Following on from the success of his breakthrough self-titled debut EP last year, French/Canadian artist Julyan is returning in style as he shares his sweeping new single 'Do Anything'.
Channelling a rich and soulful aesthetic throughout, 'Do Anything' makes for an incredibly warm and embracing listen. With his honey-soaked voice layered over a mix of funk-filled groove and breezy production, it gives this new delight a bold and captivating sound from start to finish.
So with the new single doing the rounds, we sat down with him to find out more about his background and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Electric guitar in a cranked up amp with way too much distortion.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I started listening to rock and metal, like almost all the kids did where I’m from.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water, from Limp Bizkit. Best album ever, still listen to it every now and then!!!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Hot Dog from Limp Bizkit… Nah I’m joking! I guess that would be Still Crazy After All These Years by Paul Simon, or almost any song on Billy Joel’s album “The Stranger''.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I tend to delay the moment when I start to think as much as possible. All my songs start with an idea that just pops in my head. Then I will just record everything that I’m thinking of as quickly as possible without thinking if it’s good or not. When I feel like I’ve extracted all the juice, I will go back through all that and sort out what’s good and start to make decisions, keep some stuff, throw out some other, add some more, etc. Then a song starts to take shape.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
My listening habits are kinda weird. I listen to a lot of ambient music because I suffer from anxiety and it helps me focus, sleep and meditate. But I also like old Jazz a lot, as well as power-pop like Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, and pretty much everything Max Martin produces. I know, I’m a weird creature.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
If I could go for ANYONE? I would definitely go for the big names, just for the heck of playing in front of as many people as possible!! I would pick something like Dua Lipa or The Weeknd or Billie Eilish. Yes, I got a greedy side, mwahaha!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Being able to show the world your views, your feelings, you inner self. It’s a truly beautiful thing to have that connection with people. Because I believe music is a relationship between creator and recipient. It’s what I write songs for.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Not always being able to show the world your views, your feelings, you inner self. Sometimes it’s hard to find an audience for some reason, and that’s always a challenge to go though.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Quit your day job. I used this both literally by making music my full time career, but also metaphorically to give me the courage to overcome the fears I had. When I started, I was terrified to even book a show in my hometown. Having faith and going all in gave me the blind strength to just dive in and do it. I consider that moment a turning point in my life. The perfect opportunity will never show up. Trials will uncover opportunities, errors will turn into knowledge, and once in a while you’ll strike gold.
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Julyan's new single 'Do Anything' is available to stream and download now. Check out the new video for it in the player below.