Hey, Julia. How did you get into music?
Hi!!! I come from a very musical family. I learned how to read on the karaoke machine. There was always music in the house. And then when I was about 15 I picked up the guitar and I got to feel what it’s like to make the music happen on your own. That was life changing. I started writing songs and I never stopped.
Who are some of your musical influences?
I grew up listening to a lot of Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Charlie Pride, Toni Braxton, Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Mccartney, Paul Simon, Marc Anthony, Selena, and other incredible songwriters. My first concert was when the Avett Brothers came to Alaska for the state fair. I’m all over the place influence wise, but I’m grateful for it. My mom is fililpina and my dad is afro latino and my step dad is native alaskan, so my influences reflect all of that beautiful diversity.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
To go where the joy is. Whenever I lose sight of what I’m doing, that really reins me in.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I just have a lot of feelings. And they have to go somewhere. They come out in song at an alarming rate. I have a million voice memos in my phone with song seeds.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry?
It’s…interesting. Lol. I mean, we’re living in a time where things have to change because people have more tools to fight for what’s fair and call out predatory behavior. So I’m enjoying watching that happen, but it’s definitely an uphill battle. I’m grateful for the opportunity to benefit from the positive change.
What’s the story behind your latest album, ”How Many”?
I started putting this album together because I was excited to show how I’ve grown as a songwriter and a producer. I wanted to make these songs come to life in a way that would reflect the best of my abilities right now and help me to discover where I want to go next. These are songs that I love and that reflect some of the deepest corners of who I am and who I was when I wrote them. I’m really really proud of it. And I’m really really excited to grow more with more releases. It kind of feels like a checkpoint when I release a song. Like, this is who I was and this was what I could do with that. It’s nice to look back at my work and see how far I’ve come and where I’ve been.
Can you shortly describe each of the tracks that are on the album?
OKAY.
1. How Many. This song is silly but I wrote it back in college for fun when I was procrastinating some homework. I think it’s a good window into my brain and would be a good title track for that reason.
2. Day 2 Day. This is just a lil bossa love song about the beginning of something.
3. These Dreams. Finally a song about anxiety dreams that make you mad at your significant other!
4. Just Let It. A playful what if song about being a terrible person. My fav on the album. I love the guitar parts that we came up with.
5. Yellow Lines. An American break up song about having a hard time letting go.
6. Still 17. I was scrolling instagram and saw an ex I don’t like as a person and grabbed my guitar lol.
7. Panic Attack Song. I was trying to describe what my panic attacks feel like to someone I love.
8. Break. I was trying to describe what my depression feels like to someone I love.
9. Unglued. A song about the kind of love that makes you want to be a better version of yourself.
10. Glow. My introverted anthem.
11. August 27th. An acapella song I started writing on summer break senior year of college. I wrote it quickly in the middle of the night and really wanted to re record it and put it out. I almost cut this one from the album. I’m glad that I didn’t.
12. Someday. This is how I feel about the uphill battle to break the poverty cycle and get to a place where I’m stable emotionally and financially and so that I can find balance and make music.
Why should people listen to it?
Because it is good and they will like it. Amen.
How do you know when a work is finished?
When my friends tell me it’s good and I don’t want to fight them about it. I always send my mixes to my intimate focus group aka my best friends and people I trust. Otherwise, I’d go crazy.
What are your favorite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?
I struggle with math rock and bro country. But I can appreciate a lot of different kinds of music. Oh, I also struggle with screamy rock. If it’s just screaming, I can’t. But I can still appreciate the hard work that goes into it.
Would you like to say anything to emerging artists?
YES! Hi!!! Find your support groups! Find community! Ditch the ego. You are a spec on a floating rock in space. Be kind and go where the joy is!
Check it out and follow Julia Cannon on social media to be updated with the new releases. Facebook – Instagram.
