About
Felt Not Heard is a founder-led audio design studio.
Our work is inspired by founder Joe Johnson’s diverse experience as a bassist and composer; work deeply rooted in philosophy, narrative, and musical tradition.
The name Felt Not Heard originates from the foundational role of bass in music, an element that’s rarely front and center, but essential to the whole. Bass is felt, not always heard; subtle, yet powerful.
Since its founding in 2008, FNH has built a broad portfolio of clients across the film, TV, tech, fashion, and media industries. The studio’s credits include award-winning brands and rebrands, live performances, commercials, and Emmy-nominated compositions.
We don’t chase a signature style. Each partnership begins with listening and creates its own vocabulary of instruments, harmonies, and rhythm.
Our Founder
A native of Kansas City, Joe’s performance career spans jazz, country, and folk, including collaborations with icons such as Herbie Hancock, John Williams, Willie Nelson, and Ray Price. In 2007, he was one of seven musicians accepted into the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance. While there, Joe studied composition and jazz performance for two years with trumpeter and film composer Terence Blanchard.
Since 2008, Joe has been creating music and sound design for media. In 2009 Joe was awarded first prize at the Thelonious Monk International Composer's Competition for his composition Shepherd Song. He sound designed the 2011 Comedy Central rebrand, which won an Art Directors Club Gold Cube and a One Show Silver Pencil. In 2013 Joe became a member of The One Club's Young Guns 11 class and has served as a juror for several Young Guns Awards. Joe scored the first season of the Netflix series Project MC2, which was nominated for an Emmy in 2016. He created the audio branding for truTV with Trollback+Company, as well as the audio brand for Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton’s film company, Dirty Films.
Joe composed and directed a concert for the 2019 European Capital of Culture - Matera, Italy. The music features international trumpeter Paolo Fresu and Italian folk singer/percussionist Rino Locantore. The live record of the concert has been named one of the 100 top jazz records of 2021 by JazzIt Magazine. He has been working on the creative philosophy and application of audio in conversational AI.
