Last week, singer and songwriter, Michael Johns released his brand new EP, Love and Sex, a three track compilation containing songs about two of the most intricate subjects that continuously baffle our thoughts, emotions, actions and ultimately, relationships: love and sex. What exactly are they? Films have been created, songs have been written – it’s something our society ponders everyday.

I had the opportunity to pick Johns’ brain and touch on the subjects, figuring out what love and sex means to him. He has written several songs about love and his album Hold Back My Heart is a sheer testament of the depths he dove into to showcase his emotions in the best way possible. In some sense, he truly wears his heart on his sleeve.

Johns knows what he feels and as an observer, I’ve come to realize he’s someone who is very in touch with his feelings, proving how good a head he has on his shoulders. When I ask him what love is, he knows and answers without any hesitation. “I believe [it’s] defined by feeling totally selfless towards another being, putting their feelings first and having their back through everything.”

Obviously love means something different to everyone and it’s not an easy concept to grasp but it’s always interesting to see how and where someone comes to that formation of their own defined meaning. Love is a giant puzzle and at times, becomes a whole other beast to tackle. Most think love and sexual desire go hand in hand and that you cannot have one without the other, but in many situations, that is not the case. Love and sex are two very separate units and sure, they can intertwine but does that mean sex can be a primer for romantic love or can romantic love be a primer for good sex?

Johns answers straightforwardly how there are a billion things written about this but that basically, time plays a factor throughout the course of these motions. “I’ve had people I loved but it turned out to be lust or a craving, although at the time it was love. I have been in relationships where I was totally head over heels [but] you either grow older or apart. Then, as you do get older, you begin to look for what’s really a match,” he says, mentioning how it’s the little but huge things like family, sense of humor, world views, that thought lurks in and makes you wonder, “can I raise a family with this person?”

 “When you’re in your 20s, you think you know but in most cases, [you] don’t. I think people who get married too young, often I’ve found end up unhappy. Now some of the lucky ones at any age get to be with their true soul mate – 25, 35, 65, it doesn’t matter what age. Unfortunately for most, they don’t. I think sometimes people are so scared to say [they’re] unhappy and stay in negative relationships for fear of hurting someone or being alone or [for] the kids. There’s no perfect road map. You just got to follow your heart and try and be the best person you can,” he stresses.

Something I thought was neat to explore with Johns was our modern culture. With the way it is today, so fast paced with a technological twist, people are meeting online and falling in love before the physical can even take place. Johns and I review the concept on whether love is blind and he tells me how the online aspect isn’t exactly what it is.

“You can still get butterflies from meeting and flirting online for sure,” he says. “However, it’s usually all just fantasy. I don’t believe you can fall in love in these circumstances – no way! Now you can meet the same person this way, but love takes time and experiences and a mutual understanding. I also don’t believe you truly love someone till you’ve lived together and fought over the remote control or ESPN against The Real Housewives or the toilet seat or directions to anywhere! What? Oh sorry! Went off on a tangent, sorry sorry about that,” he says with a laugh.

With regards to his EP, there’s an evident tone of yearning in the tracks, “The First Time” and “Take A Little Hit” where listeners can hear that great angst like craving of being with someone – that raw, unadulterated passion. Face it. We’ve all felt it at one point and Johns shares that those two tracks are only about the carnal.

“One is the courting and one is the catch,” he laughs. “Giving into someone you feel safe with [though], is just the best sex ever period.” With that being said, there is a big difference from that aspect and the notion of making love. Love isn’t simple. It’s a giant web where you get tangled in the motions of its evolution and in a track like, it feels like “Cry, Cry, Cry” focuses on a failed romance while getting over the pitfalls of love and all that it encompasses. It feels like the song's lyrics projects that love lurks even if we’ve been hurt from past experiences.

The beauty of a Michael Johns song is that you can hear him pouring every feeling he’s ever felt into his music and into those lyrics. After we discussed the subjects of love and sex, this EP of his brings new light and depth. You hear his heart, a raw passion and well, that’s sheer beauty.

Connect and follow Michael Johns at Twitter and Facebook and be sure to pick up his new EP, Love and Sex now available on iTunes, Amazon and Bands Under the Radar.

Related Articles

• Talking “Love and Sex” with Michael Johns
• Love Gets The Royal Treatment
• Stacey Vuduris: Designing Woman
• Album Review: Hold Back My Heart (Michael Johns)
• Album Review: Don’t Look Down – The Height of Competition (Michael Johns)

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