Cedar Rose Johnson is a singer-songwriter and guitarist.
Her professional career in music took off in 2021 with the release of her first four singles that she wrote for BFI-accredited feature film, ‘The Moment Trap - The Lennon Dream’.
In 2021, she also released her first single to gain radio play. ‘My Open Heart’ was played on BBC 3CR after being picked up by Honour Morrison from BBC Introducing at the time.
Cedar’s music video for ‘My Open Heart’ was released in 2021, showing that not everything is as it seems in relationships. In the video we see Cedar being romantic with male actor and friend, Adrian Viviani, although Cedar has since come out as a lesbian through her social media.
In 2021, Cedar had a Zoom call with KT Tunstall after winning a competition online: “I don’t think I’ll ever stop going on about that to be honest...she was so lovely and kept saying that she loved my voice...obviously I tried to act cool about it but I don’t think that came across very much!”
In 2022, Cedar released her single ‘I Love Love You’. A tribute to her mum, whom died from breast cancer when Cedar was ten years old.
Cedar’s single ‘Stay Goodbye’ was released in 2023 along with a touching, personal video exploring vulnerability in relationships.
In 2024, Cedar released a cover of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Dance Me To The End Of Love’ with teaser videos on her social media.
“I’ve always performed...straight out of the womb, I was putting on shows for mum and dad and eventually joining theatre groups too.”
Early Life
Cedar began her career in the entertainment industry at just 5 years old as part of the Snip and Clip children's choir as well as doing live shows as one of the characters.
Cedar continues to work closely with world-renowned clarinet player and family friend Julian Marc Stringle.
In 2010 Cedar’s mother, Julia, died after a 6-year battle with breast cancer. “I had so much love and anger and sadness and I didn’t know what to do with it. Suddenly whenever anyone mentions the word ‘Mum’ the whole room seemed to turn and face me, people don’t know what to say…which I understand…I didn’t know what to say, or do, or feel…so I started writing songs…”
“My Christmas lists were filled with every instrument I could find in the Argos catalogue…tuba, saxophone, violin, grand piano…literally anything… on two separate Christmases I got a violin and a guitar”
Cedar’s father Steven A. Johnson released a Christmas song, Santa’s Beard, in 2007 and Cedar appeared in the music video for this, she released her own version of the track onto her social media in 2020.
In 2014 Cedar was featured as a voice over artist in a book in the Winnie The Witch series.
Cedar was chosen to take part in the ‘Non-Violence UK’ musical showcase in 2018 where she performed three original songs and spoke about what Non-Violence means to her.
Cedar’s work with charities continues through to her work within ‘Jedidiah UK’, a charity set up by Cynthia Stroud with a goal to “give food to anyone who needs it”. Cedar is a trustee at Jedidiah, which was set up during the first COVID-19 Lockdown to supply food to people who need it and has continued providing this support to families all over the UK.
A quote Cedar often repeats is from her Great-Grandmother: “You can always bend down in the street and pick up nothing” She has mentioned before that she “has no idea what it means, but it sounds good…and it gives you a feeling…”