After two successful seasons, VH1’s Love & Hip Hop Miami returned for a third season on January 6th with returning faces like Trina, Trick Daddy, and Amara La Negra, as well as a few new ones, such as Emjay Johnson. According to his bio via VH1, Emjay is an “artist, songwriter, and actor, as well as Love & Hip Hop Miami cast member Shay Johnson’s brother and boyfriend to Amara. A self-taught Spanish speaker (and singer), Emjay’s talent caught the attention of international bachata star Romeo Santos, with whom he toured and performed for two and a half years. Since then, Emjay has collaborated with some of the industry’s top producers, including Rico Love, Jazze Pha and Dallas Austin.
Check out our interview with Emjay Johnson where he talks about his favorite song to perform, what fans can expect from him on season three of Love & Hip Hop Miami, and much more below.
1-When did you first realize that you wanted to be an artist?
I first realized and built up the confidence to be an artist in middle school after my close friend convinced me to record a song in the studio. The moment I heard my own voice through the speakers, I realized I wanted to be an artist because I realized I had the potential to sound just like the artist I admired or looked up to on TV and radio.
2-Who are your musical inspirations?
Some of my musical inspirations are Donnie Hathaway, Sam Cook, Al Green, and Joe Thomas.
3-You toured with Romeo Santos for about three years during his Formula 1 tour. How was that experience?
The experience touring with Romeo Santos was amazing, traveling worldwide performing every night in front of thousands and thousands of people is an unexplainable experience I will never forget—the love from the fans, and most importantly, the first time someone from outside the United States knew my name, held up a sign with my face on it that said I love you.
4-Which of your songs is your favorite to perform?
My favorite song to perform would probably be a song I have called “The One” because I love performing the song that makes me feel like I’m in a stadium—you can visualize the big crowd holding their lighters in the air even when no one’s there.
5-Besides being in a relationship with Amara and the brother to Shay, what can fans expect from YOU and your own storyline on Love & Hip Hop Miami?
Outside of being Amara’s boyfriend and Shay’s brother, on Love and Hip Hop Miami you can look to see and hear more about what I have going on with my music. I have a new single and EP being released but this show is Love and Hip Hopso there’s no way to run away from me showing the world the relationship I have with my beautiful Queen Amara. There’s a lot more to come but you have to stay tuned in to season three. I can’t give all the secrets.
6-What’s three words to describe season 3 of Love & Hip Hop Miami?
Three words that describes Love and Hip Hop Miami is WILD, SHOCKING and LOVE.
7-You’re also part of Amara La Negra’s Amara Forever project on YouTube. What can fans expect from you on that project?
What to expect from me on Amara Forever is that this project really shows you the inside of our lives everything you don’t see on Love and Hip Hop. You will see here(Amara Forever), it allows us to give you a better and deeper understanding of the things we go through everyday—the joy, happiness, pain, hurt, frustration and, most definitely, the love.
8-What is your dream collaboration?
There are many artists I would love to collaborate with but I’m curious to know the people that can see my talent and want to work with me because I’m all about working with people that want to work with me.
9-What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career as an artist?
Pursuing a career as an artist is difficult stressful and, sometimes, it seems impossible but when you want something bad enough you find a way because champions never give up, they fight through even when they have no more fuel in the tank. You will win in the end, don’t give up! You have to outwork the work. Believe in yourself. Don’t seek validation. Do what you love and what’s in your heart. Stay true to yourself.
10-What is NEXT for EMJAY?
What’s next for me this year its mandatory that I execute every plan me and my team have set in motion to accomplish in 2020—music, movies, giving back to the less unfortunate speaking to the youth about pursuing their dreams. Getting into real estate, releasing some new products I’m working on and, most importantly, continue pursuing my happiness and what I love.
VISIT Emjay Johnson’s official website.
Photo Credit: Officialemjay.com