Revised, Edited & Flipped – Angela Johnson Bio 2012

“I always want to keep it interesting, but I don’t want to have to sell sex to sell my music. That’s just not who I am,” says singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist producer Angela Johnson.

In an era of female iconography that celebrates sex tapes with fame, rewards gold-digging with television shows, and delivers lucrative endorsement deals to cat fighters rocking Jimmie Choos, Johnson is the antidote to the ceaseless media messaging of who Black women are supposed to be and presents an image of who the consummate Black woman really is. Representing bold and confident women of substance who can still have fun and command all eyes in a room with her undeniable spirit more than her undeniable cleavage, the New York native stands up for women rarely acknowledged in the media or the music. As a R&B and dance artist, Johnson has used her considerable musical gifts for nearly 20 years to elevate the status of that every day superwoman, the one holding down the home, the office, the kids, her man and their community with grace and more than a little moxie. All that talent and fierceness is on full display on her fifth solo project in a decade and seventh since her days with the Cooly’s Hot Box, Revised, Edited & Flipped, is Johnson’s first, much anticipated remix project.

More than a dance music event, Revised Edited & Flipped represents the first Angela Johnson project largely produced by a series of guest producers, each an international superstar DJ. Featuring remixes by NYC legend, DJ Spinna (Stevie Wonder, George Michael, Mary J Blige, Sergio Mendes, Ledisi, Guru, Shirley Bassey); Pennsylvania icon, Josh “Blaze” Milan (Robyn, Sandra St. Victor); DC Go Go King’s, The Crank Brothers (Katy Perry, Whitney Houston); and, Hotlanta’s DJ Kemit & Jalon (Anthony David, Arrested Development, Laurnea), MasSheen (Anthony David, Avery*Sunshine), and Ananse Scales Rebellion (India.Arie, Choklate). Europe representss with Italy’s DJ Micky More and the dynamic duo of Luca Ciotoli and Stefano De Magistris aka SoulDynamic (Bah Samba, Ann Nesby), along with French newcomer DJ Yannis (Nox). Three Japanese producers also serve behind and in front of the boards, from club jazz band Jaberloop and drum and bassist Makoto (Deeizm, MC Conrad) to the five-piece Blu-Swing (Tortured Soul, COLDFEET). As one of the industry’s rare, in-demand female producers, Johnson helms her early solo hit, “They Don’t Know,” rounding out this global dance party.

“After 10 years, I thought it would be nice to collectively put something together, pick some favorites from each album, and give them an extra bump of life and this was a wonderful way to do that,” says Johnson.

Each re-imagined soul gems has been carefully hand-selected from nearly every project of Johnson’s storied career as both a solo artist and the former lead vocalist of Cooly’s Hot Box. Featuring Tortured Soul’s Christian Urich and the rest of the Cooly’s Hot Box band, the jazzy “Wait 4 U” and “Don’t Be Afraid” both get a refreshing facelift from their 2004 project Don’t Be Afraid-Get On. “Rescue Me” and “They Don’t Know” from Johnson’s 2002 solo debut, They Don’t Know, gets fattened up with new instrumentation and layered vocals. The title track from 2005’s Got To Let It Go” smooth soul picks up the pace electrosoul style, DC Go-Go percussions bump “All I Need,” while “You’re Here With Me” is gifted a whole new tropical atmosphere. On parade from Johnson’s most recent triumph, 2010’s It’s Personal, are a kaleidoscope of disco, deep house, and drum and bass genre takes on “Better,” “Be Myself,” “Get Myself Together,” and “Hurts Like Hell,” with her duet hit “All In Me (feat. Darien),” getting the reggae treatment. All delivering a celebration in familiar yet new soul and R&B sounds.

While no tracks from her 2008 SoulTracks Award nominated producer compilation project, A Woman’s Touch, visit Revised, Edited & Flipped, the always politically conscious vegan does tackle the social issue of verbal and mental abuse with the newly penned “Don’t Take It Out On Me,” taking a powerful stand against this more subtle, but no less disturbing violence.

“Many people have been affected and don’t even know it. Even if you haven’t been punched, or kicked, the words that someone used on you a long time ago can prevent you from getting past a certain point in your life. This was something I wanted to share with people and get them to talk about it more,” explains Johnson.

Never one to publicly shy away from her evolution as an artist or a woman, the wife and mother demonstrates how to enter maturity with feisty sexiness and grown woman sensibilities without having to sell sex or her soul to get her dance on. Encouraging her devoted following to do the same, Revised, Edited & Flipped is a gift to those who’ve stuck by Johnson through the years and a reminder that they can still get up, show out, and beautifully break a sweat on the floor instead of ceding all the fun to the kids in the skinny jeans. More fully and unapologetically herself since her intimate It’s Personal release, a revitalized Johnson kicks up her heels to celebrate life, love, and growth—all under her own special groove.

For tour and updates follow Angela Johnson on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Reverb Nation or on her website: http://www.angelajohnson.com/fr_home.cfm/. For bookings and inquiries: contact Russell Johnson at the Purpose Music Group @ 973.688.8129 or purposemusicgroup@gmail.com.