Sheila Johnson

Personal Life

I have always loved reading and spending time with my family; appreciating nature and architectural beauty always inspires me.

Growing up, I never considered myself a “singer.” While I enjoyed listening to music and singing along, I didn’t think I had the powerful/loud voice or ‘depth of tone’ that many associate with true singers. In fact, whenever I tried to project, my throat would hurt, and I lacked confidence in my abilities. However, singing remained something I deeply enjoyed, even if I didn’t see myself as a “real” vocalist.

Professional Life

Things changed, at age 19 – where my professional singing abruptly started!

I, along with two friends, randomly met with an A&R guy, who was looking for girls who could sing. We auditioned, just for fun and he decided to introduce us to a well-established, urban record label that had ‘famous’ UK artists under its umbrella. We signed to the label and my life changed completely. Travelling, singing and shooting videos with the label, gave me a taste of what it was like to be an artist, and it was invaluable on my singing journey.

It wasn’t however, until a couple of years later, when I joined a gospel choir, that I began to see myself as a lead vocalist. Singing in the soprano section, I started to learn how to project my sound, harmonize with others, and navigate through the different mechanics of gospel choir music. It was here that I was asked to be one of the leads and I took on that role for the first time, experiencing both the excitement and challenges of performing for audiences in theaters, across the UK.

Those performances taught me key lessons: how to connect with an audience, overcome stage nerves, deliver emotional renditions, push through even when I wasn’t feeling my best and many other lessons.

After leaving the gospel choir, I discovered that I had a chest voice! It was a revelation to me, as I had never really accessed this part of my voice before. Suddenly, I could project with a lot more power and ease. It opened up so many more possibilities for me.

I went on to start my own business: a professional gospel choir for hire – we sang at weddings, birthdays, funerals, churches, and conferences. It was a labour of love that allowed me to take on multiple roles, including lead vocalist, coordinator, and performer. My choir became known for its ability to deliver moving performances at a wide range of events and my singing abilities grew. I went on to run various singing programmes in schools and colleges – forming choirs and training lead vocalists wherever I went.

After getting married and having a child, I decided it was high time I invested in getting professional vocal training, seeking out the best to help me refine my craft: KTVA was top of the list! I’ve just hit the 3-year mark. My voice has transformed, and I’ve never been more excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.