Originally from Long Island, NY, currently residing in Ellenton, FL. Dean is a songwriter and guitarist inspired by historical fiction, speakeasy era Americana and the sounds of Hot Club Jazz (Django Reinhardt), Western Swing (Bob Wills, Lyle Lovett, etc) and American Roots Music. 

Dean released a new EP titled Semi Tennessee in 2025 that was recorded in Nashville in January of 2024. Johanesen tracked at The Owl Studio in Nashville with Producer and bassist Shawn Byrne of Great Hill Productions. 

The sessions included Nashville's:

Joe Spivey - Violin ( John Anderson’s Seminole Wind and member of the Time Jumpers,) 

Pete Finney - Steel Guitar (Mike Nesmith of the Monkees and Patty Loveless,) 

John McTigue III - Drums - (Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams III, Raul Malo of the Mavericks etc.)

The initial single idea turned into a 5 song EP that was recorded in January, April and September of 2024. “We tracked 2 band sessions and I had 2 sessions (in April and September) to track any additional work from the live sessions.”

The Western swing influence of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys along with Lyle Lovett, prompted this Western Swing approach to the tracks on the new EP. Other influences for the songs include - Jerry Reed, The Hot CLub of Cowtown, Bill Kirchin & Dale Watson"

Singles from the EP have been released in Jan and February of 2025. Physical copies are currently available at live shows before the full EP will be out to streaming services mid 2025 and the Semi Tennessee EP is currently available at community and independent radio stations across the US.  

Johanesen’s radio campaign had Semi Tennessee in the top 20 (at 19 in January) on the Americana Charts for APD Radio and the title track, Semi Tennessee, was picked as one of the top 5 best songs on Songwriter Universe in January as well.