The success of duo Johnnyswim has come gradually and organically. Abner Ramirez, a multi-instrumentalist who attended the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Florida, first met singer Amanda Sudano, onetime back-up singer for her mother (the late Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vocalist Donna Summer), at church in the early 2000s. Ramirez was smitten, but Sudano blew him off. It wasn’t until four years later that the pair reconnected and started writing songs together (the chemistry wasn’t just creative; the twosome eventually married).
Working under the name Johnnyswim (the duo has given multiple sources for the name, so it’s unclear where it actually originated), Sudano and Ramirez created a sound that blended some of their prime influences, coming up with a super-accessible hybrid of Pop, Folk, Rock and R&B. Johnnyswim eventually moved from Nashville to Los Angeles and self-released three EPs, helping them become a popular concert draw. By the time the duo released the 2012 EP Home, Vol. 1, they were being featured on The Today Show and A Prairie Home Companion and grabbing the attention of the music industry.
In 2013, Johnnyswim signed to the Sony/RED-distributed label Big Picnic Records, which put out the Heart Beats EP. With the release, things really began to take off for the duo, which played Bonnaroo that same year and got major support from VH1. The channel reportedly started its “You Oughta Know” series (which spotlights various up-and-coming artists) based on its love for (and desire to spread the word about) Johnnyswim.
The duo sharpened its sound on 2014’s Diamonds, Johnnyswim’s full-length debut, which especially showcases Ramirez and Sudano’s expressive vocals (which work off of each other incredibly well, each showing a strong Soul/R&B influence) and Pop songwriting instincts.
The dynamic album provides Pop anthems like “A Million Years,” but also tracks like the yearning, vintage-tinged Soul of “Pay Dearly” and the sweetly gentle love ballad “Paris in June.” Look for a new Johnnyswim live album this fall (recorded earlier this summer in L.A.).
