Talking creativity + travel with dreamy pop princess, Julietta
interview by coco lashar
New York City's resident It Girl Julietta keeps the summer spirit alive year round with her sophisti-pop attitude and penchant for sweltering tropical-tinted bops. The Italian-American singer/songwriter sailed in full mast in 2017 with her song of the summer contender "Beach Break," which earned north of a million Spotify streams and a placement in Rudsak's Spring Campaign. The glistening "Runaway" followed, earning co-signs from Yeasayer and Sofi Tukker with expert re-works at the tail end of last year.
The single precedes her forthcoming Smooth Sailing EP (out July 25), both a musical embodiment of Julietta's hardships growing up in New York.
A downward spiral during her teenage years brought alcohol, drugs and inner demons that led her into rehab at age 14. That is where Julietta truly found her voice, after singing at a memorial for a friend who struggled with the same addiction. The "Smooth Sailing" EP is Julietta coming to peace with her past and finding balance in a turbulent world.
"Transports us to a summer day." - Interview Magazine
"Julietta is more than just your average rising indie-pop act—she’s a professional escape artist." - NYLON
"Getting this track stuck in your head is the first step to a hot, stoned, lovesick summer." - Hunger
"Psychedelic substance and dreamy textures." - Milk
"So contagious." - Baeble
"Breakout New Yorker Julietta seems to have the golden touch." - Clash
coco chatted with Julietta recently about her creative process and influences. we love her and we know you're about to swoon with us, too!
we love hearing about journeys - the getting there, the process of becoming the artist you are now. a lot of our readers and community members are young girls who are beginning to create and share their art - how did you begin? what prompted you to create?
I have always turned to creating music when it came to expressing myself in times of darkness or the light. It always felt so liberating to sing a melody with words that formulated my current state. It was a part of me and a part of my healing process. I never thought it was something I was going to do as a career, it was always just the way I lived my life. I studied marketing and communications at school and tried to go into that world, but the closer I got to that industry the harder music kept pulling me into the other direction. I realized that all that matters is my happiness, everything else will follow. So I took the chance to dive into the music business and I haven’t looked back since.
what roles do creating and performing play in your life? rather, how have they shaped who you are today?
Since I was a little girl I always put on shows in my home for family and friends. I would dress up my cousins and throw on a pair of sunglasses at night to entertain. Its what makes me happy. Goof around, laugh and sing. Its made me very good with people, I can approach anyone at this point in my life and sing them a song or say some weird shit. I’m not shy thats for sure. I say it as I think it, which sometimes gets me in a pickle because its also good to think before I speak haha. I got a big mouth :)
what are your biggest challenges when creating, and how do you combat them?
When all is good its hard to find that deep space of creativity. I create best when there is sadness or darkness around me. The challenge I have is to create when all is going really well in my life and I’m not super emo. Breakups are the best bullets for writing.
what female artists have inspired you and impacted your work the most? musicians, visual artists, actresses, etc..
So many talented artists out there, I have a bunch of favorites off the top of my head… When it comes to music i immediately think of Amy Winehouse, Gwen Stefani, Stevie Nicks, Cher, Lana Del Rey, Banks, Aretha Franklin, Adele, and so many more… Visuals I’m currently super into Petra Collins, Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, and Annie Leibovitz. Badass actresses in my eyes are Jennifer Lawrence, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Gardner, Scarlett Johansson, and Audrey Hepburn.
I know travel is something that has heavily inspired your work, how do you hope to see this grow even more as you continue making work and as you travel more?
Traveling inspires me. The different sounds, languages, weather, people, nature, food, energy. I feel so alive when I am out of my element. I think I will definitely find a way to travel and create music. Stay tuned ;)
what is your advice to young creatives who are working towards making great art (like yours)?
If it makes you happy, make it feed your every inch of self. Don’t ever give up and settle because it’s what you are “supposed to do”. Break boundaries and try new things, if it doesn’t work out then it will lead you to something else that will.
