Pinehurst, NC (Top40 Charts/ William Johnson Music) Percussionist
William Johnson Releases New Album 'Sacred Roots/Raíces Sagrado.'
After a three-year wait, North Carolina-based percussionist
William Johnson announced his highly anticipated album, 'Sacred Roots/Raíces Sagrado,' slated for release on August 12th via Cedros Records.
The Southern California raised musician splashed onto the scene with his debut 'Freedom…Joybeat' and later followed that with 'Flor de Vida/Flower of Life' in 2011. Johnson, known for his percussion-led fusion albums, explored the spiritual and physical nuances of one's own heritage with 'Sacred Roots.'
"I wanted to introduce the sacredness of our cultural and family roots. I wanted to use music to paint the picture. A lot of the songs on the album, in my opinion, represent sonically what these roots look like to me," Johnson says.
The percussionist recalls his own roots with his grandfather immigrating to the United States from Puerto Rico. Generations later, Johnson is raising his own children in North Carolina and attributes that family history as one of the influences for 'Sacred Roots.' His settling down in the South is musically celebrated on songs like 'Carolina' and the harmonically tinged 'Cool Night - Jo'el's Song'. Hints of Johnson's cultural roots are also peppered throughout the album with a melodic Spanish guitar ('Good Waters') and a few pop-inspired beats ('Reggaeton').
Most of Johnson's work dabbles in a variety of genres and has a religious undercurrent. However, for 'Sacred Roots' he says the worship component on the album will not be as apparent.
"The album was very themed oriented," Johnson says. "It's not just out there that it's a Christian album. It's a fusion album."
Johnson also enlisted the help of many talented artists to weave their own cultural influences into the musical tapestry of 'Sacred Roots'. Featured acts include Spanish guitarist
Ramon Stagnaro ('Good Waters'), who hails from Los Angeles, drummer Alfred Sergel IV ('Carolina') from Charlotte, N.C. and Senegalese musician Elfie Bohl ('New Every Morning (Kora)'), who plays the West African bridge harp.
'Sacred Roots/Raíces Sagrado' Tracklist:
1. Como El Viento
2. New Every Morning (Kora)
3. Carolina (Carolína to Carolina)
4. Carolina Reprise
5. Good Waters (Aguas Buenas)
6. New Every Morning (Mbira)
7. Sacred Roots
8. Como el Viento (instrumental)
9. Reggaeton Interlude
10. Prayer Song
11. Cool Night (Jo'el's Song)
