by Gina Scarpa

It was an unfortunate pairing on Platinum Hit, when Johnny and Nick were forced a song to write together for Gavin Degraw. Nick was moody and hardly contributed but he wasn't going home without a fight. Managing to convince the judges that he had absolutely nothing to do with the song and was shut out of the writing session, it was Johnny instead who got eliminated from the competition. Today, we talked to Johnny in an exclusive interview about his experiences on Platinum Hit.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What were you doing musically before Platinum Hit?
A. Johnny: I've been living in New York now for a bit, like six years. I play a lot of shows in and around New York, at different venues. I'm constantly writing and I love cowriting. I was getting into that a lot more before the show, which is good, obviously. I toured with Ingrid Michaelson. She's amazing. She deserves all the success she's gotten. By day, I'm a computer dork.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Did you have any reservations about being on a reality competition?
A. Johnny: Oh hell yeah! My good friend Irina forwarded me an email message. She said, "You have to do this. You'll be great." I was like, "Whatever, I might as well try it out." Me and my cousin went to the open call in New York. I've never done a reality tv audition and I'm sort of glad I did. I met a best friend in line and he plays in my band now. There was a lot of serendipity now with the whole process. I met a best friend on the show, through Brian Judah. As a viewer, I love reality tv! I love Jersey Shore and love the Bravo competition shows. I like Bravo reality because it's legit. People do good work after it. Nowadays, the record industry kinda sucks. People aren't interested in developing artists. You need a platform, a product, and proof. Television is not the be all and end all. You still have to prove credibility but it was an incredible opportunity.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I actually thought you were funny in the way you were talking about and dealing with Nick on this week's episode. Kara said that you showed the ugliest side of yourself, though. What is your response to that?
A. Johnny: It's unfortunate the way it went down. I would've loved to go out with anyone else in that cast, someone with a mutual respect. It was just unfortunate and I honestly did my best. I tried to work with Nick and unfortunately, there's not enough time to air everything. It's so funny the idea of sabotage. Me as a saboteur blew my mind. In my mind, it was the exact opposite. I forced Nick to write a bridge and they hated it. They obvoiusly liked my hook a little bit. It was frustrating to me. Not only did Nick not contribute but he tried to take away. I tried to be the nice guy that I am, and I was, but I wasn't getting anywhere. I stood up for myself and it's really tough to watch and make sense of it all. I think we've said enough about each other, that episode alone, and viewers can decide whose side they're on.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Was it weird watching your showmance, or romance, play out with Jes on national television?
A. Johnny: It was totally weird! Melissa was hilarious in her interviews talking about us, saying we were frauds. I would never concoct something like that. Jes and I really like each other and it was a nice thing to have, someone to lean your head on their shoulder at the end of grueling days. We realize every time we were a foot from each other, cameras would swoop in. We would never create something like that out of nothing. Jes and I crack each other up and that's so important to any relationship. She's so goofy and cool. I worry that, to some people, it came off as performing. I'm glad a lot of people enjoyed watching that because we really enjoyed each other.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are you up to now and what's next for you?
A. Johnny: Brian and I have been writing a lot and Scotty, too. That's definitely the best thing I take from the show is the people I met in and around it. It's just priceless. You get that exposure on tv which is great but the relationships are the real gems of the whole process. I learned so much from my peers and I'm really thankful for that and I'm trying to keep this momentum going. I'm back and forth between L.A. in New York. I've got a show in New York coming up. I'm proud that I have a gig regularly. I'm doing a lot of shows and organizing a tour. Like I said, I'm writing a lot with Brian and I'm writing and recording a new album that'll be out early next year. There's a lot coming from me. People can keep up with me on my website, johnnymarnell.com.

Platinum Hit airs Fridays at 8/7c on Bravo.

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

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