INTERVIEW WITH… POP SINGER & SONGWRITER JULIANA

L.A. Pop Singer-Songwriter Juliana is truly making the most out of this time in quarantine. As the artist has been releasing a new single each month. The latest being ‘Mixed Signals’. My initial chat with Juliana was on a Zoom call. The bright cheery colors that permeate her branding, and pop in and out her newest video, also mirror her demeanor. It was also on that same Zoom call where I had a minor technical glitch. We ended up having to redo the interview by email. I chatted with Juliana about her creative process, dream music collaboration, and so much more. Check it out below.


THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Hey, Juliana, Starting off... How are you? How have you been doing particularly in quarantine?

JULIANA: Hey, I’m really excited to be here! Thanks for having me on The Reclusive Blogger! Quarantine has been pretty tough. I definitely have some difficult moments, but for the most part, I’m overall blessed and grateful for my health and my family and friends’ health.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How have you had to adjust creatively?

JULIANA: Honestly, quarantine has actually helped my creativity immensely. I’ve found that being stuck alone with my thoughts actually frees my mind from outside factors and allows me to tap into the creative side of my brain more fluidly. I also have less life distractions in quarantine and that has truly benefited my songwriting skills because I have more time to focus on my mental health, which directly correlates with writing music.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can you talk about your new single ‘Mixed Signals’? And why you decided to release a new single each month?

JULIANA: Mixed Signals” is my newest release that came out on Feb. 17th and it happens to be one of my all-time favorite songs so far. I wrote it about a guy who was clearly giving me mixed signals and it’s meant to be an empowering pump-up song for anyone who’s experiencing something similar. It lives as a reminder that you’re better than someone giving you mixed signals.

(cont.) In regards to releasing a new single every month, I wanted to make sure each individual song was getting their own time in the spotlight! Since I write all my tracks from my heart, based off personal experiences I’ve gone through, I want to make sure anyone listening can appreciate the lyrics behind each song. For that reason, I decided to release singles monthly rather than an album where all the songs come out at once and they might not get the same focus as if they were released separately. Plus, it’s fun and exciting to release something new all the time!

Mixed Signals

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What is a typical creative and writing process like for you?

JULIANA: I typically write my songs in my apartment with my guitar when I’m feeling some type of way about an experience I recently went through, which happens quite a lot… I seem to write my best tracks when I’m dealing with a heavy emotion, whether that’s sadness, excitement, infatuation, anger, or really any intense feeling. After that’s written, I connect with one of my producers, depending on who I think will make the individual track sound the best, and then we all collaborate on production ideas to build out the track together.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: I read that you went through an extremely tough period in life where you couldn't sing. How were you able to get through it? What advice would you give to others particularly artists to get through obstacles?

JULIANA: Yes, in college I had some physical health issues going on that prevented me from singing and it was brutal to say the least. It definitely took a massive toll on my mental health and put me in a downward spiral for the time being. Writing music and singing is therapeutic for me, so when I don’t have those outlets to express myself, life becomes heavy. Thankfully, I was able to come out of it even stronger than before and once my physical health healed, so did my mental health. I made sure that during that depression, I surrounded myself with other positive outlets that would put a smile on my face. I cooked more, I went to museums, I wrote poetry, I hung out with my friends, and I called my family daily. It was also in that moment where I realized music is a necessity for me and if I don’t have it, I feel like a piece of me is missing.

(cont.) For anyone going through something similar, my biggest piece of advice is to take care of yourself. Always make sure you’re putting your mental health first because if you don’t have your health, you don’t have much. Try and find things that make you happy and excite you and just know, it’s only temporary. You will get out of this and you will become even stronger than you ever thought you could be. I also want to send my love to anyone going through this. If you are reading this, please know, I am here with you and you are loved.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: You just did an online live stream performance for Bandsintown. How was the experience?

JULIANA: It was amazing!! I absolutely love singing and performing so I was grateful that Bandsintown gave me that platform to showcase my singles. I’m hoping one day soon I get to perform in person, but for now, I’m loving being able to sing for people virtually!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Speaking of performances... What do you miss most about live music and performing?

JULIANA: I miss the energy of the crowd. There’s no greater feeling than going on stage and hearing and feeling the energy the crowd brings. It’s something I can’t describe. It’s a massive adrenaline rush that you don’t want to end. I can’t wait to get back on stage and start singing for people in person!

https://youtu.be/-36I0zysCto

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Who is your dream musical collab?

JULIANA: I would absolutely love to write a song with Julia Michaels. In my opinion, she’s the most talented songwriter in the industry right now and I would do just about ANYTHING to have the opportunity to write a song with her. I’m getting excited just thinking about it!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What is one album that you can listen to over and over?

JULIANA: Songs About Jane” by Maroon 5. For some reason, that album just always sticks with me. I’ve always been a Maroon 5 fan and no matter how many times I listen to that album, it will never get old.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Recommend a piece of pop culture that has kept you sane during quarantine?

JULIANA: This is the weirdest answer I’ve probably ever given in an interview and if you asked me this 2 months ago, my answer would have been different, but I’ve recently been hooked on “Survivor”… I never imagined I would like the show, but my sister and her girlfriend got me into it and since then I can’t seem to stop. The good thing about the show is that it’s kind of mindless for me and it’s not too heavy, so after a long day of working, it’s a perfect distraction for me and I highly recommend it!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What are your three tour must haves?

JULIANA: Before performing, my necessities are first and foremost, WATER!! I love drinking water, plus it’s extremely important before a performance to hydrate or else my voice won’t be where it needs to be. I also always have tea with me, specifically Throat Coat. I also have these gummies called Grether’s Pastilles, which are great for healing a dry voice before a performance. The most important takeaway here is that AFTER the shows, I have a cocktail, because I’m *celebrating*. That is a must-have.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: And... Last question, what is next for you Juliana?

JULIANA: I will be releasing a new single on March 24th, which I’m excited about and I will have new songs coming out each month after that. I’m not stopping anytime soon, so definitely follow along on my social channels and website to get updates!


Stream Juliana “Mixed Signalshere.

JULIANA // Socials - Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify | Apple Music | Soundcloud | TikTok

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