Episode 46

Fast-rising Santa Clarita Valley rock-pop singer-songwriter Johnny Strat debuts brand-new songs on the next premiere edition of SCVTV’s “House Blend,” the WAVE award-nominated music-and-interview program hosted by veteran Santa Clarita music journalist Stephen K. Peeples.

The half-hour show will air on SCVTV (Channel 20 in the Santa Clarita Valley and AT&T U-Verse 99 in Los Angeles and Orange counties) and stream on the Web at www.scvtv.com on Saturday, May 11 starting at 10 p.m. Pacific Time.

Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, the 22-year-old Strat (real name John Stratton) sings his latest single, “Sixteen,” introduces his latest video, “As Long As I Belong to You,” and performs a pair of new songs he hasn’t even recorded yet: “Take it All” and “I Will Stay.”

In the interviews between songs, Strat and Peeples talk about the artist’s early musical inspirations, forming a band with mostly fellow music students Azusa Pacific University and developing a following, studying music production, and finishing his first full-length album.

Strat plans to include all four songs performed on “House Blend” on the as-yet-untitled album. He has already recorded several songs and has final sessions slated for this summer. He graduates from APU in houseblend_strat_3_050913_skpJune with a degree in music production.

Strat grew up in North Hills and the Santa Clarita Valley, and graduated from L.A. Baptist High School in 2009. He made an auspicious recording debut with a well-received EP in 2008, before he began attending APU in Azusa, east of Pasadena.

Saturday marks Strat’s second “House Blend” appearance; he and his band guested on Feb. 15, 2011. Watch the video here.

The Johnny Strat Band’s next gig is May 17 at the Wire Music & Art Venue, 247 N. 2nd Ave., Upland 91786. Call 909-985-9466.

Find out more about Strat at his official website and Facebook page.