Johanna and the Dusty Floor

Johanna And The Dusty Floor is the piano pop project of Australian born songstress and pianist, Johanna Cranitch. Now based in NYC, Johanna And The Dusty Floor released her debut EP The Forest on November 15th, 2010.

The Forest EP is an exciting collection of songs written over a year’s time across the world in places like Italy, Australia and New York. Depictions of nomadic life take form with quirky electronic beats, dreamy piano and lush string arrangements supplied by Sarah McCallum and members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Through the synthesis of these sounds Johanna creates an album of heartbreaking harmonies and gorgeous soundscapes best showcased in the first single “Forest of Sorrows.” On “This City” Johanna shows her love for singers like Kate Bush and St. Vincent. Her melodies leap with childlike abundance and her harmonies obviously informed by her days studying jazz at the Australian Institute of Music. “Witch Shoes” is a haunting power ballad, with intriguing layers of melodies that set the scene for a fairy tale journey. The EP makes a lovely introduction to Johanna’s rich and ripe voice, marked by unique tales and compositions.

Growing up reading Grimm’s Fairy Tales and listening to everything from Gorecki to Fleetwood Mac, Johanna’s intake of literary, visual art and musical influences invoked feelings of fantasy, excitement and escape. Johanna is inspired by all things artistic; visually and sonically. She loves the works of the powerful body artist Kiki Smith and the conceptual artist Yayoi Kusama, who are both strong creative women with vastly different aesthetics that have shaped her songwriting process while creating The Forest.