We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julia Powell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Julia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I started learning how to write songs when I was a little kid, like 5th grade or so. I wanted to play guitar but I hated the classes, so I taught myself how to play it and soon after I started writing my own songs. Then I started learning how to produce when I was 21. In the same fashion as when I was learning to write, I taught myself through YouTube videos.
To speed up my learning process for production, I think I shouldn’t have been so scared by it. I waited a long time to learn how to produce. I was a good writer but had absolutely no idea how to use recording software, cause I just assumed I wouldn’t be able to figure it out. I was totally wrong. Once I got in it, it was easy.
I think being a self-starter is the most important skill for this stuff. If you can’t motivate yourself to get a project done, then it’s not going to get done. You have to be your own boss.
I think I was my biggest obstacle. I assumed that I wouldn’t be good at it, so I didn’t even try at first.
Julia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a producer, songwriter and singer from Tampa, FL. I have released 3 singles and an EP since I started my solo project in 2021. Growing up I always wanted to be a musician. I was a quiet kid and didn’t have a lot of friends, I would spend a lot of time in my room learning how to play various instruments and writing songs. After being in a bunch of bands that failed for various reasons, when I was 21 I decided I was just going to go solo. I started learning how to produce, and I produced all of my own stuff from there on out.
Im a bit obsessed with doing things myself. I designed my own album covers, I make my own logos/merch, I take my own photos and I program the lights for my live show myself.
I think what sets me apart is my sound. People usually can’t place me in to one genre.
What I’m the most proud of it basic; it’s the music that I make. That’s what really matters with all of this, and i’m proud of what I’ve been able to create.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
My view on NFT’s is total, unadulterated confusion. I have tried so hard to understand what the point of them is. Multiple people have told me to make one. But I just don’t get the point of these things.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I think it’s just the final product. To me nothing is better than seeing this song that you wrote, recorded and then painstakingly tweaked over and over again for months finally go live on streaming services.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/not_julia_powell/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/notjuliapowell
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ACtlsneqKsp8kaINaalrR?si=z0e6s768SjWP1mZt4bQAtw&nd=1 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/julia-powell/1548532359 Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/notjuliapowell?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Image Credits
Images title 2 and 3 were taken by Chandler Culotta All other images I took myself