The Lawrence indie scene is a bit abuzz right now thanks to some recent news from one of the scene’s top songwriters. After several years off from recording, Suzannah Johannes is releasing new music. The sultry-voiced musician has been no stranger to the stage over the last two decades with a steady string of live shows, but rarely do Lawrencians get to hold an actual record in their hands. That changes this year, as Johannes gets ready to release not one, but two albums through presales on here website.

Her first release comes out today, and it certainly will not disappoint her long-term and dedicated fans. Her breezy attitude shines through with a bit of mischievous wit through her lyrics, floating over casual guitars and drums. You can listen to “Bordeaux Girl” below, and keep an eye out for the full release of her album Kansas City: Hanz Bronze Boulevard in late August. You can also catch Johannes appearing with Frightened Stag ahead of the screening of Split Lip Rayfield: Never Make It Home on Sunday, June 29, at this year’s Free State Festival. 

IHLM: It’s been a while since we’ve heard some new music for you. What compelled you to release this track at this time? 

SJ: I’ve been playing music for about 20 years, but surprisingly, I have very few recordings to show for it—and I’ve never released a full-length album. Around my birthday last year, I asked myself what I really wanted, realistically—and the answer was simple: I wanted to record.

At the time, I’d been spending a lot of time with Mike and Brooke Tuley, and I was really inspired by Brooke’s album Chase Me (Brooke Tuley and the Moon Travelers), which she and Mike recorded and released last year. They agreed to record me, which set the whole thing in motion. Mike and Brooke were there every step of the way—not just with recording and production, but with mixing, encouragement, snacks, watching kids—you name it. Thanks to them, what started as a personal goal turned into a collaborative, community-driven experience I’ll always be grateful for.

IHLM: What would you like listeners to take away from the new single? 

SJ: This single was written by Hanz Bronze—a longtime friend, collaborator, guitar teacher, and ongoing source of inspiration in my life. I first heard a live version of this song on a CD from one of his shows in Spain back when I was in college, and Hanz reminded me of the song when we went through possible songs for the album prior to the recording. 

Most of the songs on the new album are covers of Hanz’s work, with a few exceptions. While I hope listeners connect with the vocals, musicianship, and production, my deeper hope is that this project brings more attention to Hanz as a songwriter. He has a truly unique voice and talent, and I believe his work deserves much wider recognition.

IHLM: Who worked on this single with you? And where was it recorded?

SJ: The album was primarily recorded over two days in October 2024 at Weights and Measures Studio with engineer Duane Trower. Most of the tracks were recorded live to tape. We had some initial demos from Hanz, but the majority of the work on the songs came with just playing them together at the studio. That raw, in-the-moment energy is something I think you can really feel in the final result.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to play with some amazing musicians over the years. Josh Adams and David Wetzel were among the first people to believe in me. They backed me during my earliest shows and recordings between 2006 and 2009, so having Josh fly in and David generously lend his time and talent again meant a lot to me.

Mike and Brooke introduced me to Jimmy Fitzner and John Nichols, and from the very beginning, the five of us just clicked. There was an immediate musical chemistry that made the process both natural and exciting.

What makes this particular song especially meaningful is that it was the first one we recorded—and likely only the second or third time this group had ever played it together. In fact, we haven’t played it since. As a final touch, we were lucky to connect with Bill Dolan, who contributed a beautiful classical guitar track that added a whole new dimension to the song.

IHLM: Now that you’ve had some time off, why do you feel it’s important to keep releasing new music? 

SJ: In my twenties, I had some real momentum writing and performing music. I was lucky to be surrounded by incredibly talented friends—musicians who inspired me and supporters who encouraged me to keep going. But when I got married and became a parent, I set that part of my life aside to focus on family and work.

Like many people, I’ve struggled with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Over the past year, I’ve taken time to really reflect on my life, and I’ve realized how much joy making music has always brought me. Recording the Kansas City album was a turning point—fun, freeing, and a much-needed return to creativity. Because it’s a collection of covers, it allowed me to simply start again without pressure.

What made it truly special was the community around it—the friends who played on it, the people who supported it. That experience turned out to be something magical. It also gave me the momentum to finally release Los Angeles, an album I recorded 12 years ago, which is now set for release on January 2, 2026.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that there’s never a wrong time to return to creative work—especially when it’s done in collaboration with friends.