(Photo by Becca Wilbee)
What is your name?
Julie Elody
What is your genre of music?
Electro-pop
Give us a little bio about you.
I’m a 25 year old New Orleans native who switched genres from funk-rock to pop and I’m loving every second of it. My main purpose is to write lyrics that will make the world think more about pop music having meaning.
What made you go into music?
Ive been a lyricist since I was 4 years old and I wrote my first song about two best friends going to the zoo. I knew back then I wanted to be a story-teller, it just changed mediums as I grew up. I went from wanting to be a novelist in elementary school, to a film-maker in middle school, to finally realizing music was my calling; specifically songwriting.
You have a brand new single coming out soon ‘The Lighthouse’, what can we expect from it?
The Lighthouse is about struggling with mental illness- a lot of my songs are. It’s something I wake up with everyday and its bound to take over most of my thoughts and therefore my songwriting. If you’ve ever dealt with mental illness, as so many of us have, you can expect to be along that ride with me when you listen to the song. The daily routine of pretending you’re fine, burying your problems until one day the radio breaks and you’re left alone with your thoughts. And you have to ask yourself “Am I okay?”
What was the writing and recording process like?
I had my good friend Lena from Tuff Ghost staying at my place on her way to Nashville from LA to play a show. All I had for this song was the vocal melody, the words, and some piano chords. When I played them for her I saw her light up, like she had ideas right then. We recorded some vocals and played around with some things and one day she sent me something and I said, “this is it.” It was kind of like I was listening to someone else tell my story for me, but in a good way if that makes sense.
Who did you show first?
I always show my mom my songs first. I have a few people who are my go-to critiques. My mom would never critique the song and it’s nice to have someone to share the excitement with. Her and my dad have always been really supportive of my dream of being a musician and I like showing them what I’ve accomplished.
We will also be seeing a music video coming soon, how was that to film?
It was amazing. Ive been having second thoughts about pursuing a music career lately. It takes so much of my time and energy and like half my paycheck to pay for recording, PR, the music video, copyrights, etc. It’s not easy to throw money and sleepless nights at something for years and wondering “will this every pay off?” It’d be like having major F.O.M.O. about, like, six years of your life. But filming this music video was such a breath of fresh air. Lonely Eskimo Productions was awesome from the conception of the idea down to the filming process. Being apart of that and making something I know I’ll be proud of is such an accomplishment for me, it really reminded me why I do this in the first place. Maybe I’ll never be able to quit my “day-job” and actually make a living doing this but, at the end of the day, I’m really proud of the stuff I’m making and if 30 years from now I look back and music was just one very expensive hobby, I know I’ll feel fulfilled just the same. Filming this video was a big part in accepting that.
Do you have a favourite memory from the shoot?
We had this scene where I was supposed to break a bunch of TVs with a baseball bat and something none of us knew was how freakin’ well made old TVs are. After three or four tries of trying, I had barely made a scratch and my hands were red and raw. And they said, why dont you kick them over? And I did. And it was really fun. My hands may have hurt, I may have had ink drop into my nose (another long story) but that whole weekend was the most fun I’d had in years.
Describe the video two words: Creepy,
Thought-provoking
Do you have any gigs or tours coming up?
I wish! Ive been doing this solo thing for a year now and I still cant figure out how to perform this music without it looking like karaoke. When I switched genres I had no idea this would be such a hurdle. If you have any tips, let me know!!
Who are your influences?
Lana Del Ray is a big one. I feel as if she really embraces the idea that a pop song doesnt have to be frivolous, her music has substance. The singer-songwriter in me would have to say Fleetwood Mac. Id be lying if I said I didnt listen to Dreams on repeat while dancing in my living room holding a glass of wine.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
If Im alive Ill be grateful, this disease makes me believe I dont deserve to be quite often. I’d be ecstatic to say I could support myself from my music career. I’d like to travel and be on tour. Im doing everything I can to get there, but to be honest if Im making music I love and still have the support of my amazing friends and family I’ll be very very lucky regardless of what pays the bills.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Well I work at a daycare so 90% of the time I have either boogers or poop on me. I also work a second job doing some accounting on nights and weekends- thats how I afford to do projects with my music. I run an Air Bnb out of my house. As aforementioned, I drink wine and dance to Fleetwood Mac. I have a couple of solid friends who I spend as much time with as possible and to me, those relationships are the most important thing. I like drinking gin & tonics and having good, meaningful conversation or a decent skee ball game.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
A friend showed me “Gasoline” by Halsey right after my band broke up. I wasnt sure if I would continue with music; I was very discouraged. I swear, no exaggeration, I listened to that song 70 times in two days. I thought to myself, “this is the kind of music I want to make,” and I stayed in the game.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Not so long ago I was really discouraged. I had just turned 25 and I was thinking “whats the point.” Ive been in this industry forever and I feel like Ive gotten nowhere and it’s embarrassing and Im ashamed. But my mom said to me “Music is what you do, it’s not who you are.” She seems to think Im a good person for some reason (biased?) but she told me to focus on that. People’s dream careers don’t always come true but that’s not the end of everything. If you focus on your strengths and try to be a person of good character it doesn’t matter what you do. What matters is who you are.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
I think at the end of the day you have to ask yourself, do you actually enjoy this? So little of us make it to where this can be our only job and even less of us make it big. If you’re doing it for that you’re going to end up where I was at the beginning of this summer: discouraged, jaded and hopeless. Focus on the art, do it for that. Make shit you’re proud of so and do the best you can so you can say you did best; that will always be enough if you let it be enough.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Diane Nyguen from BoJack Horseman: “In life you either dont get what you want, or you do get what you want and then you dont know what you want.” I think it’s a reminder that we make our own happiness. If you’re waiting on getting what you want to be happy then you’ll have nothing to work towards and that lack of purpose can be just as bad. So you might as well just choose to be happy now.
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
Snake N Jakes Christmas Club Lounge but not before 2AM- trust me.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
