2026 American Music Awards<\/b><\/em><\/a> in Las Vegas on May 25, where he opened up about his journey to this album, relocating to Los Angeles, and how he almost walked away from the music industry entirely.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last time I saw you, you were itty bitty, and you\u2019re all grown up now,\u201d Celeb Secrets<\/i> host Juliet Schroder<\/strong> told Johnny on the star-studded AMA red carpet.<\/p>\n\u201cWell, I graduated high school\u2026 narrowly,\u201d Johnny joked with a laugh. \u201cAnd then I moved to LA. Now I\u2019ve been making music. Doing the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
But the \u201csame thing\u201d looks a lot different for Johnny these days. With nearly a billion global streams and a massive worldwide following of over 26 million, the pressure to constantly produce hits can be grueling. In fact, Johnny candidly revealed that a few years ago, he hit a breaking point.<\/p>\n
\u201cI almost quit, like, three years ago,\u201d Johnny confessed to Celeb Secrets<\/i>. \u201cAnd then I just took a break. I left my label, started writing a bunch with one of my friends, and that\u2019s what\u2019s happened so far.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking that step back to regroup as an independent spirit allowed Johnny to fall back in love with the creative process. Instead of treating music like a job, he treated it like a craft.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were in the studio for, like, weeks straight, which was nice. I\u2019ve never done that before,\u201d Johnny shared when reflecting on his favorite moments making Songs for Young Lovers<\/i>. \u201cIt felt less like an assembly line of songs and more like something, like, like art that you were making, you know, which was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\nThat artistic freedom heavily influenced the vibe of the new record. While fans might remember him for his bright, polished pop tracks, Songs for Young Lovers<\/i> leans into a much more organic, raw, and atmospheric soundscape.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely more, like, rock leaning, kinda like a Cigarettes After Sex vibe. Like, dark,\u201d Johnny teased of the album\u2019s sonic direction.<\/p>\n
According to Johnny, he wanted to prioritize emotion over perfection this time around. \u201cI wanted the record to feel live and lived-in,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt was less about perfecting details and more about chasing a feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n
The result is a flawless 12-track alternative pop journey that masterfully balances massive, anthemic hooks with deeply intimate storytelling. Fans have already gotten a taste of the project through hit singles like \u201cThe Crowd,\u201d<\/a> \u201cEmilia,\u201d<\/a> \u201cHave Your Lovin\u2019,\u201d<\/a> \u201cCharlotte,\u201d<\/a> and \u201cHeads Up\u201d<\/a> \u2014 many of which Johnny teased live during a string of recently sold-out shows in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\nWith four consecutive MTV EMA wins for \u2018Best Canadian Act\u2019 and multiple JUNO Award nominations already under his belt, Johnny is no stranger to success. But Songs for Young Lovers<\/i> feels like a true victory lap for an artist who chose to rebuild his career on his own terms.<\/p>\n
Watch our full exclusive interview with Johnny Orlando from the AMAs red carpet below, and don\u2019t forget to let us know what you think of\u00a0Songs for Young Lovers\u00a0<\/em>by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets<\/a>.<\/p>\nFor more coverage from the 2026 American Music Awards, click here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\nWhat’s Your Reaction?<\/h2>\n<\/aside>\n <\/p>\n