Conversations with Creatives — Host & Chef, Frederick Johnson
Tags: Food, Creativity, Interview, Cooking, Innovation

Conversations with Creatives — Host & Chef, Frederick Johnson

Photo source: Frederick Johnson

Annie: Freddie! Can you believe we’ve been friends for decades now? Like more than two! It’s crazy. When we met we were both acting in a play in Hollywood. I can’t remember, what was the name of the play?

Freddie: KIA: Killing Instigates Action.

Annie: Yes! That’s it! We wore gas masks in it for some reason. I remember it was kind of avant-garde but definitely fun. Since we met as performers, I knew you were a creative spirit/soul-friend. Creativity is also in your family, right? I know that your dad, Frederic Johnson SR, was a musician. Can you tell us about him?

Freddie: My Father was a jazz and opera singer. He was also an actor. He was a lyric tenor. He was originally from Philadelphia and began singing in choirs as a child. Music is what brought him out to California in the 1950s.

Frederick JR and SR — Source: Frederick JR

Annie: What did you want to be as a child?

Freddie: Honestly, I wanted to be a game show host as a child. When I was elementary school age, I would play the Price Is Right with other kids and I would be the host. Later as an older kid, I wanted to be a talk show host. My sister and I used to write and act in original talk shows. We would shoot them on VHS back in the ‘80s!

Annie: That’s such a trip because I became a game show host when we were in our 20s. When you saw me hosting BZZZ did you think, Hey, that’s my dream job!

Freddie: I never thought that when I saw you doing BZZZ, which you were excellent in by the way! I think it was a childhood dream that I never thought would be a reality. I didn’t think about it anymore.

source: Frederick’s FB page

Annie: What’s the most creative job you’ve ever had?

Freddie: I am a songwriter and used to front a band called Soul Purpose. At one point, I quit my day job to just focus on the band. We played at bars and clubs all over LA, made an original CD and a live CD. In the writing process, I felt and feel my most creative.

Selfie of us — source: the author

Annie: I’m enjoying your latest ventures, Frederick Johnson In Conversation and Frederic’s Food Adventures. Did you always cook? When did you start and how did this idea come to be?

Freddie: Thank you. Frederick Johnson In Conversation is my new talk show. I’m having so much fun being the host, producer, director, lighting person, talent booker! And I love people’s stories. I love to ask questions. And of course, anyone who knows me, knows I love to talk! I started Frederick’s Food Adventures a little over a year ago. I sort of fumbled my way into it. I saw people on social media filming themselves at home cooking, and one day thought, ‘why not give it a try’. It just evolved from there. I’ve always cooked. Cooking since living on my own at 18 years old was about survival. It was very functional, it wasn’t about the joy of cooking. In my 20s, I had a job as a short-order cook and that really helped me hone a skill with cooking because the whole process of food prep, working a grill, cooking a lot of food and different types of food simultaneously, was intimidating at first but I became good at it. I always loved to eat and as I got older and traveled, I was exposed to different types of cuisine. I developed a new level of food appreciation. Growing up, my father was the cook. He was one of those cooks that never wrote anything down or used recipes but he was such a great cook! I’m still trying to duplicate some of his signature dishes!

Annie: What were some of your favorite dishes of his?

Freddie: Oh My God, his fried apples! His potato salad! His collard greens!

Annie: Yuuuum! And I love how cooking apples makes the whole house smell so good. When you cook, do you tend to follow recipes or just create your own?

Freddie: I do both. Mostly I follow recipes and always share those recipes when I post. Even when I adapt something, I share the original recipe and also share my adaptations.

Annie: You did an Instagram Live with me, we made muffins!

Freddie: We did!

Annie: What’s your favorite food memory?

Freddie: One that comes to mind was the first time I went to a Himalayan restaurant. It was in Amsterdam in 2014. I was with several friends. We stumbled upon this place and it was one of the top three meals I’ve ever had. We sat outside, it was a mildly warm lovely Summer evening. The food warmed my body as if I was eating something magical. Every bite, I kept moaning in pleasure. It was a transcendental experience, truly soul food!

Annie: What other areas in your life do you feel your creativity comes into play?

Freddie: In the new talk show, Frederick Johnson In Conversation, I’m creating an entire show. I’m accessing and exercising parts of myself that are outside of my norm. There’s a lot that goes into it — even sourcing materials for a backdrop, learning how to do all of the technical aspects with downloading video, posting on multiple formats, writing post copy. I’m truly enjoying it, it’s a new phase of self-expression I’m grateful to be exploring and living.

Annie: Favorite movie, song, book.

Freddie: Oh My God — so tough! I can’t name one movie, my favorite directors include David Lynch and Pedro Almodovar, but I love so much film, so many different genres. My favorite author is James Baldwin. I discovered him in college and read every book and essay he wrote back to back. I’m also a huge fan of the Harlem renaissance era of writers. Favorite song, so hard! At one point during elementary school, I went to a catholic school that was near Washington and Crenshaw in South Los Angeles. Every morning the students would line up in single file by grade and alphabetical order (last name) and the entire school would sing Lift Every Voice and Sing. I knew then those were magical moments. That’s my favorite song associated memory!

Annie: I heard some people say that they believe they’re not creative. Like they just weren’t born creative. What do you have to say to those who feel that they can’t create?

Freddie: People perhaps have limited ideas about what creativity means. That special, unique cup of coffee someone may make that their friends always ask for, that’s being creative. Frankly, we are creating our lives, every moment of the day, we are creating something. Even if it’s havoc, we are creating!!

Annie: Best words of advice anyone as ever gives you?

Freddie: Trust God, clean house, help others.

Annie: Anything else you’d like people to know about you?

Freddie: I’m single!

Follow Frederick on IG to watch Frederick in Conversation and his Food Adventures!

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Past interviews: