Artist Glimpse: Scott Johnston
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If you follow the independent country scene, you might know Scott Johnston. Whether he’s soaking up the vibe from the back of the room at a local songwriter's showcase or sharing a soulful performance on your feed, his love for the genre is undeniable. But as we move into Spring 2026, Scott is stepping into a new chapter. It’s one thing to honor the greats with a well-placed cover; it’s another entirely to put your own heart on a page and let the world hear it. Scott is a singer with a voice that needs to be heard and a heart that clearly has something to tell. As he gears up to release his own original music, we sat down to talk about the daunting, beautiful process of finding his own sound.
ROB AGUIAR - Take us back to the very first time you picked up a guitar. Was there a specific moment or a song that made you realize you didn't just want to be a listener, but a creator?
SCOTT JOHNSTON - I think like a lot of people, it started with just being a fan of music. For me, that was actually rock — growing up listening to it and going to live shows. But there was a moment where it shifted. I went to a country show, and something about it just hit different. The storytelling, the connection with the crowd. It just felt more personal. That’s when it went from just listening to wanting to be part of it. I picked up a guitar and started figuring it out myself. At first it was learning songs, but pretty quickly it turned into wanting to tell my own stories.
RA - You’ve spent a lot of time sharing music that people already know and love. Now that you’re stepping into the studio with your own material, what does creating music mean to you personally, especially now that the words are yours?
SJ - It’s a completely different feeling. When you’re playing covers, you’re connecting to someone else’s story — and there’s something really powerful in that. But when it’s your own words it just means more. There’s a level of honesty that you can’t really hide from. You’re putting something real out there, and you don’t know how people are going to take it — but that’s part of it. For me it always comes back to telling real stories and hoping they connect with someone else. I believe that’s what country music is built on.
RA - Country music lives and dies on honesty, and putting your own stuff out there can be daunting. Is there a specific line you’ve written—or perhaps a lyric by another artist—that hits you differently every time you hear it?
SJ - That’s a good question. One that comes to mind is Luke Combs — “even though I’m leaving, I ain’t going nowhere.” It’s such a simple line, but it says a lot without trying too hard. That’s something I really connect with — when a lyric feels real and hits you without overcomplicating it. I think those are the ones that stick with people.
RA - You are a constant supporter of the independent artist community and a regular at live showcases. What is the biggest lesson you’ve taken from watching your peers' journeys that you’re applying to your own debut this year?
SJ - I think having the chance to watch so many talented artists right in our own communities is inspiring. Seeing that up close, you realize what it takes, and it pushes you to take that step yourself. I think the biggest thing I’ve taken from that is to be fearless, take that chance, and just be real to yourself.
RA - If you could sit in a room and co-write with any artist, living or late, who would it be and why?
SJ - That’s another great question. There are so many great artists I’d love to just be a fly on the wall and listen to their process. Guys like Luke Combs, Riley Green, and Morgan Wallen, to name a few. I think what they do really well is keep things simple, but still make it hit hard emotionally. That’s something I really connect with and try to bring into my own writing.
RA - It’s 2026 and your music is finally heading out into the world. If you could map out the rest of the year with three musical wishes, what would they be?
SJ - I think first would be getting my debut single “Road to Nowhere” out on May 1 and having people connect with it and the story behind it — it’s about feeling stuck in life and not knowing where it’s going, but always getting back up because the answer might be somewhere down the road. From there, hopefully putting out a follow-up song and continuing to build on that momentum. And then just getting out and playing more live shows, and continuing to grow in that part as well. And I just want to say thanks to you Rob Aguiar for taking the time and for supporting independent artists. I really appreciate it.
There is a genuine authenticity to Scott’s journey that makes it impossible not to root for him. As his original era begins this spring, we’re reminded that the best stories are the ones told from the heart. Keep an eye on him; the voice was always there, but the story is just beginning.
