# JOHNNY HASTINGS - SOUTH DAKOTA - SEASON 3

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/music-of-america-podcast-6383665/johnny-hastings-south-dakota-season-3
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/music-of-america-podcast-6383665/johnny-hastings-south-dakota-season-3.md
Podcast: [Music of America Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/music-of-america-podcast-6383665)
Published: 2026-04-23T05:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://musicofamericapod.com/johnny-hastings-south-dakota-season-3
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/91b4bbd3-ca68-44c9-8415-66a6e3c3f972.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/music-of-america-podcast-6383665/episodes/johnny-hastings-south-dakota-season-3
Duration seconds: 3922

## Resource

Johnny Hastings discusses his journey from a classically trained trombonist to a solo singer-songwriter navigating sobriety and grief. The episode explores how personal loss and recovery shaped his latest album, 'Older'.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Music serves as a primary vehicle for processing long-delayed emotional trauma and grief
- Practical takeaway: Using streaming statistics can help independent artists strategically plan tour routes and city visits
- Failure mode: Relying on old habits of substance use can hinder the emotional processing required for creative growth
- Main idea: Early musical training in brass and theory provides a foundational discipline for multi-instrumentalism
- Practical takeaway: High-quality, custom-built instruments can significantly impact a performer's tonal sustain and playability

## Topics

Singer-songwriter, South Dakota music, Blues, Music industry, Sobriety, Songwriting process, Acoustic guitar, Music biography

## Chapters
- 6:00 — Musical Roots and Training: Johnny discusses his early years playing guitar and trombone, influenced by his mother's background as a band teacher.
- 10:30 — The Path to Solo Recording: A look at the transition from playing in bands and studio work to the drive to record original solo material.
- 15:00 — Influences: The Beatles and Clapton: Exploring the impact of Eric Clapton and The Beatles on his early musical development.
- 19:30 — Spontaneous Songwriting: The story of writing and recording a track in just fifteen minutes in a basement setting.
- 30:20 — Processing Loss through 'Dad's Song': A deeply personal discussion on using music to navigate the death of his father and the journey of sobriety.
- 34:50 — The Tone of the New Album: Discussing the haunting, vintage sonic qualities of his recent recordings.
- 55:00 — The Future of 'Older': Reflections on the title track of his new album and his plans for upcoming releases and touring.

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## Transcript

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