August 12, 2007
August 2007 -- Jude Johnstone isn’t trying to make a giant splash on the Billboard charts this fall.
But with the August 21 release of her latest album, Blue Light, she takes her music in a new direction, blending her melodic country-folk sound with a mixture of jazz and blues. Raised on the likes of Sarah Vaughn, Tony Bennett and Glen Miller, Johnstone's shift in genre was motivated by both her childhood influences and the loss of good friend and producer Henry Lewy. Lewy -- who always encouraged the singer-songwriter to explore different musical styles -- worked with Johnstone on the 1983 single "Over and Done," which eventually served as the inspiration for Blue Light.
Beyond this musical evolution, however, Johnstone stays true to her songwriting roots and that which she does best: combining music of any kind with beautiful, delicately-woven lyrics. With over 20 years of songwriting under her belt, Johnstone’s sound has been distilled and refined by decades of knowledge and lived experience. Only ten years old when she began playing the piano, Jude advanced quickly in the music world, collaborating with top Los Angeles producers and musicians by the time she was nineteen. Today, the artists who’ve covered her songs stand out as some of the best in the business, ranging from Bette Midler to Johnny Cash to Stevie Nicks.
Digett is excited to help Jude spread the word about Blue Light by building a website that truly captures her mature, richly cultivated style. With each page, visitors sample her latest work while perusing Flash-powered photo albums, latest news and press, as well as recent lyrics and tour information.
And from there, you’re also just one click away from the official BoJak records homepage, http://www.bojakrecords.com/sites/bojakrecords.com/explore/ .The BoJack label, created by friends and business partners Bob Burton and Pat Sajak, was originally formed with the specific goal of releasing Johnstone’s music. And though it seems natural that Burton, Johnstone’s longtime manager, would be impressed with her music, some of her fellow artists are also her biggest fans.
"Jude is one of my favorite singers and songwriters,” says friend, backup singer, and country star Bonnie Raitt. “Blue Light is as deep as it is soulful; she nails it again.”
And at Digett, we feel pretty much the same!
Read reviews of Blue Light and learn more at www.bojakrecords.com.