Juls is a pop singer/songwriter from Connecticut, who is creating a world radiating with starry eyes, ocean blues and true love. Her love for music began at just eight years old when her dad built a stage in the basement for Juls and her sister.
Instantly recognizing that performing and singing was her calling, Juls shares, “My sister Jacqs was my presenter, and I was the star of the show, prancing onto the stage in my sparkly bodysuits and 6-inch heels (Jacqs was my stylist and makeup artist too, of course). Quite a bit has changed since then, but one thing has remained the same: our shared love for music. Well, two things actually…Jacqs still does my performance makeup lol.”
What do you enjoy most about being an artist?
I enjoy knowing that other people out there may be feeling what I’ve felt or finding some solace in the knowledge that they are not alone. I like the idea that my music can help others to feel better and know that they are not alone.
What first got you into music?
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 and humming everywhere I went. 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 my songs? They feel like the truest expression of who I am.
Who inspired you to make music?
LANA BB. The queen of the world and the love of my life haha. I am a bit too obsessed with Lana Del Rey but yea her album Born to Die totally influenced my own desire to create music. Songs like Thinking of You by Katy Perry and Fearless by Taylor Swift also inspired my early desire to begin songwriting.
How would you describe your music?
My music can best be described as a mix between Lana del Rey and Taylor Swift.
I like to think that I’m Lana’s child .. I like approaching the duality of life, exploring darker subjects and life through different lenses in the process. Lana is so unique as a writer because she doesn’t shy away from complexities – she doesn’t simplify her music to make it widely acceptable or radio friendly. Rather, she leans into ambiguity and complexity, and for this reason, I think her work is absolutely timeless; different people may have different interpretations and each listen can reveal a different understanding. I like to think some of my work wears the same veil of ambiguity.
What is your creative process like?
My creative process is very organic; I don’t force myself to write but instead, I wait to feel inspired. When inspiration strikes I usually stop whatever I’m doing and enter what I like to call “flow state” – everyone and everything around me sorta disappears and the only thing looping through my brain are the melody and lyrics that slowly start to fill in word by word. The best songs are typically the easiest ones to write – the ones where it feels like an alien is zapping my forehead and downloading the musical content from above haha. I know that’s sorta strange but sometimes that’s how it feels – divine and ethereal and carefully curated while seemingly effortless. That is songwriting at its best in my opinion.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
LANA DEL REY. Lana del rey. I would cry. And likely never stop.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Lana del Rey lol. But since you already saw that one coming, I am also deeply in love with Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. It’s not a favorite game or anything it’s just that Lana was my first inspiration, you know ?
Are you finding the isolation of the pandemic conducive to your writing or is it hindering the experiences you can write about?
Hmm… that’s a really interesting question. I’ve written in a lot of rooms but I usually run off to the bathroom to focus on my work to be honest because I’ve always preferred to write in isolation – I need space to hear myself think and if I am in a flow state, I prefer to maintain it as long as possible without outside interruptions. Moreover, I often don’t just write about my own experiences; I grew up with pretty strict parents so if I had done that throughout my lifetime, my songs would be rather boring I think haha. Instead, I often draw inspiration from so many different things – books, tv shows, poetry, stories, talks with my uber drivers, etc. Thus, the pandemic did not hinder my writing, but rather offered me a distinct and new perspective to write from; it’s not every other day that you live and go to college during a global pandemic.
With the pandemic, how have you found a way to get your music and your message out there?
Social media is really great and I enjoy using tiktok and Instagram as a form of self-expression, both musically and personally.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Let go and let God ❤️
What would you be doing right now if it weren’t for your music career?
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.
Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
I have a show at Madame Siam in LA on July 26th !! Hope to see you guys there 😀
What is your favourite song to perform?
I love performing a song I wrote called “Britney.”
Have you got a ritual of sorts when writing and thinking about your music?
No, as mentioned above my writing process is very organic.
What lead you to become a music artist and what advice can you give to others aspiring to make a hit?
Songwriting has always felt like an extension of self – like something interwoven into the fibers of my being. And my songs? They feel 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. It wasn’t that I necessarily wanted to be an artist, it’s just that it is who I am – part of my identity somehow.
In your opinion, how do artists in this industry stay on top of the game when faced with so much competition? What’s the secret to making yourself noticed?
I think the secret is not focusing on the competition – focus on you and what your doing. I think it should be that simple and there might be a “secret” but if there is, I’m not in on it. For me, it’s always just been about making the best possible music that I can and creating art that I’m truly proud of.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
Less is always more.
What’s next for you?
My next single “Heartbreaker” is coming out on July 22nd !! I could not be more excited for the world to hear this one.
What about your music is rebellious, unconventional, or unusual?
Everything
What sets your music apart? What is unique, or at least uncommon?
The fact that I write all of my music myself – everything you hears comes from my brain so it’s about as authentic and raw as it gets.
Has your musical journey had a deliberate direction, or did it simply gradually evolve in whatever direction it found?
I definitely have a clear direction and know what I want to create.
What are your musical plans for the next 12 months or so?
Put out my first EP and hopefully begin touring early next year.
If you could be a superhero, what would your superpower be and your superhero name?
I would love the ability to breathe underwater. I’ve always been enamored by the ocean and I wish I could explore it more deeply without worrying about dying haha. Maybe aquagirl?
You are a new addition to a crayon box. What colour would you be and why?
Baby blueee. Blue has always been my favorite.
What was the last TV series you watched on TV?
Well I read that James Lafferty got engaged and I was so obsessed with him in high school .. so naturally I’m rewatching One Tree Hill to finalize this goodbye.
What historical Figure would you love to see in 21st century life?
Albert Einstein. I would absolutely love to talk to Albert Einstein.
What movie ending really frustrated you? And how would you change it?
Titanic – Rose scoot over the piece of wood is big enough for two !!
With a burning desire to pursue her musical career, and with her sister at her side as her manager, best friend and “sisager”, Juls has quickly become a force to be reckoned with. She reveals, “We once believed that the dream worlds we were creating for fun would only ever exist within the confines of our basement. However, we are now turning these dreams into our reality, and we could not be more excited to share them with you all on a bigger platform.”
Her latest single “Summer Thing” touches on themes of young love, summer blues and faded youth, with the songwriter speaking of her own experiences of love and navigating the changes associated with young adulthood.
Taking inspiration from the likes of Taylor Swift and Lana del Rey, “Summer Thing” sparkles with Juls’ soulful, buttery vocals which glide atop warm, shimmering instrumentation. Creating an ethereal and magical soundscape, the music washes your worries away, mirroring the natural ebb and flow of the ocean. The artist explains, “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 at the same time. I often found myself driving to the water in Connecticut 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.”
Delivering your summer anthem for 2022, Juls is rapidly becoming an artist to watch for this year and beyond.
