{{Short description|American singer (born 1995)}} {{Use American English|date=August 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jawny | image = Jawny at a concert.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Jacob Lee-Nicholas Sullenger | alias = Johnny Utah | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|12|23|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Fairfield, California, U.S. | origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | genre = {{flat list| * Indie pop<ref name="nme1">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/reviews/album/jawny-for-abby-review-one-of-lockdowns-most-innovative-and-colourful-bedroom-pop-projects-2802737|title=Jawny – 'For Abby' review: one of lockdown's most innovative and colourful bedroom pop projects|website=NME|date=28 October 2020}}</ref> * lo-fi<ref name="nme1"/> * slacker rock<ref name="nme1"/> }} | occupation = {{flat list| * Singer * songwriter * record producer }} | instrument = | years_active = 2016–present | label = Interscope | associated_acts = | partner = Doja Cat (2019–2020) | website = {{URL|https://jawny.com/}} | module = | module2 = | module3 = }} '''Jacob Lee-Nicholas Sullenger''' (born December 23, 1995),<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Jacob Leenicholas Sullenger, Born 12/23/1995 in California|url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/jacob_leenicholas_sullenger_born_1995_24046482|access-date=May 12, 2020|website=California Birth Index}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 6, 2014|title=Fort Mill High School to award 419 diplomas|url=https://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/community/fort-mill-times/article12000974.html|access-date=May 12, 2020|website=Herald Online|publisher=Fort Mill Times}}</ref> known professionally as '''Jawny''' (stylized in all caps; formerly '''Johnny Utah'''), is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first received recognition after the release of his 2019 single "Honeypie" and was signed to Interscope Records in January 2020. He made his major-label debut with the mixtape ''For Abby.''
==Early life and education==
Sullenger was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.<ref name="Bill20">{{cite magazine |last=Ginsberg |first=Gab |date=February 14, 2020 |title=New Interscope Signee Jawny on Why He Won't Just Be Another 'Viral' Moment |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8550829/jawny-signs-interscope-records-record-deal-interview |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> He first learned how to play guitar at the age of 6 and began composing songs in his early teens.<ref name="Diffus">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WqbcjReX-Y |title=Jawny - Love Boy Pop Music From Los Angeles (Portrait) |date=April 5, 2020 |medium=Video |publisher=Diffus |access-date=July 8, 2020 |people=Sullenger, Jacob (interviewee)}}</ref> He briefly attended college where he studied nursing but dropped out to pursue music.<ref name="CUI">{{cite news |last=Titelbaum |first=Benny |date=November 6, 2019 |title=Indie rockstars Goth Babe and Johnny Utah kickoff CU's Homecoming week |work=CU Independent |url=https://cuindependent.com/2019/11/06/cu-homecoming-goth-babe-and-johnny-utah/ |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> He also managed a pizzeria in New Jersey to pay bills.<ref name="Bill20"/>
==Career==
At the age of 20 in 2016, Sullenger moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he began making music under the alias Johnny Utah. The pseudonym was a reference to Keanu Reeves' character in the 1991 film ''Point Break''.<ref name="Bill20"/>
In January 2018, he released a self-titled EP via Z Tapes Records.<ref name="DeliST">{{cite news |last=London |first=Dianca |date=February 1, 2018 |title=The Deli Philly's February Record of the Month: Johnny Utah – Johnny Utah |work=The Deli Magazine |url=http://philadelphia.thedelimagazine.com/33512/deli-philly%E2%80%99s-february-record-month-johnny-utah-%E2%80%93-johnny-utah |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> He released several more singles that year, including "Folding Like Honey",<ref name="DeliHoney">{{cite news |date=May 1, 2018 |title=New Track: "Folding Like Honey" - Johnny Utah |work=The Deli Magazine |url=http://philadelphia.thedelimagazine.com/34638/new-track-folding-honey-johnny-utah |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> "Patty", and "Crazy for Your Love". His songs also appeared on Spotify's "Bedroom Pop" playlist.<ref name="Paper18">{{cite news |last=Wetmore |first=Brendan |date=November 20, 2018 |title=Johnny Utah Will Never Stop Clowning Around |work=Paper |url=https://www.papermag.com/johnny-utah-2620751965.html |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> In November 2018, the tracks were compiled by Z Tapes Records into a second EP entitled ''Big Dogs''.<ref name="DeliDogs">{{cite news |date=November 28, 2018 |title=New Johnny Utah EP Available for Streaming & Purchase |work=The Deli Magazine |url=http://philadelphia.thedelimagazine.com/38152/new-johnny-utah-ep-available-for-streaming-purchase |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref>
In April 2019, he released the single "Honeypie",<ref name="Milk 1Honey">{{cite news |last=La |first=Michelle |date=April 25, 2019 |title=Johnny Utah is breaking out of his bedroom in "Honeypie" |work=EarMilk |url=https://earmilk.com/2019/04/25/johnny-utah-is-breaking-out-of-his-bedroom-in-honeypie/ |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> which was later featured on Spotify's "Fresh Finds" and "Ultimate Indie" playlists. That exposure led to the song accruing millions of streams on the platform.<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |last=Wang |first=Amy X. |date=February 27, 2020 |title=How Do You Get a Hit Song? Spotify Says to Pitch It |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/spotify-artists-playlist-submission-958384/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref>
Sullenger was signed to Interscope Records in January 2020<ref name="MilkWant">{{cite news |last=La |first=Michelle |date=March 2, 2020 |title=Jawny will do "Anything You Want" and we love him for it |work=Earmilk |url=https://earmilk.com/2020/03/02/jawny-will-do-anything-you-want-and-we-love-him-for-it/ |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> and around that time changed his stage name to Jawny, a reference to a Philadelphia slang term. He also relocated to Los Angeles, California.<ref name="Bill20"/>
In February 2020, he released the single "Anything You Want".<ref name="MilkWant"/> He released his Interscope debut project, ''For Abby'', in October 2020.<ref name="OTWAbby">{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Ruby |date=October 27, 2020 |title=JAWNY Delivers a High-Spirited Mixtape in Major Label Debut 'For Abby' |work=Ones to Watch |url=https://www.onestowatch.com/blog/jawny-for-abby |access-date=November 1, 2020}}</ref> Jawny described the 10-track project as a mixtape rather than an EP.<ref name="NMEAbby">{{cite news |last=Aubrey |first=Elizabeth |date=October 28, 2020 |title=Jawny – 'For Abby' review: one of lockdown's most innovative and colourful bedroom pop projects |work=NME |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/reviews/album/jawny-for-abby-review-one-of-lockdowns-most-innovative-and-colourful-bedroom-pop-projects-2802737 |access-date=November 1, 2020}}</ref> One of the collection's singles, "Sabotage",<ref name="Sabotage">{{cite news |date=August 7, 2020 |title=JAWNY SHARES NEW TRACK 'SABOTAGE' |work=DIY Magazine |url=https://diymag.com/2020/08/07/listen-jawny-sabotage |access-date=November 1, 2020}}</ref> premiered at number 34 on the ''Billboard'' Alternative Airplay chart in January 2021.<ref name="BillAA">{{cite magazine |date=January 23, 2021 |title=Alternative Airplay |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/alternative-airplay/2021-01-23 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 1, 2020}}</ref>
==Personal life== Sullenger was in a romantic relationship with rapper and singer Doja Cat from August 2019 to February 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wetmote |first1=Brendan |date=December 10, 2020 |title=JAWNY Opens Up About How His Split From Doja Cat Changed His Album |language=en |work=Elite Daily |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/jawny-explains-how-his-breakup-with-doja-cat-changed-his-album-exclusive-48503512 |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>
==Discography==
===Albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of Albums with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:13em"| Title ! scope="col"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''It's Never Fair, Always True'' | * Released: March 3, 2023 * Label: Interscope * Formats: Digital download |- |}
===Mixtapes===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of mixtapes with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:13em"| Title ! scope="col"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''For Abby'' | * Released: October 27, 2020 * Label: Interscope * Formats: Digital download |- |}
===Extended plays===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of EPs with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:13em"| Title ! scope="col"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Johnny Utah''<br/><small>(as Johnny Utah)</small> | * Released: January 15, 2018 * Label: Z Tapes * Formats: Digital download, cassette |- ! scope="row"| ''Big Dogs''<br/><small>(as Johnny Utah)</small> | * Released: November 28, 2018 * Label: Z Tapes * Formats: Digital download, cassette |- ! scope="row"| ''The Story of Hugo''<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Interview: Jawny tells the other side of 'For Abby' with 'The Story of Hugo' |url=https://riffmagazine.com/features/jawny-the-story-of-hugo-ep/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |website=RIFF Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Martyn |date=July 19, 2021 |title=Jawny: "I don't want to be the hottest flavour of the month" {{!}} Dork |url=https://readdork.com/features/jawny-august-2021/ |access-date=July 26, 2021 |website=readdork.com |language=en-US}}</ref> | * Released July 14, 2021 * Label: Interscope * Formats: Digital download, cassette |- |}
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles with selected details ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peaks ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br/>Alt<br/><ref name="BillAA"/> |- ! scope="row"| "Folding Like Honey" | rowspan="2"| 2018 | — | | rowspan="2"| ''Big Dogs'' |- ! scope="row"| "Really Meant" | — | |- ! scope="row"| "Honeypie" | rowspan="2"| 2019 | 46 | * RIAA: Gold<ref>{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=Jawny|access-date=September 24, 2021}}</ref> | rowspan="4"| ''For Abby'' |- ! scope="row"| "4Tounce"<ref name="Paper4T">{{cite news |last=Wetmore |first=Brendan |date=December 12, 2019 |title=Watch Johnny Utah Pivot to Bodybuilding in '4Tounce' |work=Paper |url=https://www.papermag.com/johnny-utah-4tounce-watch-2641579541.html |access-date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> | — | |- ! scope="row"| "Sabotage"<ref name="Sabotage"/> | rowspan="3" | 2020 | 34 | |- ! scope="row"| "Super Bad Mantra"<ref name="OTWSBM">{{cite news |last=Legittino |first=Joey |date=September 21, 2020 |title=JAWNY's "Super Bad Mantra" Is a Masterpiece Years in the Making |work=Ones to Watch |url=https://www.onestowatch.com/blog/jawnys-super-bad-mantra-is-a-masterpiece-years |access-date=November 1, 2020}}</ref><br/><small>(featuring Christian Blue)</small> | — | |- ! scope="row"| "Anything You Want"<br/><small>(featuring Doja Cat)</small> | — | | rowspan="3" {{TBA}} |- ! scope="row"| "Trigger of Love" | rowspan="2" | 2021 | — | |- ! scope="row"| "Best Thing" | — | |- ! scope="row"| "Take It Back"<br/><small>(with Beck)</small><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2022 |title=JAWNY taps Beck for new version of "take it back": Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2022/06/jawny-beck-take-it-back-stream/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |website=Consequence |language=en-US}}</ref> | rowspan="2"| 2022 | | | |- ! scope="row"| "Strawberry Chainsaw" | | | |}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://jawny.com/ Official website]
<!--- Categories ---> Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Interscope Records artists Category:Singers from Pennsylvania Category:Singers from California Category:Record producers from Los Angeles Category:Record producers from Pennsylvania Category:Songwriters from California Category:Songwriters from Pennsylvania Category:American indie pop musicians Category:Musicians from Philadelphia Category:21st-century American singers Category:Bedroom pop musicians Category:American alternative rock singers Category:American alternative rock musicians Category:American male pop singers