Hiya Julia, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
I still remember how music made me feel as a kid. Growing up, we’d often take long car journeys, and I’d spend most of the time imagining I was the singer on stage. I got SO engrossed in it… I was always gutted when we arrived at our destination and reality hit! As for actual singing, I kept that to my bedroom—classic hairbrush-in-the-mirror style.
Introduce us to you all and your musical history.
I had a bit of a slow start with singing, mainly because I was terrified to tell anyone I loved it, let alone sing in front of them. Eventually, I started taking singing lessons about 15 years ago, and from there, I built up the confidence to step into a recording studio and record some covers. That led me to a producer who gave me the confidence to write my own music. I started writing before ever setting foot on a stage, and while lockdown had its downsides, it meant I could record and sing in my own private space.
When venues re-opened, I ran out of excuses for not performing (and with some gentle nudging from my vocal coach) and signed up for my first open mic. I have no idea how I got on that stage with my ridiculously sweaty palms and jelly legs, but somehow, I did! Over the next year, I built up the confidence to audition for a covers band. Fast forward five years, and I’m now in two bands, regularly gigging, and there’s no stage fright anymore (just the usual nerves during the more exposed acoustic moments, but I know that’s normal and healthy).
I’ve continued to write original music and collaborated various other artists/bands on songs that have been released. In 2022 I released my first EP ‘Sweet Harmonies’ with producer and musician George McFarlane. This was an amazing experience, and even though the challenge for me is that aside from reaching Grade 4 on the violin, my piano and guitar playing are pretty basic, I make it work by recording melodies to click tracks and working with great musicians who help turn my ideas into reality. I’ve also been trying to improve my music theory knowledge!
I’ve seen a lot of people struggling for support recently online. What’s your view on the industry?
It’s tough when you don’t have a big following—especially if you struggle with ‘putting yourself out there’. Being a bit older than most artists who are starting out in the industry, it’s hard not to feel self-conscious about talking to a camera or jumping on all the ‘cool’ social media trends. I think I’ve found a balance that works for me. If people engage, that’s great, and I always try to return the support.
I recently ran an ad campaign on a post and the difference in the engagement was really obvious, so it just shows it is also about reaching the right people (and unsurprisingly investing some money into things). You have to put in some effort to be seen, as much as independent artists just want our music to be discovered, this is so hard without some self-promotion. I wish it could all happen organically, but for most of us with day-to-day jobs, this is not easy!
There’s also a lot of noise in the inbox—PR/marketing services being pushed that many independent artists simply can’t afford. It’s a minefield, and you have to be selective and not get swayed by every offer that comes through.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
I’d say I’m a little tadpole in a vast ocean, just trying to be authentically me. If people resonate or enjoy my music, that makes me happy. My main ambition is to get my music into TV and film. I’m signed to a music publishing and sync label, so fingers crossed that one day a pitch pays off. The first song I wrote and released was played on BBC Surrey and Sussex (BBC Introducing), and I’ve had several since that have been played, so that has also given me some confidence to keep going.
Tell us two truths and a lie about you.
1. I was once a figure skating body double for a Channel 4 TV presenter.
2. I was once mistaken for a famous musician and got VIP treatment at an event.
3. I have an unusual party trick which involves my eyeballs.
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
It’s hard not to worry about it—I’m definitely an overthinker. But at the same time, if I spent too much time thinking about every possible way someone could take something the wrong way, I’d never get anything done! I just try to be genuine, have fun and be a nice person. Hopefully, that’s enough.
Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories? If not, why not?
Not really! But I do love hearing other people’s conspiracy theories—literally this morning at work we got into the whole ‘Did someone actually land on the moon?’ conversation! There’s an argument for most things, and if I thought about them too much, my brain would probably explode. I tend to go with my gut on things (which is ironic, considering how much I overthink—but I guess it depends on the context). I am also extremely gullible, and it sometimes takes me a while to work out if people are joking or not!
What was your best experience on stage?
This was probably the first time I realised I was able to engage with the crowd and was just singing and enjoying myself and trusting what would come out of my mouth. Also, the time a dog stormed the stage was funny… though I did get the giggles and barely made it through the song!
What was your worst experience on stage?
My second open mic. I didn’t know much about sound—things like having a good monitor or even the existence of in-ear monitors—so I could barely hear myself. I was so nervous, my voice cracked multiple times. After the first crack, I just wanted to run off stage in tears.
I had a few people there to watch me, and I was absolutely gutted that it didn’t go how I wanted it to. I nearly didn’t perform again after that—it took a long time before I did. I also really hate it when people try and grab the mic. Recently I had one woman come up to the stage in between the sets and she started literally spitting and coughing on the mic in between sets just to make a point when I stopped her from using it – people are generally drinking at gigs, so some forget about social boundaries.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I’m allergic/sensitive to a ridiculous number of things. The latest random one? Plug-in air fresheners. Full-on asthma attack, ambulance was needed after waking up at midnight unable to breathe properly, all while I was in the middle of nowhere in a cottage in Devon. Random. Also, I can’t dye my hair—so those silver sparkles? I’m learning to ‘own’ and embrace them!
What are the next steps you plan to take as a singer to reach the next level?
I am working on building up a band to perform my originals and write together as a band, so that’s an exciting venture for me.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
After taking some time off to focus on performing, I caught the writing bug again last summer but was a bit unsure with what direction to take. I asked a friend—who’s both a producer and a fellow music lover—to set up a shared playlist with me and introduce me to some new music and styles.
I was on my summer holiday in 2024 when I started writing and recording some rough voice demos. I always find that being away—especially by the coast—gets my creative juices flowing.
I’d say my new music is inspired by the likes of Lawrence, Couch, Melt and Lake Street Dive, with their soul/pop/jazz feel. But I’m also influenced by artists whose writing and overall vibe I love, like Olivia Dean, Gloria Tells, JP Cooper and Tori Kelly—as well as all the old-school legends I cover with my bands.
What was the recording process like?
Surprisingly quick! I work with a great producer (Tom Hughes from Dragonfly Studios), and we usually get the bones of the song down in the first session with some demo vocals. I then use the time between sessions to refine the lyrics and work on melodies or counter melodies for the chorus or middle eight.
Some song ideas are more developed from the start, while others take a bit of trial and error to find their flow—but once we get going, it usually comes together faster than I expect. Some days, I come into the studio with a set idea of the chords I want to use; other days, I’ll hum a melody I like, and we jam it out on guitar before building from there.
By the second session, we usually have the final vocals down, and depending on how long that takes, we might need extra time for backing vocals. One track was nearly done, but I felt it needed more BVs, so I went back in and added them. In between sessions, my producer sends me different mixes so we can fine-tune the sound before reaching the final master.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
I try to look at the overall picture in terms of the narrative of a song and how it tells a story. Saying that, I am also learning that there isn’t one rule for writing a good song. I often look at lyrics of famous songs and how they are written and it’s the repetition that always surprises me – but these are often the catchiest songs!
In terms of the final production, I’m getting better at giving feedback and learning not to get too attached to early mixes—it helps to step away for a few days to reset your ears.
I’ve also learned that if I’m not happy with a line that I am singing, I need to fix it early on. The longer you leave it, the harder it is to change, so I make sure I’m happy before we get into final polishing. Once you hear something you don’t like, it’s impossible to unhear it!
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
For ‘Dig Deep’ – I would say no there’s nothing I would change on it (my producer will breathe a sigh of relief reading this!). He did invest in a new bass after we completed the first master, so we agreed that he would go back in and re-record the bass line. That made a huge difference as it’s so much richer in sound.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I’m super excited to release the full EP (hopefully by this summer). It’s called Colours because a theme of colours naturally emerged in some of the tracks. For example, one song, Red, explores how to navigate a relationship with someone who is struggling with anger.
I was also inspired by a book about a person who could ‘see’ people’s colours and auras, and that concept stuck with me. The title also felt like the perfect match for the overall vibe and artwork of the EP. I’ve always been drawn to music that feels both timeless and infused with a retro/vintage soul—so that’s something I’ve kept at the heart of all my writing.
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