TX Breakthrough Artist, Gatlin Johnson, Opened the Door to His Truth in a Wide Open Interview –

Gatlin Johnson stepped into this conversation with the same calm clarity he carries onstage, offering a look at how adversity made space for a far deeper creative instinct than he expected. In this interview, he talks through the spark behind Only Shot, the moment he realised his own words held weight, and why serving the song means letting it guide him rather than forcing it into a mould. Readers who want sincerity without theatrics will find plenty to sink into here.

When you picked your guitar back up during recovery after your college football injury, what was the first thing that clicked for you, and how did it feel realising those half-written school songs still had something real waiting in them?

When my football days ended, I found out just how much time and effort I was putting into that area of my life. I didn’t see it in the moment because I was truly passionate about the sport, but once it was gone, there was a huge void in my life. To fill that void, I picked up a pen and my guitar, beginning to write all the stories and emotions I had accumulated over those past few years. I didn’t think anything of it until I began to draw a crowd of people around my dorm at West Texas A&M. Of course, they’d ask me to play songs they knew, but I would sneak in my own original songs. It felt super satisfying when random people would connect with words I had written.

You grew up singing hymns with your family, so which parts of that early warmth carried into the way you write now, especially when you lean into honesty? 

The lyrics and melodies of classic hymns have always been some of the most well-written songs. They don’t shy away from tragedy, trials, or the hardships of life, but they always point to the only source of peace in this world. When I write songs, I do my best to tell the story in a way that makes the listener feel the pain or peace that came with the original situation.

What was it about seeing confessional songwriting live that pushed you towards trusting your own stories more? 

At Billy Bob’s on November 26th, 2021, I saw 6,000 or more people screaming, crying, holding hands and singing along to music that can only be described as honest. The confessional songwriting was nothing but the truth. I realized people were and are yearning to hear something they connect to, and that we are all going through similar circumstances. By simply sharing your own story, you can have a positive impact on the lives of others.

After football shaped so much of your identity, how did stepping away from that world change the way you express yourself both onstage and off? 

I am still very passionate about football, but I never let it shape my identity. I’ve always been who I am because of my faith and the values my family instilled in me. For those reasons, I always hope to express myself in a humble way both onstage and off.

Out of the five tracks on Only Shot, which one feels closest to the person you are right now, and what moment in your life were you trying to catch when you wrote it?

The title track, “Only Shot,” feels closest to me right now. I wrote this about the night at Billy Bob’s when I recognized writing and playing my own songs was what I was meant to do. The first verse follows a story of meeting a girl by chance, while the second verse follows my music journey from inspiration to action. It feels closest to me right now because I’m still working towards the goals I’ve set. Also, the fact that I couldn’t do any of this alone, and I appreciate the band surrounding and supporting me and my songs.

You’ve become a familiar face at Blue Light Live, even selling out a headline show. What do those Lubbock nights give you that feeds back into your writing sessions? 

The continued and growing support we’ve received from the Blue Light and the entire Lubbock community is enough to make my self-doubt disappear in a moment. Those people remind me why I’m doing this, which is to connect with people through original music. Anybody can play Texas Country hits in a venue like that and have people singing along, but to play your own songs and have people singing along really keeps me writing.

Opening for Aaron Watson in Kansas must have felt like a big step outward. What did playing to a room full of strangers teach you about your own voice?

Playing with Aaron Watson so far from home showed me that our music can and will connect with folks who have nothing to do with where I’m from. Regardless of location, I deliver the songs with heart, and people everywhere appreciate that.

You often talk about wanting to serve the song. What does that look like in real time when you’re sitting with a lyric or melody and trying to figure out where it wants to go? 

When I say serve the song, I mean writing without fear of genres or trends. So, when I have a line or a melody, I don’t try to steer it in a way that satisfies people or myself. Instead, I finish the song in a way that feels natural and meaningful. If that means it’s traditional country or red dirt or even something I would never play, then that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

Discover Gatlin Johnson on Spotify and connect with the artist via Instagram and Facebook. 

Interview by Amelia Vandergast