Matching her peers’ blow for blow, Johnson also took the production helms for her early solo hit, “They Don’t Know,” ensuring that special Johnson production heat ignited her sole remix album. The dance floor staple also boasted Japanese producers who served behind and in front of the boards, from club jazz band Jaberloop and drum and bassist Makoto (Deeizm, MC Conrad) to the five-piece Blu-Swing (Tortured Soul, COLDFEET). Victor), The Crank Brothers (Katy Perry, Whitney Houston), DJ Kemit & Jalon (Seek, Laurnea), MasSheen (Anthony David, Avery*Sunshine), Ananse Scales Rebellion (India.Arie, Choklate), DJ Micky More, DJ Yannis (Nox), and the dynamic duo of Luca Ciotoli and Stefano De Magistris aka SoulDynamic (Bah Samba, Ann Nesby). Blige), Josh “Blaze” Milan (Robyn, Sandra St. They Don’t Know and its radio hit “Ordinary Things” did what Johnson had done since being that big-voiced child behind the organ keys, distinguished herself as a woman apart.‎Ī high-octane remix project soon followed in 2012 with Revised, Edited & Flipped representing the first Johnson project largely produced by a series of international DJ guest producers, including superstars: DJ Spinna (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, George Michael/Mary J. Leaning in before the concept gained currency, Johnson decided to express her independent artistic vision distinct from Cooly’s and simultaneously recorded her solo debut, They Don’t Know (Purpose), while also contributing to the songwriting and production of Take It.

Nonplussed, Johnson and the group inked a subsequent deal with Virgin Records in 2002 and released the band’s critically acclaimed debut, Take It. Together the eclectic soul and acid jazz band landed an all-too-brief deal with Polygram Records, despite a trifecta of international dance hits (“We Don’t Have To Be Alone,” “What A Surprise,” and “Make Me Happy”). Upon enrolling at the State University of New York at Purchase (SUNY) to further her study in violin, Johnson soon met her future Cooly’s Hot Box bandmates and writing partner, Christian Urich.

A Girl Like Me by Angela Johnson