Interview: Juls
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
I don’t think one thing specifically “got me into music”; it was always just a part of me. From as early as I can remember, I was singing everywhere I went and humming something incomprehensible. My sister said she always thought I was simply singing something from the radio, but I remember hearing melodies in my head and believe that to be my earliest expression of songwriting. Songwriting has always felt like an extension of self – like something interwoven into the fibers of my being. And music? It feels like the truest expression of who I am. I have given it much thought and there is nothing I would rather being doing than exactly what I do; in fact, I couldn’t really stop if I tried.. melody or lyric ideas are constantly running through my mind, and the weirdest things inspire me. Sometimes, I even wake up in the middle of a slumber just because I dreamt something beautiful and must record it before it is forgotten and disappears into the ethers haha.
I am currently studying business with a focus in entrepreneurship at USC’s Marshall School of Business, and thus, if I had not gotten into music, I feel fairly certain I would be on a similar trajectory of creation and entrepreneurship. I have always been most excited by the idea of bringing something to life that has not yet been done – of pushing the boundaries of what is. Artistry and entrepreneurship seem to go hand-in-hand, and I am excited to see how my interest in both plays out over the next few years.
How long has your band been around?
So far my band just consists of me (I play acoustic guitar). However, sometimes my producer Alex and his talented friend Sean accompany me on electric and drums.
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
I am currently based in Los Angeles. My sister and I live in West Hollywood together.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
Juls is a shortened version of my full name, Julia. Juls was just a nickname it seemed to better suit my music personality and it sounded great with Jacqs, my sister and manager’s nickname.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
I’m hoping that my most memorable show will be my upcoming performance at Madame Siam on July 26th !! You can purchase tix online and I would really love to see some of y’all there <3
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
I have always dreamed of playing at The Fonda, so the opportunity to do that one day would be a true honor for me.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
If I could play any show with any lineup, Taylor, Ed Sheeran, and LANA DEL REY (love of my life, fire of my loins) would be on the ticket. Gosh I don’t know if I could play after Lana though because I would most likely be a soppy mess.
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
Advice I would give to my younger self: let go and let God. Trust the process and know everything will work itself out. Enjoy the journey because the memories you make along the way are truly what matters the most. Most of all, I would just hug my younger self and tell her to be easy and kind to herself – music is beautiful & it’s okay to want to share your work with the world but don’t get so caught up in the future that you forget to enjoy the beauty of the moments you are currently living.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Let life happen. I said it before, but I’ll say it again because I think it’s one of my favorite mantras: let go and let God. Life is meant to be lived, not controlled. And sometimes that can be incredibly scary and uncomfortable, but really, we only grow when we are pushed outside of our comfort zone. So don’t try to avoid the failures and the pains – just realize that the lows will ultimately heighten the highs. There cannot be pain without pleasure, darkness without light darling.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
I could tell ya but then I’d have to kill ya. Kidding.. well sorta. I have written too many for there to be one favorite but some of them are certaintly more significant than others. One of my favorites off of my first EP is a song called Britney.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
I love playing a song called Britney live !!
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
I think that my music is most inspired by the ocean. I feel like life is a lot like swimming in the ocean: scary, exhilarating, dangerous, beautiful, and breathtaking. I often found myself driving to the water in high school and writing for hours in front of the ocean; the highs and lows of the ocean reflect the highs and lows of young adulthood, and nothing inspires me more creatively. For this reason, I do believe that my sound reflects the feeling of the ocean, and a shared thread of ambiguity and ethereality runs through both.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
I have been incredibly lucky to work with Alex Fumo; he is the musical yin to my yang and he pushes me to become better in a positive and uplifting way. Alex and I get along exceptionally well and if we do disagree on something, we simply discuss it and come to an agreement.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
I have a show at Madame Siam in LA on July 26th .. I can’t freakyn wait and hope to see some friendly faces in the crowd !
https://www.instagram.com/julsspo/