With his signature blend of cinematic texture and emotional depth, Boston-bred/LA-based composer, percussionist, and producer Julian Loida unveils “December Dreams (Radio Edit)” – a lush, genre-defying winter ballad merging folk, neoclassical, and ambient elements into something wholly unique. Featuring Don Mitchell of Darlingside, the song captures the liminal beauty of longing, reflection, and the hazy calm of winter nights.

“For me, composing comes from improvising and improvising comes from something larger than me moving through me,” Loida shares. “This piece found its way to me when I was living in a cold, damp basement apartment in Boston. Songs tend to find me when I’m feeling fairly hopeless and stuck spiritually.”

• 
  What can you share with readers about your new project?

As we enter the holiday season, I’d love to share that this is a track for the season that is different from most holiday music.  There’s so much recurring holiday music which we all love and enjoy through the season, but this track offers an indie-alternative to add to the mix which I hope you’ll do.  This track offers a more introspective approach to the holidays, a time to reflect and the space to observe.

• How does this release compare with your other projects you had in the past?

This song is different mostly because it has lyrics by Don Mitchell.  I haven’t released any pieces of mine with lyrics even though I have jammed with songwriters where they would sing over my pieces and it’s an incredible sound I’d love to do a lot more of.  This track used brass in as well which blended with the vibraphone, guitars, synths and vocals makes for a wide landscape of sound that I love.  This piece is similar to my other work in that it’s music that I want to listen to and that I don’t know if I’ve heard much elsewhere.  I try to make music I love for myself and hope others will as well.

• What about this single makes you most proud?

I’m proud of making a track that feels like the music I hear in my head, but I don’t know how to get out.  I’ve spent so much time with song-writers and around that community of artists, to have a song with vibraphone and lyrics is special to me and I hope to do more and collaborate more with songwriters.

• Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?

I’ve recently come to a realization that doing anything in these times is an incredible act.  It’s supposedly easier than ever to put out music, but in a weird way that can make it harder than ever to see the point in releasing music…because you have to ask yourself who will even listen to it?  What’s the point of releasing something that will just get lost in the void forever?  So, to simply release and put out the work is an accomplishment.  It’s very hard to understand if you haven’t done it, but releasing your work with your name on it takes a great act of self-worth.  To believe in yourself enough to put out work and keep putting out work, for some people, is a great act of faith and self-worth.  Years ago when I was just starting there you might still face some actual rejection from the world.  But now, you don’t face rejection, you face silence, anonymity, worse than rejection is just emptiness, no answer, no acknowledgement of you or your work existing which for me is worse than rejection.  I think most artists would love rejection over putting out work that is completely lost in the void.  So, long answer short, my goal was to simply release my work and my goal will continue to be that until it’s not anymore.

• What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

For me, there’s something inside of me that feels the need to speak through me and it simply has to come out.  I do feel like a vessel of some kind for something deeper within myself or outside of myself.  I’m motivated by hearing everything from everyday people who hear my music and are moved telling me of their experience listening to the music to teachers and music people I respect greatly giving me very positive feedback.  When I hear people say back to me feelings and experiences that I have with my music, it feels very rewarding and synergetic.  It’s very fulfilling and I feel some kind of responsibility to keep going, creating and putting out my work.

• If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.

I would love to collaborate with Hildur Gudnadóttir, the Icelandic composer.  Her concept of sound, drama, film music, space and creativity would be beautiful to work and create alongside.

• What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?

I last listened to “Triste” by Antonio Carlos Jobim in preparation for a bossa nova percussion gig I was playing.  I honestly can’t answer who my favorite artists and bands are…I truly love all kinds of music from all around the world.  In any given week I’ll listen to an Icelandic neo-classical composer to folkloric Cuban ensembles.  I’m all over the map and love almost all music…except bad music, I can’t stand bad music.

• Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

The best place is my email list which you can sign up for here (julianloida.com/contact). For social media, I’m most active on Instagram, particularly on my stories (instagram.com/julianloida).  I have a lot of work on my YouTube channel which you should subscribe to (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYJmBCf7bhX1CSYTzO7Z2Wg).  Another great way to be connected is to check out

 my website (julianloida.com).

• I really appreciate your time. Is there anything you’d like to share before we sign off?

I hope you listen, send to a music loving friend, please connect with my work and if you play music check out my scores available on my website.  Feel free to reach out and thanks again for sharing my work, it means a lot.