New Jersey based singer/songwriter Julez has released her latest album, Back To First Street, featuring a collection of honest, organic and jammin’ songs that blend elements from blues, psychedelic and alternative rock for a stimulating and refreshingly classic listening experience.

Julez sound balances classic rock nostalgia with refreshingly modern aesthetics for a sound that is familiar yet still brand new.

In this interview spotlight, I speak with Julez about her influences, challenges, the new record and more.

Full Q&A along with links streams below.

Where​ ​are​ ​you​ ​from​ ​and​ ​what​ ​style​ ​of​ ​music​ ​do​ ​you​ ​create?​ ​(In​ ​your​ ​own​ ​words,​ ​not​ ​necessarily in​ ​marketing​ ​terms​ ​or​ ​by​ ​popular​ ​genre​ ​classifications.)

I’m​ ​from​ ​Bergen​ ​County​ ​New​ ​Jersey….not​ ​much​ ​of​ ​a​ ​music​ ​scene​ ​happening​ ​there​ ​to​ ​be​ ​quite honest,​ ​and​ ​my​ ​music​ ​style​ ​is​ ​probably​ ​Rock​ ​and​ ​Blues,​ ​with​ ​some​ ​aspects​ ​of​ ​Alternative/indie rock​ ​thrown​ ​in​ ​there…

What​ ​led​ ​you​ ​down​ ​this​ ​path​ ​of​ ​music​ ​and​ ​what​ ​motivates​ ​you​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​going?

I’ve​ ​been​ ​passionate​ ​about​ ​music​ ​ever​ ​since​ ​I​ ​was​ ​a​ ​toddler.​ ​My​ ​mother​ ​is​ ​a​ ​singer,​ ​and​ ​was​ ​in a​ ​band​ ​when​ ​she​ ​was​ ​in​ ​high​ ​school​ ​and​ ​she​ ​has​ ​always​ ​been​ ​my​ ​inspiration.​ ​I​ ​happen​ ​to​ ​come from​ ​a​ ​very​ ​musically​ ​driven​ ​family​ ​(on​ ​both​ ​sides!).​ ​I​ ​was​ ​pushed​ ​into​ ​piano​ ​lessons​ ​when​ ​I​ ​was really​ ​young​ ​because​ ​my​ ​mom​ ​played​ ​the​ ​piano,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​ended​ ​up​ ​losing​ ​interest​ ​and​ ​took​ ​up guitar​ ​instead.​ ​I’ve​ ​really​ ​always​ ​been​ ​a​ ​singer​ ​though,​ ​and​ ​started​ ​out​ ​my​ ​life​ ​with​ ​a​ ​large interest​ ​in​ ​musical​ ​theater​ ​which​ ​eventually​ ​just​ ​turned​ ​into​ ​a​ ​love​ ​for​ ​songwriting.​ ​If​ ​anything​ ​it’s the​ ​love​ ​and​ ​support​ ​of​ ​those​ ​around​ ​me​ ​that​ ​keeps​ ​me​ ​motivated.​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​take​ ​harsh​ ​criticism well​ ​usually,​ ​but​ ​being​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​musician​ ​is​ ​something​ ​I’ve​ ​wanted​ ​all​ ​of​ ​my​ ​life,​ ​so​ ​at​ ​this point​ ​I’m​ ​just​ ​going​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​putting​ ​myself​ ​out​ ​there​ ​no​ ​matter​ ​how​ ​discouraging​ ​it​ ​can​ ​get sometimes.

How​ ​is​ ​this​ ​new​ ​release​ ​different​ ​than​ ​previous​ ​ones?​ ​Were​ ​you​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​accomplish​ ​anything specific?

I​ ​wasn’t​ ​necessarily​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​accomplish​ ​anything​ ​specific​ ​for​ ​this​ ​release,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​will​ ​say​ ​if anything,​ ​the​ ​songs​ ​on​ ​this​ ​EP​ ​definitely​ ​demonstrate​ ​my​ ​high​ ​degree​ ​of​ ​anxiety.​ ​I​ ​try​ ​to​ ​make light​ ​of​ ​this​ ​though​ ​within​ ​the​ ​lyrics​ ​of​ ​the​ ​songs.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​actually​ ​my​ ​first​ ​real​ ​release!

Name​ ​one​ ​or​ ​two​ ​challenges​ ​you​ ​face​ ​as​ ​an​ ​indie​ ​musician​ ​in​ ​this​ ​oversaturated,​ ​digital​ ​music age?​ ​How​ ​has​ ​technology​ ​helped​ ​you​ ​(since​ ​we​ ​know​ ​it​ ​does​ ​help)?

Well​ ​technology​ ​has​ ​DEFINITELY​ ​helped​ ​me​ ​quite​ ​a​ ​large​ ​amount,​ ​although​ ​there​ ​are​ ​definitely some​ ​real​ ​challenges​ ​I’ve​ ​faced​ ​with​ ​it​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​First​ ​and​ ​foremost​ ​is​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​you​ ​can basically​ ​stream​ ​everything​ ​for​ ​free​ ​now​ ​without​ ​really​ ​having​ ​to​ ​pay.​ ​I’ve​ ​been​ ​getting​ ​all​ ​of​ ​this feedback​ ​from​ ​my​ ​family​ ​telling​ ​me​ ​how​ ​much​ ​they​ ​love​ ​the​ ​EP,​ ​but​ ​I’m​ ​like,​ ​“Are​ ​you​ ​going​ ​to buy​ ​it​ ​though?!”.​ ​The​ ​second​ ​thing​ ​is​ ​more​ ​of​ ​a​ ​complication​ ​I’ve​ ​had​ ​with​ ​distributing​ ​and​ ​I guess​ ​my​ ​name.​ ​I​ ​always​ ​find​ ​my​ ​music​ ​being​ ​placed​ ​under​ ​the​ ​wrong​ ​“Julez”​ ​so​ ​I​ ​have​ ​to annoy​ ​apple​ ​music​ ​and​ ​spotify​ ​for​ ​a​ ​few​ ​days​ ​to​ ​get​ ​it​ ​right!​ ​Is​ ​this​ ​really​ ​a​ ​challenge?​ ​I’m​ ​not sure.

Where​ ​is​ ​the​ ​best​ ​place​ ​to​ ​connect​ ​with​ ​you​ ​online​ ​and​ ​discover​ ​more​ ​music?

Probably​ ​my​ ​Facebook​ ​page​ ​and​ ​my​ ​bandcamp!​ ​(links​ ​below)

• Facebook:​ ​​https://www.facebook.com/Jul3zofficial/
• Bandcamp:​ ​​https://julezz.bandcamp.com/

Anything​ ​else​ ​before​ ​we​ ​sign​ ​off?

To​ ​my​ ​family,​ ​friends,​ ​and​ ​boyfriend….I​ ​love​ ​you​ ​all​ ​and​ ​thank​ ​you​ ​for​ ​always​ ​being​ ​so supportive​ ​of​ ​me.​ ​I​ ​wouldn’t​ ​be​ ​doing​ ​what​ ​I​ ​love​ ​right​ ​now​ ​if​ ​it​ ​wasn’t​ ​for​ ​all​ ​of​ ​you.