We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julian Weisman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Julian, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Determination, excitement, and mentorship. I am a bassist and luthier, and my experience in both to get where I am today followed a similar pattern: I made a determination to start. Although I didn’t have the resources I needed to succeed, I tried for myself and was so eager and open to learn. Then when someone who had knowledge to share appeared in my environment I was like a sponge. Enthusiasm is a contagious emotion; if you have it you will attract the people you need around you. This is true for mentors and colleagues alike. Eventually, my mentors became my colleagues and vice versa.
At age 13 I loved my guitar lessons with my mentor. We would jam all day only to take breaks to eat pb&j. He taught me about life as an artist. He showed me how to be curious and learn on my own. He was who I needed at that time in my life. So if you have the opportunity to elect a mentor, it’s about finding someone who can share your excitement and show you how to develop yourself.
I was shocked when my mentor of lutherie told me he was moving out of state sooner than I had anticipated. I felt that I had so much left to learn and that I was lacking specific skillsets. But because he showed me through example the mindset I with which to approach a new repair or skill I have the tools I need to succeed. He also trusted me and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone which set the stage for self motivated growth. I have had some really transformative teachers and I hope to be that to the next generation.
I trie to maintain a beginners mentality in all things. When I get arrogant or go into autopilot I usually get into trouble.

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 spend most of my days repairing violins, violas, cellos, and string basses. I spend evenings holding down the low end in bands. I remember seeing a violin for the first time as a boy and being completely enamored by the sound and look. I grew up playing the trumpet, guitar and piano. When I saw someone playing the bass in a jazz setting I felt the same as when I saw the violin. From then on I’ve been in love with the bass. I became serious about practicing and was accepted into to the New England Conservatory in Boston. After a couple of years there I left and worked on sailboats, which renewed my passion for woodworking. As a kid I loved to spend time in the workshop with my dad, he build me a bench when I was only 6 or 7 years old. Becoming a luthier was the logical career move. I undertook an apprenticeship at Hammond Ashley Violins in Issaquah, Washington. I’m still there 5 years later managing the workshop. It’s a great place to grow my craft and serve the music community. We repair the whole spectrum from students’ to professionals’ violin family instruments. We also work a lot with school districts and help them keep their music programs running.
I am very fortunate to be around music and the instruments all day everyday. I see playing music and repairing instruments as two sides of the same coin: discipline, dedication and attention to detail, and the effect is more music in the world!

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

Yes, a vision that inspires my music is that of a cohesive, peaceful and vibrant collaboration of the Americas. My friend and collaborator, Walfred Espitia, awakened me to the identity of what it means to be American, or from the Americas as opposed to being from the United States. We had some eye opening dialogues. When I decided to record an album, Walfred was the first to come to mind. He’s a really great singer, guitarist, songwriter, and cuatro Venezolano player. “Hemispheres” is a meditative musical collage of music by Walfred, me and traditional Venezuelan songs imbued with a Pan-American dream. I work with many of the Salsa legends who come through the region with Orquesta Cambalache, which is a tapestry of nationalities in its own right. I also perform with Seattle-based Son Cubano legend Kiki Valera. I am fortunate to be a guest in the music of different cultures. It is hard work, but it is so worth it to be part of a cross cultural musical dialogue. As a nation we are in danger of alienating ourselves politically, culturally, and economically from our neighbors. I’m pretty bummed about that trajectory but am determined to deepen my bonds of friendship. All of the musicians I work with across genres share serious compassion for one another.
I’m also planning to collaborate with luthiers in South America. In the next 5 years I’m hoping to teach courses on basic violin repairs and bow rehairs in isolated communities.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In November of last year there was a big wind storm in the Seattle area that blew down a large cottonwood tree onto the violin shop where I work, Hammond Ashley Violins in Issaquah, Washington. The tree burst the pipes and we had 14 inches of water before we knew anything was wrong. Lots of instruments were damaged and the building was severely damaged. The store front/ show rooms to the brunt of it but the workshop that I manage was flooded. Mold grows quick in the Pacific Northwest. The situation was unpredictable, daunting and grueling, but since I started this work in the beginning of the pandemic, I was equipped to deal with those feeling. The pandemic and “bomb cyclone” have taught me not to take the stable times for granted. They are like the mountains between valleys: the time to climb. The valleys are indeed tumultuous with raging rivers. But they give form to the next peak and wash away complacency. So as our shop is recovering and starting to offer our services to the community I’m feeling very grateful that we are getting through it stronger.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.julianweisman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianhsw?igsh=M2puYnEwdG85ZGd2&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@julianweisman?si=9A4BUKZ-MAHhgi-7
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/79stfMDG7Pu2zkZ0EWmWgr?si=lXm5Vx9gQW2u4ik78IGhEg

Image Credits
Walfred Espitia Photography