We were lucky to catch up with Julia Cannon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Julia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
I sometimes wonder what kind of a musician I would be if I had circumstances that allowed me to get lessons at a young age. Would I have still love it as much if I didn’t have to work as hard for it? Would I be the songwriter I am if I had an easier childhood? I try not to think about it because I want to focus on doing the most with what I’ve got right now. I truly love growing as a musician and I’m still finding new things to be excited and challenged by at 30. I’m happy where I’m at.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a Afro Latina and Filipina songwriter and producer from Wasilla, Alaska. I learned how to read on a karaoke machine, as was my right as someone being raised by a Filipina mother. My dad was very musical too, bringing his influences from Panama & Jamaica. And my step dad taught me everything I know about the old country singers, Charlie Pride, Roger Miller, Dolly, and many more. I’m self taught. We couldn’t afford lessons and my mom needed help at her alterations shop. Music became my first form of therapy. It continues to be the way that I process my emotions and thoughts fastest.
My music is deeply personal. I write, produce, and mix it all. It’s my one true love. I graduated from the Berklee College of Music and then worked a year in philly before making Nashville my home.
I’ve found a home among the folk/americana/ country homies at Black Opry, and am pretty Genre fluid, branching out into r&b, soul, jazz, and whatever else feels good at the time.
I’ve been very fortunate to have received some recognition and support for my work as an artist. I can’t wait to keep growing and sharing.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I find my people when I’m consistent and honest. The hard part has been doing that and maintaining balance so that I can prioritize my mental health. Quality over quantity. Does it represent who you are authentically? We live in a time of hopping on trends immediately to try to ride a wave and I think that’s harming our individuality. Do what feels good to YOU. Lord knows I’m trying.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I studied writing and production at Berklee and I really wanted to be an audio engineer at a studio when I moved down to Nashville but I kept running into the same issue. Men were not taking me seriously and they were the ones in charge. Whether they were flirting with me, ignoring me, or not letting me participate in the studio like the boys. I got tired of it and shifted over to producing my own music. I’d love to get back into engineering some day. Hopefully that happens less in the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juliacmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.juliacmusic.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cooliajannon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cooliajannon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBAo5qlidbug8XS9IIhpQcw