In 2021, Louisville native/Los Angeles-based artist Ian Johnson’s music career was on fire. As the frontman for his alt-rock/pop punk/hip hop musical project Arrested Youth, Johnson had already amassed hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify and other streaming platforms, had received worldwide radio play and features in some of music’s biggest magazines, and had toured the world as a headliner and as an opening act for the likes of Twenty One Pilots, Yungblud, and The Mowgli’s. Indeed, he was well on his way to becoming a superstar. Then it all came to a screeching halt when, in 2021, Johnson received a life-altering diagnosis of Chiari Malformation Type I.
But let’s start at the beginning. Growing up in Louisville, Johnson had been heavily influenced by genre-blending artists like The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sugar Ray, and Kid Cudi. He began writing lyrics at the age of 15 and went on to release a series of mixtapes and eventually an EP that made the iTunes Top 25 pop charts.
After graduating Manual High School, self-doubt led Johnson to take a break from music and attend Indiana University. Triple majoring in business, he graduated in 2016 and entered the workforce. However, it quickly became apparent that he had chosen the wrong career path. “I had always had a deep love for songwriting, which drew me back to music. I was able to express myself in a way that no other outlet allowed, and that feeling was so special to me. So the decision to leave the corporate world to become an artist felt like a personal necessity more than a dream or a career path,” said Johnson.
In the following years, Johnson moved to Los Angeles and began refining his sound into what would become his unique mix of alt-rock, pop punk, and hip-hop with lyrics focusing on his perspective of his own mental health struggles and the challenges of living in the 21st century. In the process, Arrested Youth released four singles, a full-length album titled Fear, and the EP Sobville (Episode 1). During the height of the COVID pandemic, Johnson collaborated directly with his fans to create Arrested Youth & The Quarantiners, an EP in which the lyrics were written by fans along with Johnson in real time during live Instagram chats.
By the time Arrested Youth’s 2021 album Nonfiction was released, Johnson had already reached a level of stardom he’d never dreamed of and, by all outward accounts, had the world in his hands. Yet internally, things were far from ok – both figuratively and literally. “I was grappling with deep-rooted artistic doubt,” said Johnson. “I believed in the message of my music and felt a strong connection to my fans. Yet, I felt like the music I was making fell short of my artistic expectations.” Regarding the then recently-finished album Nonfiction, Johnson went on to say: “I couldn’t shake the feeling that it lacked the integrity I had hoped for.”
It was during this time that Johnson’s struggle also became physical. What had begun as neck discomfort gradually worsened into all-consuming pain. “This pain wasn’t just physical – it was a constant presence, overshadowing all aspects of my life,” said Johnson.
Not want to lose the momentum he had worked so hard to build, Johnson headed out on tour to promote Nonfiction. However, while on tour, the physical pain became too much to bear, resulting in Johnson getting an MRI that would reveal his diagnosis and change his life. “I learned I had a rare brain condition – a Chiari Malformation Type I. The base of my brain was herniating through my spinal canal, causing immense pressure and pain. The only remedy was surgery. So, I stopped touring and began preparing to face the many uncertainties of a brain and spinal operation.”
Johnson underwent the surgery in the winter of 2021, which left him in bad physical shape; brain swelling led to blackout migraines, which led to more ER visits. “Physical pain was certainly the hardest aspect [of recovery], and I was in a lot of it after the surgery,” Johnson told LEO Weekly. But with the help of his parents, (who had since moved from Louisville to upstate New York, and with whom Johnson stayed with during his recovery), Johnson began the slow healing process.
It was during his recovery that Johnson emerged with a new vision for Arrested Youth; one that was a true artistic expression of himself, rather than what he thought the fans and music industry wanted from him. And over the course of the year following the surgery, Johnson refocused himself as a songwriter and musician and began creating songs that he felt evolved his sound in an authentic way. Said Johnson: “I was on a mission to make a great album and redeem myself as an artist.”
In 2023, Johnson moved back to Los Angeles and began working with producer Mike Green (Paramore, Gwen Stefani, Neon Trees, Sum 41) to record what would become his latest album, Too Late To Start Over. Released in September 2024, Too Late To Start Over marks a new era for Arrested Youth. The tracks are much more focused than those of his past releases. Gone are the angsty lyrics of his previous records, replaced with meaningful, hope-filled words of facing and overcoming our internal and external struggles and life’s uncertainties. Along with this, the music has matured as well. Throughout Too Late To Start Over, influences of indie rock, alt-rock, and even folk take a greater role in his sound, bringing to mind bands such as The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Cage The Elephant, and Glass Animals.
Regarding Too Late To Start Over, Johnson said: “For me, this album is not just a collection of songs – it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.” He went on to say: “This album chronicles my life over the past few years, and I hope my story serves as a source of strength for others.”
With album singles “Little Cup”, “Walked Out in the Middle of the Night”, and “Free Now” having already raked up over a combined 1.5 million streams on Spotify within just the past six months, Too Late To Start Over is obviously connecting with Arrested Youth fans both old and new in a big way!
When asked if there was ever a point during his recovery that he thought making music was over for him, Johnson told LEO Weekly: “I never doubted if I’d return to music after the surgery, but I definitely doubted whether or not I’d have the same energy that I used to have. And that was a valid worry, because since returning to music I have certainly not had the same wherewithal. It’s been a slow, arduous process to gain back my momentum and fortitude as an artist. In many ways, I still haven’t fully recuperated. But I knew it wouldn’t be easy, so I’m taking it day-by-day.”
And when asked about upcoming plans, Johnson had this to say: “2025 will bring some exciting touring news, but nothing I can speak to just yet.” So stay tuned, as the best is yet to come for Ian Johnson and Arrested Youth!
Too Late To Start Over is available now on all streaming platforms. For more information, check out Arrested Youth’s website at: arrestedyouth.com
This article appears in Dec 18, 2024 – Jan 16, 2025.