As crucial as having talent is to a performer, luck can be just as vital a component in a career. Being in the right place at the right time can result in introductions being made, gigs being booked and bands being formed. Such is the case with Johnny and Heather Janiga, collectively known as Podunk Nowhere.
“We met on the streets of OB heading to one of the many local watering holes,” explained Heather of her first encounter with husband and musical partner-to-be, guitarist Johnny.
“We talked of being famous one day and then went to play that night,” Johnny added. “[We’ve] never left each other’s side since then. That was 2003.”
For the Janigas, music has been a lifelong obsession.
“My first inspiration to create music came before I can remember,” Heather laughed. “I came into this world singing and wrote my first ‘song’ at six years old.”
She cites Fleetwood Mac as an early inspiration.
“My Mom used to listen to this light rock station that would play a lot of their songs. I’d fall asleep listening to ‘Dreams’ in the backseat of the car,” she said. “It had such a beautiful sadness to it. I wanted to move people like that some day.”
Johnny is more succinct. He cited Randy Rhoads’ “Dee” as the composition that hooked him.
Since their fateful meeting years ago, the pair has become one of San Diego’s most popular acts on the singer-songwriter circuit. In fact, Podunk Nowhere recently celebrated the release of their self-titled debut album at Winstons on Valentine’s Day.
According to the album’s producer, Chuck Schiele, Johnny is one of his favorite guitarists.
“So many times I hear a song and the guitar player is still auditioning to be the world’s greatest guitar hero. What Johnny does is subtle, sly but deadly,” Schiele said.
Having worked with numerous artists over the years, Schiele is particularly proud of this release, which demanded a lot of thought.
“We went back and forth on whether we should create a sparse, naked mix versus building it up into a full band mix,” he added. “I am glad we took the sparser approach because I would have hated to cover up all the little things.”
Though Podunk Nowhere is now well established as an acoustic duo, that wasn’t the Janigas’ initial choice. According to Heather, the two performed with a band for a while, even recording three demo tracks as a group in 2003. Unfortunately, being in a band soon became a situation that actually held the pair back.
“We found ourselves getting stood up for practices, even a few shows,” Heather said. Eventually, the couple discovered that their songs stood up on their own, without need for embellishment, she continued.
Both prolific songwriters, Heather and Johnny write all their music.
“Inspiration comes on a daily basis. I like to write about things that make me happy, but most of the time I find myself writing as a form of therapy,” Heather said.
Though the couple name a broad range of musical influences “” from The Beatles to Gillian Welch “” their minimalist mix of harmonies, melodies and guitar strums is uniquely their own.
The Janigas have built a loyal following during their four-year run, but they laugh at the notion that it’s been smooth sailing. Heather cites the worst show ever for Podunk Nowhere as sitcom-worthy.
“[I] was being heckled by a little old lady for not being ‘upbeat,'” Heather remembered. “She wanted to tap her toes a little faster while she was eating her steak dinner, I guess.”
Luckily most shows have been much better, pointing to a show last year at Winstons as the highlight of their performances together.
“The crowd loved it and we had a hell of a time drinkin’ it up at the club afterward,” Johnny said.
For Podunk Nowhere, it’s clear the mix of music and good times is an important part of their artistry.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Heather acknowledged. “Playing your heart out and then kicking up your heels a little post-show to celebrate.”
Podunk Nowhere will perform at Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., at Cash Only, a 15-band tribute to Johnny Cash, Thursday, Feb. 22. For more on the band, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.podunknowhere.com.