We recently connected with Julian Michael and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Julian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
June 23, 2008, in a little cafe on 103rd and Amsterdam in New York City, I got my first taste of stand-up comedy. It was…not great. I told a couple of corny jokes about Jesus’s ethnicity and my imaginary cousin in front of a roomful of mostly empty chairs and a janitor that was ready for the mop the floor of the back room where the open mic was dragging on into the night. A star was not born that night (it took me several more years to realize how dumb my Jesus joke was). But a seed was planted that I have been cultivating ever since.
In the days of my conservative, closeted youth, I thought I was called to be a minister. But once I left the church (and my self-loathing delusions of straightness), I was able to discover my voice and a new pulpit.
Finding confidence and acceptance in stand up comedy has empowered me to pursue my other passions, namely music. And embracing the fullness of who I am has given me a new purpose: to channel my humor and creativity to help others live happier lives.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m a multi-hyphenated, highly melanated, queer ass storyteller. I was on my way to being a Baptist minister until I “gayed the pray away.” Uproar Records, the same record label that produced Richard Pryor’s first albums, produced my debut comedy special, “Insert Token” (Prime Video, Sirius XM, and several free platforms you can find yourself). I’m currently working on my debut music EP (a buttery R&B project spread thick with daddy energy for people of all genders who are into it) under the alias Jules the Lion. I’ve been privileged to travel across the country and beyond to tell really silly, really naughty, really thought-provoking jokes.
As many entertainers do (at least the ones who enjoy being able to pay their bills relatively on time), I’ve held many other jobs throughout my career — among them: high school guidance counselor, blog writer, internet game show host, and maybe a couple others that are best left off the record. All the stops on my winding path, on and off stage, have afforded me the chance to engage with thousands of people with vastly different life experiences than mine.
I am compelled to use the skills I’ve built from my unique journey (mostly being hilarious, knowing how to connect with people, and surviving in America as a double minority with my mental health in tact) to help others learn to talk to, for, and about themselves better. That’s a fancy way of saying I’m also a life coach. The training cost me more than I paid for college.
For folks who are discovering me for the first time, hello! Maybe you, like me, have felt like you don’t fit neatly into the boxes that people try to put you in. I’m your guy when you need to have a good laugh about why fitting into other people’s boxes is dumb or, even better, when you need someone to help you break down those metaphorical cardboard walls altogether.
(Oh, and I’m also your guy if you need a wedding officiant! I ended up getting ordained after all — but from the Internet, not the Baptist church).
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I love the process of self-discovery. I get to be someone else when I’m on stage, someone not introverted or socially awkward. I get instant feedback that people really care about what I have to say which I use as fuel to keep pushing myself to dig deeper. The most rewarding part of being a creative for me is realizing — and internalizing — that that “someone else” is actually the best version of myself. Not only is it fun to make my jokes or songs better but, in doing so, I make myself better as a person. I gain confidence and perspective that translates off stage. I learn how to read people better and I practice embracing haters and hecklers.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
What the hell even is “society”? That’s a philosophical rabbit hole in itself. But I digress… We all have a role to play in cultivating a thriving creative ecosystem.
Content decision makers: Take more chances. Embrace more diverse voices and stories. Seriously, how many Spiderman reboots do we need? Trying to sell a pilot in the current climate when seemingly no one wants to buy anything original is disheartening. But I believe in the power of my art (and that of many other unique creators) to persist through the cow poop and reach and move its audience.
Content consumers: First and foremost, pay for our work! You can watch my comedy special, Insert Token, for free on Tubi and I’m very grateful. But if you’ve got the $2.99 for the Prime Video version, it means a lot! But also, share with your friends and family. Don’t wait until the artists you like are famous before you support them openly. We need the hype now! And, for the love of Dog, put your phone down and be in the moment when you’re at a live performance. We’v gotten so addicted to capturing moments that we miss them. Be present and add your full positive energy to the room. Everyone will have a better experience.
Content creators: Continue to challenge yourselves to speak your truth even when it feels like compromising it might be more popular. Don’t be discouraged when it seems like having followers is a more important metric than having talent. We are an irreplaceable part of what makes our society worth being a part of! And, maybe most important, if you get the chance to air your dirty laundry or trash your colleagues on Club Shay Shay, skip it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.doubleminorityreport.com
- Instagram: @unpolishedjules