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

June, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Before being a Full TIme Musician, I worked behind a desk in the Aerospace Industry. As much as I Loved the challenge the job gave me both mentally and physically- including the pay-I always caught myself looking outside that big window thinking “I just dont belong behind 4 closed doors.” Music is all I thought about day and night.
The job took lots of my time. Between the horrible LA traffic to get to and from work, 10-12 hr shifts and 6 days a week found me pulling further and further away from spending more time on what really made me happy.
Creating music.
I knew there would have to be a risk involved. All my friends thought I was crazy to give up that office life and security to throw myself to the unknown and “seeing what happens”.
So far I have no regrets, I do however find myself working harder though. Looking for venues to play with the band/solo, or new promoters, phone calls, meetings, emails, etc that I spend making sure the music is moving foreward and paying the bills lol. mind you, I do also bartend or get hired for small jobs to help pay my bills. Hows it going so far you ask? Well, my brain is constantly thinking of the next move, but at least I am not stuck behind a desk miserable. Oh, did I mention the traveling part of it has been pretty amazing so far? I get to write music, release it, and play it in front of music loving people and get paid to do that.
Sure, I am not where I want to be just yet, I am not looking to be the next Beyonce or anything. I just want to live off of what I GENUINELY love doing.

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 was born and raised in LA. I am not sure How I caught the music bug that got planted into my veins, but it sure did. Growing up I listened to it all. Oldies, Rock, Soul, chicano music, R&B, whatever it was, if it sounded good, I listened to it (however, country was NOT part of any of this )
I grew up learning to play various instruments, they all caught my attention, but the guitar was much easier to write music with. As a teen and in my 20s I played in various Rock bands. At the time I was listening to a whole lot of Lida Ford, Joan Jett and Pat Benatar to give you and idea, so the music I wrote then was pretty close to that.
Fast foreward to a love and a break up that had me listening to country music. REALLY LISTENING. Wow, those lyrics really said all the things I was feeling but didnt know how to describe. Those guitar licks really tugged on those heart strings at the right time on the right note. Thats when I really started exploring “country”.
listening to songs and teaching myself how to play these style of songs on the guitar sure was different than what I was already used to, but I liked the challenge.
Fast foreward a couple years, and I start a new project. June Clivas is the name I gave this project. It would be a style of music I really enjoyed and was fresh to me. Americana.
Banjo, Upright bass, drums, Fiddle, oh boy, the excitement. I then thought, well, it aint just June, and came out with the group name- June Clivas and the DItty Boys. I must also mention the outfits are much more coordinated than they were back in the “rock” days haha.
I guess I was always destined for this. Ive always loved the outfits and everything about knotts berry farm, and for about 5 years straight I would dress up as an old miner or country gal. Guess I was prepping myself for it without knowing it haha.
Anyway, 2.5 albums later, (Third on its way) Many Venues,festivals and tours later, here I am telling you all about it.

How did you build your audience on social media?

This one is simple but many people go right past it.

Be yourself. Show yourself. Take the time to engage with poeple who are interested in what you are doing.

Put yourself in the situation. Lets say you have someone you look up to. Lets say an artist. You take the time out of your day to scroll what they create and you are FASCINATED. You take time of your day to let them know you LOVE what they created. You take time and sometimes even money to purchase something They created. You reach out to them and say Thank you, for this creation that makes me feel like **fill in the blank**
then they respond and you get so excited to just read a simple “Thanks”
Talk to your audience, let them know you are real, you also have feelings, and you CARE that they want to know more about you.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

If you love the artist- Share them with your friends. They just might like them as much as you, and that sounds like one fun night out watching the artist LIVE!

Buy CDS, Merch, Itunes etc
remember Spotify doesnt help pay the artists bills (unless they are Beyonce etc)

SHOW UP- GO TO SHOWS!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://juneclivasandthedittyboys.com/&ved=2ahUKEwjc_O_82ZeLAxUPL0QIHTG8EJkQFnoECB4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2avhofxLMt6ATVxLZB1xG5
• Instagram: Instagram · juneclivasandthedittyboys 3.2K+ followers June Clivas & The Ditty Boys (@juneclivasandthedittyboys)
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@JuneClivasandTheDittyBoys