Johanna, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. How did you get your start in music?

As a pale, waif-like, tree-loving girl growing up in Southern Sweden and the Netherlands before moving to Finland, I was at times very outgoing and, at others, extremely shy—a daydreamer with a poetic heart. I keenly yearned for an escape into a fantasy world of my own making whenever possible. However, as a child living with severe asthma and a partially collapsed lung, I couldn’t always run and play outside with my brother or friends. Instead, I often spent hours attached to a breathing machine, watching animated Disney films on VHS tapes, rewinding my favorite songs over and over again until the tapes turned warbly. That’s how I learned to understand and speak English, and it also became my introduction to musical theater.

I was raised in a classical music environment, thanks to my parents. In my family, everyone plays an instrument. I play the harp, picked up the piano through my mother, and took voice lessons as my primary instrument from a young age. I also danced ballet. My family traveled a lot, and over the years, I became quite adaptable to my surroundings, feeling like a fish in water wherever we hung our hats. Musically, I found pieces of my artistic soul in European folk music, particularly Celtic music.

When we eventually settled in Helsinki, I attended a school for music and was introduced to jazz by a few precocious musical friends. Despite being very happy in Helsinki, which I consider my hometown, I didn’t stay put in Finland for long. As a more talkative-than-usual Finn craving adventure, I embraced the independence my parents encouraged. In my teens, I traveled to Italy, France, the Czech Republic, and many other countries on my own, and I even participated in a year-long exchange student program in the U.S.

These travel experiences define me to this day. I still love nothing more than discovering new places, meeting new people, and exploring the beauty of our natural world from different perspectives.

After a brief pop recording career in Finland, I moved to Ohio to study and earn a degree in music (jazz studies) from Capital University Conservatory of Music. After graduating, I got married, and my husband and I moved to New York, where I attended AMDA to study musical theater performance. After earning my second degree, I auditioned and worked non-stop, landing short-term gigs in theater, commercials, and film for a decade.

Once I became a mom, those early warbly VHS tape years of my childhood called me back in ways I didn’t expect. I discovered that I didn’t enjoy being away from my family for work, and it became non-negotiable for me. I also didn’t relish conforming to the roles I was typically booking. Often cast in two-dimensional characters with little dramatic substance, I found myself yearning to make every job that took me away from my family truly count.

Choosing quality over quantity became my professional mantra. I worked much less and took the time to reflect on what might be next. During that time, I realized I had my own narrative to tell—one that hadn’t yet had a chance to emerge in my art. So, after taking a break from acting, I rediscovered my true passion: songwriting.

Now, I feel most fulfilled working on my original material. I’ve written three stage musicals, scored two short films, and am gearing up to score my first feature film collaboration. In addition to releasing my own singer-songwriter music, I’ve recently become a published poet with my book of poetry, A Deep Blue Green Song, which is available for order wherever books are sold. A life dedicated to the muse of creativity—while not always easy—is truly the only path forward for me. Writing about what I love and creating art about topics I find meaningful has brought me full circle and fulfilled a "wish-upon-a-star" dream. I don’t see myself doing anything else full-time.

What does it mean to you to be a Nordic artist in New York?

I used to be a bit of a lone wolf, moving from job to job, keeping my head down, and working from a place of humility and earnestness. I thought, "The more you work, the more you’re worth." It wasn’t until I became a mom that I realized how lost I was in my own identity. Was all that hard work truly what defined me? And what did it mean to be a Finn, born in Sweden, raised in the Netherlands, and now living in the U.S.?

I think it means I have perspective—a sense of global togetherness, compassion for being different, and for not fitting into a pre-made mold. It also means I carry with me a set of Nordic values: a deep love and respect for nature, a commitment to living sustainably whenever possible, and a belief that high-quality education and universal healthcare are fundamental rights.

I love to read and have deep conversations with friends as much as I enjoy sitting silently in their company—or alone. I relish sipping coffee while being out in the woods, where I can immerse myself in something greater than the everyday, something older than humanity. My Nordic identity is a part of me, and it absolutely influences the music I write and the stories I tell.

What have you learned in 2024?

I’ve learned that life is precious, health is not a given, everything is transient, and love is all-powerful. I’ve learned that art speaks when logic fails, community makes a difference, and we must respect nature and never underestimate its power. I’ve learned that not all tears are evil, that the power of "no" can be a beautiful positive, and that intuition is a guide worth listening to. Above all, I’ve learned to never take anything for granted—especially trust.

2024 reminded me of all this and more. It’s been a big, life-changing, and challenging year.

What are you most excited about in 2025?

I’m looking forward to creating and releasing more music. I want to revisit some art I’ve set aside and finish telling untold stories. I’m excited to collaborate with longtime creative partners and inspired by new friendships and connections entering my life.

I’m grateful to have a voice in the industry through the Recording Academy and look forward to advocating for music rights. I want to make a difference and pave the way for other artists to thrive and succeed in making a living through their art.

I’m also thrilled to be part of Nordic Artists of New York and to contribute to their inaugural event in the spring.

Work-wise, I’m scoring my first feature film, which is absolutely thrilling! I’m also working on a new musical and plan to release a new single in February. My second poetry book is in progress and is set for release later in the year.

As a wellness enthusiast, I’m training to become a yoga instructor—a long-time side passion project and a dream come true.

This Thanksgiving, what are you most grateful for?

Beyond my artistic and creative endeavors, I’m infinitely grateful for health, puppy hugs, their cute paws and wet noses, and the healing energy of every breath. But most of all, I’m thankful for being a mom to my two kids, whom I share with my husband of 18 years, Christopher.

We’ve been together for 24 years, longer than we’ve ever been apart. We’ve grown together, and our journey fills me with gratitude. While I strive to keep my private life private, running our family unit is truly the core of my life.

My kids have laser-focused my life in ways only a mother or caretaker can fully understand. Being their mom is something I never take for granted. Guiding, supporting, and watching them become who they’re meant to be surpasses all other reasons for my existence. Ultimately, as long as they’re okay, so am I. They’re the reason I keep putting one foot in front of the other, striving to paint the world a better place in every creative way I can. Through my words and music, I hope they find comfort on their rainy days and always see the beauty and potential tomorrow holds.

Johanna Telander
Composer/Lyricist
johannatelander.com
johannatelander@hotmail.com