The record follows a new film showing his journey from the rodeo circuit to country music stardom
Cody Johnson has a track record of bucking the system and doing things his own way. At a time when many artists are going shorter and creating EPs with just a handful of songs, Johnson has released a monumental 18-track double album called Human. The collection includes the inspirational “Til You Can’t,” a “Sad Songs and Waltzes” duet with Willie Nelson, the high-energy, aptly named “Honky Tonk Hardwood Floors” and more. “We roll the dice and come out swinging,” Johnson says with a laugh, referring to the album. “There’s not a single song on this album that’s a filler. When you’ve got 18 tracks you’ve got to know each one of those tracks was recorded for a purpose.” At a listening party in Nashville this week, Warner Nashville’s Ben Kline (EVP/GM Warner Nashville) described the album by saying, “It’s an artistic statement, it’s a personal statement, and we think it’s also going to take Cody to the next level.” Johnson is a former semi-pro rodeo circuit rider who launched his music career as an independent artist in Texas. The singer/songwriter built a grass roots fan base so strong, he signed an unprecedented 50/50 partnership record deal with Warner Music Nashville in 2018. (His first release under the COJO Music/Warner Music Nashville partnership Ain’t Nothing To It went gold.) He’s a dynamic performer who, from the beginning, has stayed true to his values and personal goal of “putting the cowboy back in country music.” He put the new album together with no limits or restrictions. “I had the freedom to go into the studio and record whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted,” he explains. “Nobody was breathing down my neck telling me I had to get a hit or get a playlist or whatever, they just said go create an album.” When he told record executives he had 18 songs, it was decided they would all be included in a double album. Human features new material written by both Johnson and other writers, as well as several older songs previously recorded by other artists. He says he’s excited his road band was able to play on the album. “To have my band on “Sad Songs and Waltzes” with Willie Nelson, on the Vince Gill song “Son of a Rambling Man”, and several others was a lot of fun.
