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

Julian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I feel as if I have started at the exact right time! I have had the opportunity to wear many hats, witness many industries and professionals, and make many mistakes along the way. All these experiences and wrong turns have given me a more realistic and palpable vision for my craft.

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.

It’s always been there. My mother and father were both creatives and huge supporters of the arts for their children. My father was a professional guitarist and guitar technician which exposed me to my musical drive and inevitably my career as a master luthier in repair and restoration. My mother is the inspirational type, and I dare to say her artistic medium is people. You can read about her on Canvas Rebel as well! Her name is Christy Young.

I have restored many different items like vintage catalog guitars (old Silvertone and Harmony) as well as items as nice as ’57-58 Gibson Gold Top Les Paul. I adore the bond with the owners of these relics and the trust they grant me in bringing life back to their instruments. Repairs and restorations kept me fed and sheltered, but the true drive is for performance and collaboration with other musicians.

I was brought up in various church choir experiences while also learning electric guitar and cello. Shortly, music production and recording came into play and has now allowed me an excellent medium for communicating musical ideas and establishing myself as an artist. In October of 2022 I released my first EP entitled “Rotten Apples” which is a mash of rock, jazz, and alternative influences. The record has harmonious and dynamic vocal content, powerful lyrics that come from a deep and personal place, and epic gritty screams! I write songs about growth, illness, and change.

As a performer, modest improvisation and uniqueness is the most important aspect of any of my musical choices. I take solos with my voice sometimes! I like to chew on songs and make them feel different, scream a little louder, and kick a little harder! My major influences would have to be Stevie Wonder, Chris Cornell, Jerry Garcia, Stephen Wilson, and Maynard James Keenan. I have an immense love for many different genres which find their way into my craft; my playlists are eclectic to say the least!

A few years back I fell obsessively in love with the Hammond Organ, the Leslie Speaker and all that they can do together. It has permanently changed my view of musical arrangement and harmony. When I play out, I kick the bass pedals, drive the speakers, and spin the air all while singing. It’s a busy task, but the challenge is invigorating! The hardest part is remembering to breathe.

Watching a true organist was like watching a ballerina, and I couldn’t step away from it. My last daring attempt at permanent change is my Organ Trio. We debut at So Many Roads Brewery in Denver, CO on May 5th. It’s just a “betweener” show, but it’s the start of something I need.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I have tried everything. I mean it. I served honorably for 6 years in the Vermont Army National Guard as a Health Care Specialist. I have driven forklifts and trucks, manned cash registers, sold musical equipment, wrapped cables, patrolled for a security company, recorded as a session musician, produced EPs for others, cut down trees, and patched drywall. I’ve even lived in a van down by the… lake, but you get the point.

Nothing has stuck quite like performing for friends and passersby. It’s the cure to my illness. It’s the only thing I can truly give all of myself to, and the only reason I stay in motion. All of the ripples I create in this journey feel like magic, no matter how small. The stage is where I feel most comfortable and uncomfortable at the exact same time. If you can find the thing that makes you feel all of what I previously described, don’t let go of it. Surround yourself with people who love what you do.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Primarily, to survive on performance alone. To climb the ladder however high I may, while being mindful and kind no matter the rise or fall I may encounter. I often say that my musical journey is a selfish one – it is. I do it for me so that I can do it for others.

I didn’t have to heal alone. Good persons and honest music helped me do that – I just wanted to join the endeavor, so I can return the favor.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.julianyoungsings.com
• Instagram: julianyoungsings
• Facebook: julianyoungsings
• Youtube: julianyoungsings
• Other: https://allmylinks.com/julianyoungsings