“We’ve practically played music our whole lives, but we only started being a band three years ago,” said Nasheena Johnson.

“We always knew we were going to do it,” added Echo Johnson.

The Johnsons come from a family of musicians, so it only seemed natural that they would make music together. The band is a true family effort, as the Black Ice Diamonds are managed by their father Daniel Johnson, who came up with the band’s name.

“We wanted something that was about the U.P.,” said Remi Johnson. The name comes from black ice on the road; a fitting moniker for a rock band.

Black Ice Diamonds during a 2025 performance. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Johnson)

The Johnson sisters take a lot of inspiration from the band The Warning, a Mexican rock band made up of sisters Daniela, Paulina and Alejandra Villarreal Vélez. Like the Black Ice Diamonds, The Warning began performing together as pre-teens and teenagers. Now, The Warning is hugely successful around the world.

“It wasn’t always just rock,” said Nasheena. “We just love music, but that was more of a genre we listened to as we got older.”

While the Black Ice Diamonds do play a variety of genres, most of their live performances are made up of rock tracks like Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” and Shinedown’s “Three Six Five.” Their favorite tracks to play are “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi and “God’s Country” by Blake Shelton. They also play original music.

“We all had written originals separately, but the first time that we sat down and put music to it was really interesting and fun,” said Nasheena Johnson. “It was different for sure. Coming up with it yourself, instead of playing someone else’s song.”

“Remi usually writes the songs for the most part, but we all do it,” said Winter Johnson.

“[Remi] writes the lyrics, and then we add our own parts with our instruments,” added Nasheena.

One of the Black Ice Diamond’s original songs is called “Insane,” which they have performed at several events and concerts in the Upper Peninsula.

“I write about whatever’s on my mind the most in the moment,” said Remi Johnson. “Sometimes it’s just coming up with some random lyrics, or I’ll know the melody. And then sometimes I just want to write; it just feels like I’ve got to write something down … [Insane] is about the bad thoughts that are influencing you in your head. I was writing from that perspective.”

With help from their dad and manager Daniel Johnson, Black Ice Diamonds have booked a variety of gigs, including the Alger County Fair, the Fourth of July in Munising, and various Concert in the Park events.

“I like everyone showing up to watch us, and everyone supporting local bands,” said Nasheena Johnson.

This upcoming summer will be their biggest event season yet.

“YooperFest is going to be really fun,” said Echo Johnson. “It’s a festival, and we’ve never played anything like it before.”

Black Ice Diamonds will also be playing Escanaba’s LogJam Festival this June, as well as Munising’s Concert in the Park series.

The sisters also play solo shows; they’ve all competed in various singing competitions, and Remi Johnson recently opened for country artist Charly Reynolds in L’Anse in March.

“I paid more to see my daughter than I did to watch Daughtry,” said Daniel Johnson.

That success is sure to only continue.

Playing music is a creative outlet for the Johnson sisters, but it’s also a way for them to spend time together.

“It’s just fun feeling like we’re good at something together, and realizing that you’re actually good at something,” said Nasheena. “Experiencing all of our gigs and how everyone’s supporting us actually doing something together. We’re siblings. We don’t always spend time together, and we fight a lot, but this is something that we do together. It’s actually fun.”

YooperFest will be held July 17-18 in Escanaba; more information can be found on the YooperFest Facebook page.. Black Ice Diamonds can be found on Youtube at @BlackIceDiamonds25 and Facebook at Black Ice Diamonds.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.