With the arrival of “Shine Your Light” on June 12, 2026, this evocative new work emerges as the most recent contribution to the catalog of Vermont singer-songwriter Nancy Carey Johnson. This is an album that feels at once like a return home, bringing together with effortless ease the essential elements of Americana, folk music, and the singer-songwriter genre into a truly unique whole. With each of the four tracks that comprise this EP, Johnson serves as both an astute observer and an insightful guide as she explores the wide-open vistas of the human heart – themes of endurance, introspection, unrelenting hope, and complex human connection permeate the stories that Johnson tells here. Her approach to storytelling is architectural in nature, carefully constructing vivid worlds from memory and melody that stick with you long after the last notes have faded away. Few musicians can combine such intimate songwriting with the sheer weight of meaning found within her work. Let’s delve deep into this magnificent EP and uncover what makes it so special.
This EP starts with “Guano Loco,” a song that bursts onto the scene through an intense and rapid ukulele sequence that sounds like the erratic beats of a racing heart. In the song, we meet a character who is described as very beautiful, but before you get caught in her web, you should know that this gorgeous woman also happens to be batshit crazy and totally someone who will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Musically, it is a perfect example of how songs can create a sense of tension through the use of sharp and biting riffs that work in sync with the lyrics of the song. Lyrical-wise, the song is an insightful analysis of irrationality, capturing the unique mental state of being in a frenzied mind.
As the transition takes place to the next track, “Shine Your Light,” the mood is completely changed; the song starts with a soft ambient sound produced by violin sounds that gradually grow into a consistent piano melody filled with hope. “Shine Your Light” is the emotional centerpiece of this EP, a ballad telling the story of the strength needed to stand out in a world trying to extinguish your light. It encourages us to embrace ourselves and know that it’s okay that we’re not like everyone else. The song reminds us that we have a light inside of us that the world needs to see, so we need to stand up tall and not let anything dim our light. The vocal performance of Johnson in this piece is just breathtaking, starting with a whisper and ending with an incredible belt. “Shine Your Light” is all about reclamation and strength, the effects of which are very cathartic; it sounds like the metaphorical sunrise after the darkest night. The inner glow of each of us is an important part of who we are
“The She Let Him Go” opens with an isolated, sorrowful melody on cello that takes a deep, sobbing breath before being joined by a muted acoustic guitar, painting the picture of a solemn and contemplative mood. The theme is a nuanced approach to the grace inherent in letting go, that is, the quiet and painful strength one needs to untie oneself from the story that no longer feeds the spirit. Johnson performs the song’s lyrics with a certain detachment of narration that eventually transitions into the real feeling, immersing the listener in every last bit of the act of surrender.
Concluding EP with its blues-like reinterpretation of “Take Me To The River”, a song that begins with a heavy, almost baptismal ukulele melody. The song talks about going to a river and reminiscing about the good times. The performance of the vocals on this track is incredibly passionate and powerful, while instrumental sounds create a swampy and cathartic culmination of brass and gospel-like piano. It will hit your face with a wave of sound, make you feel cleansed, tired, and empowered at the same time. This track proves yet again that Johnson is truly an artist capable of commanding not only the stage, but the depths of human consciousness as well.
“Shine Your Light” is a four-song tapestry composed of “Guano Loco,” “Shine Your Light,” “She Let Him Go,” and “Take Me To The River.” What makes this project so remarkable is the way it combines cohesion and diversity in both theme and music. This EP sees Nancy Carey Johnson skillfully closing the gap between unadulterated emotional expression and surgical songwriting. This album has a certain quality that makes it truly unique—it has authentic honesty and nothing else. Nancy isn’t chasing the empty fads of the music world; rather, she is tapping into the rich wellspring of experience of being a Vermont homesteader, mother of four, and multiple-award-winning writer. Each note rings true, and each lyric is a statement in itself – a statement about her life, about her search for grace and meaning through human connection in the corners of the world. There is a weight in her music that speaks to the very human gravity of being, turning her work into something more than just music – it’s a dialogue between friends, a necessary conversation. The only thing I have against this album is the sheer lack of songs on it; four tracks are simply not enough to satisfy the hunger she evokes in me. I want nothing more than to hear hundreds of those tales and immerse myself in her world even more fully than I already did. This woman is a true phenomenon, a future superstar, who’s ready to shine her light on the industry and the world. I’m confident that before long, the rest of the world will finally recognize the talent that she has been showing us all along.
Stream the “Shine Your Light” EP on Spotify
Follow Nancy Carey Johnson here and her socials: Instagram, YouTube
