Dean Johnson says that there are some pretty mean songs on his sophomore album, and that’s why he’s titled it I Hope We Can Still Be Friends. However, the name alone should tell you that he’s far from a bully. The man is soft-spoken, hyper-considerate, a little self-conscious, and impossibly charming. When I arrived at his house on a sunny Monday afternoon, he was anxiously awaiting my arrival with the tea kettle whistling and two types of tea neatly set out for me to choose. As I debated whether to choose decaf or herbal, I remembered what a friend recently said to me in preparation for the interview: “Everyone who meets Dean falls in love with him.” It’s easy to see why.

Johnson’s music is warm and laid back with the wit of Michael Hurley and the vocal stylings of the Everly Brothers. H

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