The following is an excerpt from our Spring-Summer ’22 issue.
Interview by Jatniel Villarroel
We cannot get enough of Johnny Orlando, and, I mean, who does it? So, since he is back on tour and just released his latest single entitled Someone Will Love You Better, we approached him one more time, and he kindly told us that he is excited to get back.
But there is more! He also let us know about his upcoming projects and how he will use the following months to get closer to his loyal fans. And yes, he came with a brand new, hotter photo shooting exclusively for this Spring Summer 22 print edition of Vanity Teen.
You have been asking for more, and we are like walking on cloud nine happy to please you all, so put Johnny Orlando’s music on, take your copy of this issue, and indulge yourself with all the new content of him we have for you.
Get your Spring-Summer ’22 Issue HERE!
Excited to get back
VT: Doing a shooting could be a stressful experience if you do not get along with the team and photographer. So, how has been working with Edwin J. Ortega, Anthony Giovanni, and the Vanity Teen family?
JO: I’ve had such a great time working with the Vanity Teen family. I’ve loved every shoot we’ve done and always feel super comfortable on set. Edwin killed it on the styling!
VT: You did some live shows at the end of 20221, starting on November the 18th. What would you like to say about those concerts and the crowds who joined you and lived and enjoyed those performances?
JO: It was so nice to finally get back on stage and perform to an audience for the first time in over two years.
Performing is my favorite part of what I do, so not being able to throughout COVID was definitely tough for me. I got to perform a bunch of songs for the first time, and that was really fun. It was cool to see how much older my fan base has gotten over the last couple of years; we’re all adults now, crazy!
VT: You have added new dates to your Johnny Orlando Live Experience. What can you share with us about these new opportunities to get closer to your fans?
JO: I am so excited to debut Someone Will Love You Better for the first time at these shows and perform some unreleased songs off the album.
I’m just excited to get back out there and connect with my fans in an intimate setting.
Raw and real
VT: When you are on tour, what do you do when a concert is over, and you have to recover your energy for the next presentation?
JO: I love to go online and watch videos from the show to see the experience from the fan’s point of view and see everyone’s reactions to the show. It’s a good way for me to get feedback and see if there’s anything I can improve on vocally or in terms of my stage presence.
Other than that, I usually just try to rest my voice and go through my vocal recovery regime.
VT: Can you tell us about your current single and what music you have coming next?
JO: Someone Will Love You Better came out at the end of April and is definitely a bit of a different vibe for me. It’s more of a ballad, which I really have never done as a single before.
The song represents the point at the end of a relationship where one realizes that it’s over and has to come to terms with letting the other go.
I love how raw and real the song is. There’s a ton of emotion behind it, and I think you can really hear that in the lyrics and feel it in the music video.
VT: What else is coming from you this year?
JO: Much more to come throughout 2022. Stay tuned!
Music has no schedule
This part of the of the article was published on the online version of the magazine on November the 18th, 2021, but some of you asked us to include it in this issue and, as I said before, we are delighted to please you.
On occasion to the release of You’re Just Drunk, we had a conversation with this multidimensional artist about how his loyal fans and social media changed his life and all about this musical journey that he describes as a surreal experience.
You already know this, but let me remind you that Johnny Orlando is such a nice person, so keep reading to find out more about this artist we love so much.
Johnny Orlando represents the values of this generation: a young guy who is passionate about what he does and has been working hard to fulfill his dreams. He also has been bringing us all joy with his music and funny interactions on social media. Therefore, we are more than happy to announce that new music is out, and some live performances are coming on the way.
As Johnny Orlando said, music has no schedule, but neither do good feelings have, so let us keep spreading love and, just like him, never be afraid to speak out and express ourselves at any time through music or whatever makes us happy.
Surreal to me
VT: How do you consider social media changed your life?
JO: Well, my entire career wouldn’t have been possible without social media, so in that respect, it’s completely changed my life.
Beyond just music, though, I’ve kept in touch with friends via social media, bought things, learned things. Social media has completely changed the way people conduct their lives regardless of whether or not your career path has been influenced by it.
VT: Since 2011, your fans and followers have been faithful and supportive. How does that make you feel?
JO: It’s honestly surreal to me. I really don’t get it at times. Of course, I’m forever grateful, but sometimes it’s hard for me to understand why people are interested in my life and what I do.
You’re Just Drunk
VT: It is good news that you are releasing new music, and You’re Just Drunk is out now. So, what can you tell us about this song and the creative process behind it?
JO: This song was an absolute process. From when it was written (in January) to when it came out, it was relatively short for a song. But in those few months, there were so many versions and revisions; it felt like two years.
The creative process came fairly easy as everything was based on real texts from a girl I was talking to at the time.
VT: How about the music video? It marks a new collaboration between you and Iris Kim. Please, tell us more about it.
JO: The music video was an amazing experience. Iris is incredible at what she does and took mine and my sister’s vision and completely transformed it into something cinematic and far more impactful.
Originally, the idea was to do a Project X-type video where I’m at the center and kind of apathetic towards the whole thing. Iris took that and reworked it so that the video focused more so on that feeling of being at a party and hating every second. Her team is so great to work with as well as Bianca, who was the other lead in the video.
The whole shoot was a learning experience and a great day!
VT: Which other plans do you have for the future?
JO: In the realm of music, I really want to keep doing what I’m doing: writing, recording, and touring; all of it. I really love music and, hopefully, I can stay within the industry, even if it’s after I’ve stopped creating it for myself.
I’m not one of those people that’s going to try to hold on to popularity. If it’s my time to go, it is what it is. I’m just as happy starting a family and focusing on other areas of the business.
Out in the spring
VT: How is it like a regular day to you?
JO: It depends. The thing about music is there is really no schedule. If I have a session or a shoot that day, I’ll usually get up around 9 or 10 and then eat, workout, and go to the session from 1-8. After that, I’ll come home and have dinner; and then chill or do work.
Other days, I just find things to do. There’s always work to do and things you can do to further yourself. You just have to think of it and then do it.
VT: How do you take care of your mental health?
JO: I really don’t have any specific regimen or anything. I’ve never been great at keeping promises to myself like that.
I just try to have rest days and force myself to do things I know I’ll enjoy, like seeing friends, or taking a night off from everything, even when I don’t feel like it.
The one thing I do try to do is not fall behind on sleep, hygiene, and cleanliness in my workspaces or bedroom. Those only get forgotten when I’m really going through it and end up making me feel worse.
VT: Which message would you like to share with those who might be facing difficult times nowadays?
JO: Remember to do all the things that you know you should. Get out of bed, do a little bit of work every day, go outside, eat and drink enough, and see other people. Those can all feel really difficult if you’re going through something but are so important and always end up biting you in the ass if you don’t do them.
Another thing, and of course, this is situational, but try to remember that time heals. If it’s something like a breakup or somebody that passed away, six months or a year down the line, everything won’t feel as torturous.
VT: Anything else you would like to share with Vanity Teen?
JO: My debut album is coming out in the spring. You should definitely check that out because it’s going to be sick. Hopefully, I can tour after that as well, so be ready for that.
Thank you for having me!
Ease your mind because we are not lying
In the first lines ofYou’re Just Drunk, Johnny Orlando claims for honesty and peace of mind, and that is what everyone who has fallen for him offers him, ell, at least the fans from the Vanity Teen family. He stated that he is excited to get back, and we do not lie when we say that our excitement is way bigger than his because he loves to get in touch with his fans, keeps all posted on his new projects, and never disappoints.
Also, it is honestly glad to know that we all are growing up together, and as time goes by, we see our love and dreams do not stop keep increasing. But the best part of this is realizing that artists like Johnny Orlando bring us closer with his music, kind smile, funny content, and good vibes. Sometimes life gets more difficult than usual, or the world seems to go mad, but we treasure music, and that way, we feel transported to safe and happy places. So, if times get rough, remember that Johnny Orlando will love you better.
Be safe!
Johnny Orlando: Excited to Get Back
Photography: Anthony Giovanni (@anthony__giovanni) | Creative Director/Fashion: Edwin J. Ortega (@edwin.j.ortega) | Stylist assistant: Justice Smith (@justicecitsuj) | Production assistants: Andrew Barrios (@andrewbarrios1) & Alan Bautista (@basedalan_) | Assistant stylist justice Jackson Grooming: Barbara Lamelza (@barbaralamelzamakeup)
Cinematography: Sasha Rodinov (@rodionovsanya)
Words by Jatniel Villarroel