JOHNYCE Talks Musical Journey, Performs “One Reason” Live in Studio A

Tiny Desk Contest fan favorite JOHNYCE opens the WDET + DSO Street Party on July 10.

Meta Stange/WDET

JOHNYCE’s powerhouse R&B vocals made her an instant standout among the Tiny Desk Contest entries that the WDET music hosts reviewed before narrowing down the crowded field from more than 150 Michigan-based acts to just five local bands vying for the chance to open the WDET and DSO Concert of Colors Street Party. After three weeks of voting and over 3,000 votes, the public agreed that her silky-smooth voice was undeniably alluring and voted JOHNYCE the fan favorite.

Born and raised on the west side of Detroit, JOHNYCE’s musical journey started at just three years old when she was singing in church on her mom’s lap. Then, her mom found her belting out Aretha Franklin’s “Freedom” in their kitchen and the rest is history.

Of her musical influences, she says, “My mom has always kept me around all different genres of music and so I’ve grown a really great love for people like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston as well as some of our latest favorites: Beyonce, Jazmine Sullivan, people like that.”

JOHNYCE stopped by WDET’s Studio A to celebrate her victory and perform “One Reason” off of her EP Stupid Girl.

Click the player above to hear CultureShift’s Amanda LeClaire interview JOHNYCE.

The WDET + DSO Street Party is at the DSO Sosnick Courtyard at Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center on July 10th from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Admission is free. 

Author

  • Meta Stange is the Digital Content and Engagement Manager for 101.9 WDET, overseeing the station's digital editorial content. She enjoys reading, making bad jokes, and hanging out with her dog, Salmon.