedom, Martin J. is hoping to help ignite a national conversation to spark change.

 

IN THE BEGINNING

 

Steeped in Soul, R&B, Hip Hop, and Gospel, Martin Johnson’s musical purview is overtly immense. With his extensive background in music, Martin J. was raised in a musically inclined family. This extremely helped in shaping Martin’s musical platform. His musical skills were encouraged by both parents early in life. His father, Pastor Andrew E. Johnson, is a songwriter/producer in his own right and his mother, Pearl Johnson has a profound history of teaching and directing choirs for over twenty years. Martin Johnson attributes his vocal and instrumental dexterity to his parents and other family members. Martin also acknowledges his family Samuel Jonathan Johnson as one of his musical influences. 

 

CAREER

 

Martin Johnson started his musical career in 1993 as a musician in a band that toured with various hip-hop artists that were signed to Ruthless Records. Martin has written and produced for many notable R&B, Hip-Hop, and Gospel artists through the years. 

 

Previous releases by Martin Johnson include, The Testament, a 15-track CD project with a set full of jams and grooves laced with inspirational words and anchored with pounding hip-hop beats and street sensibilities. No doubt, Johnson’s strong vocals and ear for impeccable production have propelled his sounds to underground chart stardom.

 

CULTIVATION OF MARTIN J.’S SOUND

 

His voice is a grabbing merge of strong contemporary inflection and major influence from any 70’s soul masterpieces. Nods to Gospel majors such as Fred Hammond and Marvin Winans come through too. Martin Johnson has been creating an underground MP3 buzz for some time now, ranking way up there on listener plays and preferences. The project’s hit —and that’s a hard call to make— is “Waymaker”, produced by Johnson, with an assist from Big Mill. Stacked backing harmonies juice the ride while Johnson intones the praise to God. Rhythmic rhymes in the chorus are laid over a booming track, making the records hot like pepper.

 

Martin Johnson is currently being driven by his life’s experiences. He is determined to rebirth the soulful sounds of the 70’s and 80’s as well as deliver records that are extant. As Martin croons soulful lines on top of bottomed-out bass lines and beefy drum tracks, he also distributes soft melodies and phased harmonies on top of fervid Rhodes with the pursuit of the listener’s mind and heart through the ear-gate. He is a student and fan of all genres of music because he believes that the power of music will forever be effectual. 

 

OTHER RECENT RELEASES

Over the past several years, Martin J. released an impressive series of singles, such as Love Conscious, The Times, and Keep on Loving You. All are available now on major digital retail outlets. Martin J's EP is slated to be released first quarter 2021 and he’s promising that it will consist of soulful tracks filled with real life relatable lyrics of love, truth, and peace.