About This Project

Heavy-hitter guitar extraordinaire Michael Castleberry joined Jesse Johnston for a session at Johnston Entertainment, initially to track some demo cuts. But what started as a standard day in the studio quickly turned into something special.

While scrolling through session files, Michael stumbled upon a rough idea labeled It Ain’t the Whiskey, It’s You. The title immediately caught his attention. “That’s just a throwaway song,” Jesse said with a shrug—but Michael wasn’t having it.

“Turn that recorder on,” Michael replied, picking up his guitar. In a single take, he delivered a raw, emotional performance that brought the track to life. Right there in the middle of the demo session, Jesse finished writing the lyrics and recorded what would become a standout moment—proof that sometimes the best songs come out of nowhere.

This session is a perfect example of what Johnston Entertainment is all about: staying open to the moment, letting the music lead, and capturing lightning when it strikes.