Formerly known as Little Coyote, Teagan Johnston, is a singer-songwriter who drives the genre beyond its current borders, bringing a radical rawness to her work that hits you in your heart.  Born in the Yukon, raised between South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the West Coast of Canada, Teagan brings a vast and ever layered perspective to her work. With plans to release her debut album this year, Teagan now presents her first single from the full-length work, ‘Blue Monday’. The dark-pop offering is an introspective and emotional piano-ballad, driven by a delicately wistful vocal line and haunting instrumentation. 

“Blue Monday details the events leading up to a breakup. It is a deeply personal song that explores drug addiction, the loss of a partner and the feeling of begging someone to stay at the cost of yourself.” Teagan shares the meaning behind the track.

 “The lyric “Cut into me like a Blue Monday midnight driver” refers to a carjacking that happened near my apartment while I was going through this breakup. The story of the car jacking as it was told to me was that on Blue Monday a car jacker stabbed someone and took their vehicle. After hearing the story I imagined the victim of the carjacking victim sympathizing with the carjackers’ need to “just get away” as I was with my partners’ need to leave our relationship.” Teagan adds

Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?

I grew up playing piano and writing poetry at a pretty young age and then started putting them together by writing my own music when I was around 13. Since then it’s just been the thing I most want to dedicate my time to so it’s ever evolving.

What should a song or piece of art communicate in your opinion? 

I think it should communicate whatever is authentic to your experience that you want to share.  

Who were your top 3 artists last year?

I don’t know if I could pick just three for the year but lately I’ve been listening to a lot of pop – Lana del Rey, Doja Cat and Taylor Swift. 

What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired?

Enjoy it I think, it’s nice to take a rest sometimes from creating.

What are your 2022 projects and goals?

In 2022 I’ll release my first full length record under my given name Teagan Johnston. I have lots of goals I’ll keep just for me but overall I want to diversify what I put out creatively and do my best to show up for all aspects of that authentically. 

Favourite movie or TV show?

It’s too hard to pick just one! I will say that I am currently re-watching Superstore for the thousandth time. 

Tell us about your latest release and how it came about

This newest release is the first single off of my new record. This song and record is about a breakup. The writing of this album was a real challenge and exercise for me in just feeling exactly what I was feeling, no matter how sad or desperate or deluded, so it’s a lot of that. 

What is something you would want to change in the music and entertainment industry? 

I would like the music and entertainment industry to more accurately reflect our lives – not shy away from any topics, and be made by everyone for everyone. 

Can you outline your creative process?

I usually joke that when I write a song I “threw up a song” I don’t know if that makes any sense but that’s often what it feels like for me. Creativity for me is just an outpouring of a feeling, it’s like it bubbles up, overflows and then I throw it up and voila it’s a song or a poem or a painting or whatever it may need to be. 

Who inspires your style and aesthetics?

Lots of people, places and things! I guess just whatever I look at and feel like, hey that feels like me. Also anyone who just seems to be in their own power and having fun with it. 

What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why? 

I am probably most proud to have played at David Lynch’s private night club Silencio in Paris. He has had a huge influence on me and how I see creativity so to share my music in that space was a really huge achievement for me in feeling aligned with the things I admire. 

What do you think an artist should sing about nowadays?

Whatever they wish!

Do you have any regrets?

No? I mean yes, but no because regrets are kind of pointless. 

What is some piece of advice you would give to yourself right now?

I would say just trust your gut, believe in yourself and enjoy the process.