Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie Lyon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Julie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I am the middle of 5 children. When I was growing up, my parents were always willing to support us in our various artistic endeavors. Between the five of us there were dance, drum, guitar, voice, clarinet, trumpet and art lessons. They were the type of parents who encouraged us in all the ways that they could without ever being stage parents or becoming too personally invested in our progress or success in those endeavors. They made room in the budget for private lessons and supported whatever interested us by doing all the things that parents have to do for their young children; countless trips to lessons and rehearsals, numerous recitals, they never missed those things and they always let us know how proud they were of whatever we were doing. We were a middle class family and 5 kids all engaged in some kind of private lessons or classes must have been expensive but they always found a way. They also didn’t balk when we changed our minds about something. For example, I took dance lessons from age 7 to age 12 then switched gears and started taking piano and voice lessons. They were encouraging and never too strict.

They were also music lovers and there was always music in the house. They indulged our musical tastes even when they didn’t jibe with their own and went out of their way to introduce us to things. I went to my first rock concert with my mom. Later, when I was in college, she took me to see Buddy Rich when he was playing in nearby. I wasn’t a jazz musician then but she knew I would appreciate it (and I did). They loved the arts and they instilled that love in us in many ways.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am, first and foremost, a musician. I have a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Central Florida. I am also a partner in an independent record label Unseen Rain Records and the president of the Board of Directors of Westbury Arts, a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts council. In addition to those things I also have a “day job” as the HR/Payroll manager at a private country club.

My musical career has taken many directions over the years. In college I studied classical voice and opera while at the same time performing in a rock band. I actually took a year off of college when the band went on the road. After college, I spent time in many different bands mostly rock and blues. When I met my friend, band mate and musical partner Betsy Serafin, I got into song writing. The recording we did together “The Power of Blue” is still one that I’m very proud of even though that was a long time ago. Betsy is the person who introduced me to my husband, Tom Cabrera and it was with his help that I starting singing jazz.

When Tom and I moved to NY we were reunited with Tom’s longtime friend Jack DeSalvo and it was that relationship that opened up so many musical possibilities. During my time in New York I have had the opportunity to record and perform with many brilliant musicians and have produced what I consider to be my best work. It was at the suggestion of Jack DeSalvo that I began writing lyrics. The first song that Jack sent me was “Having Found”. It took me more than a year to write lyrics to that one but once I finished it lead to more and I have since written lyrics to many of Jack’s compositions and also the compositions of other musicians like Chris Forbes and Matt LaVelle. My next recording which is still a work in progress will feature the compositions of Jack and Chris with my lyrics. I believe that this recording is going to be my best work to date and I am very much looking forward.

With respect to lyric writing, it is interesting that sometimes certain music actually puts words in my head. Sometimes informed by the composer’s title of the work and sometimes not but always melodically and rhythmically driven.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

It is the act of creation that I find rewarding. When I write lyrics or compose music it is the act of creation that is most rewarding. The satisfaction of having worked hard and done my best on a project that I deeply care about.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is not really goal or mission driven. It is simple to make music that I enjoy and that I hope others will enjoy as well. Maybe then the mission is to make beautiful music.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.julielyonmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julzology/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.lyon.583/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lyon-b9bb4417/
• Other: https://julielyon.bandcamp.com/album/new-view

Image Credits

Suzie Alvey
Qua’s Eye Graphix