SCJ: So many times in my walk I’ve been told to “Surrender All”. But no one ever told me HOW to “Surrender All”. What does it look like to be totally surrendered to God? How does one begin surrendering to God? So that’s what I wanted this album to be; a starting point in the dialogue on what it means to surrender EVERYTHING to God. How to surrender your Future, your Present, your Past, your Dreams, your Desires. Totally give it up to God, let go of the burden of worrying about what tomorrow will bring and let God write the story.
PATH: What has been your personal growth between Vol 2: Faithful and Vol 3: Surrender All?
SCJ: It’s funny actually; whenever I pick a title for my CD I always seem to live that “theme” out in my real life. While recording “Faithful” I grew in my knowledge that God is always “Faithful”. With “Surrender All” I was really challenged to surrender every area of my life to God. There were so many things being stripped from my life so much that was uncertain about my future that I really had to learn how to surrender all my concerns and fears to God.
PATH: What is the overall flavor of this record?
SCJ: The flavor on this album is definitely Neo-Soul, with a hint of 70’s soul, and Hip-Hop. I definitely grew as an artist but stayed within my box/lane (Neo Soul). You can say I explored the outer edges and corners of my “Box” without stepping outside of it.
PATH: “Who” is your first single, what’s special about this song?
SCJ: Whew!! It just grabs you from the first beat. Style wise it definitely represents and embodies the sound that I want to be known for. Message wise, it points to how GREAT are God is. If there was someone you had to surrender everything to and depend on totally, it would definitely be God. There is NO ONE like him.
PATH: You have a song called “Molasses”, tell us what this is about?
SCJ: When I wrote “Molasses” I was really at a place in my life where everything around me was moving WAY too fast. I had a lot on my plate (work, school, and music). People were pulling me in different directions, asking me to do this, and I was really just stressed out. I wanted everything to just go away. But in the midst of that I was reminded that it’s in the storm that we grow stronger, that it’s the trying of our faith that produces patience. So instead of being in a rush and wanting the storm, trail, or pressure to be over I wrote this song to remind myself and encourage others to slow down and let God refine you in the fire.
PATH: Describe your music in relation to colors.
PATH: Soul music isn’t usually categorized with “worship” music. Speak to this and why soul music is worship music.
PATH: For someone who has never heard Sean C. Johnson, what would they expect to hear and receive from Vol 3: Surrender All?
PATH: Why do you sing and write music?
PATH: What do you wish to achieve with your music and for inspirational/Christian soul music as a whole?
Oklahoma City, Ok April 14th – Restoration Christian Church
