Julian Velard Interview               Coffee East December 5th, 2007

MM: Where are you from? It looks like Brooklyn on your website....if so are you a Yankees or Mets fan? Any favorite sports moments growing up?

JV: I am NYC through and through, grew up in Manhattan, live in Brooklyn now, though a move to London in the cards. Dunno how I'm gonna make it without Baseball and Basketball. I bleed (literally) orange and blue – Mets and Knicks. My favorite sports moment is the '86 Mets winning the World Series. I was at that age when things were still magical, the connections were clear. Wish I could have that feeling about the Knicks. Maybe in twenty years. I'm still young so you never know.

MM: Lots of Michael Jackson references in your press kit and on your website...how long have you been a fan of the King of Pop, and how would you describe your affinity with his music?

JV: MJ definitely comes from that same magic. When I was 3, my favorite, and only record was Thriller. I would stare at the cover for hours on end. I had this theory that the hand he holds the baby tiger with was fake. Thinking back, I might have been blurring Empire Strikes Back. Michael Jackson was Luke Skywalker. Now unfortunately, he's a curiosity, an example of what this culture can do to someone supremely talented. We devour them like vultures.

MM: No guitars on your last album....why the hostility with guitars?

JV: Guitars suck! No not really, I've just had bad luck. Plus I think the modern soundscape is so full with bland, boring guitars. It's like listening to plastic scraping, or walls being whitewashed. There is something so funky about those early Stevie Wonder records, like Talking Book and Fulfullingness First Finale, where he's playing everything, and there's barely any guitar, or even bass. I was definitely going for that vibe. Though I don't even register as a drummer. Stevie is a BADDASS!

MM: Describe working with Roger Greenawalt. (producer for Rhett Miller, Martin Sexton, Rufus Wainwright, etc.)

JV: He's beautifully insane, the best (and worst) of all worlds. But what can I say? The product speaks for itself. Who cares how crazy it was making it? I'm really happy with it. Roger definitely taught me a lot. He's running a hospital for wounded, baby rock stars. Thank you Doctor Roger. Well well well you're feeling fine!

MM: Studio recording vs. Playing Live....which do you prefer?

JV: Live 100%. Working in the studio is not pleasurable for me. It can be sometimes gratifying, but mostly frustrating. I find I'm on an emotional tightrope while recording, everything is so crucial, I don't wanna get it wrong, soil the song. It's like a prayer, a hymn. You gotta do it right or you can wind up in hell. Wow Did I say that? Playing live is a celebration, a sermon. You get to be the master of ceremonies. I think of myself as a ringmaster of sorts.

MM: Did you play music in high school? What kind of bands were you in...

JV: I went to a performing arts high school, so I was playing and singing. You've seen the movie Fame? I went to that school, really I did. I did mostly choral singing, a little Piano, but not much band work. Was more into movies at the time, thought I wanted to be a filmmaker, I still might do it you know. Music was always there for me, but it really sunk in in college. Songs were an emotional release, a way to deal with being away from home, girls, sadness, heartbreak, girls. Oh girls they hurt me so.

MM: The music industry seems to be in such a state of flux and change right now. Is it better or worse for you? What is exciting for you being a musician right now? What is frustrating?

JV: I was fortunate to get snatched up by a major label earlier this year (EMI UK), or unfortunate depending on who you're talking to. For me it was a saving grace. Being an independent artist for 7 years was no joke and while I loved it, it's nice to have help. It was really good for me to be on my own for so long, really honed my work ethic. I was nowhere near this focused and motivated at 22. I'm glad to have the support cause I dunno how much longer I coulda kept going on my own. After a while you start to feel like you're treading water. It is so hard to make even a modest living as a musician. A lot of super talented people fall by the wayside. They give up and I don't blame them. The music industry is true Darwinism. Ambition and business acumen are rewarded, while inspiration and passion comes a distant second. There is a Hunter S. Thompson quote that about sums it up: "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." I hate to sound negative, but there's a lot of truth in it. I've found the best way is to keep your art and the business separate. Developing split personalities is necessary.

Fill in the Blank:

On the road, I hate.....

Subway. Just the smell of Subway makes me sick

Sometimes around the holidays I like to......

sleep and watch movies. I go into hibernation around December 20 and come out on New Year's Eve.

If I was an actor I would never....

portray a President, unless it was Bill Clinton. He's a pimp.

When I am compared to Daniel Powter I say....

who is that? Do you mean Elton John? Why thank you so much! (;

Julian Velard Interview

Not to be outdone by his co-bill partner Garrison Starr, Julian Velard was nice enough to sit down at his computer for the e-interview. Results follow:

MM: Where are you from? It looks like Brooklyn on your website....if so are you a Yankees or Mets fan? Any favorite sports moments growing up?

JV: I am NYC through and through, grew up in Manhattan, live in Brooklyn now, though a move to London in the cards. Dunno how I'm gonna make it without Baseball and Basketball. I bleed (literally) orange and blue – Mets and Knicks. My favorite sports moment is the '86 Mets winning the World Series. I was at that age when things were still magical, the connections were clear. Wish I could have that feeling about the Knicks. Maybe in twenty years. I'm still young so you never know.

MM: Lots of Michael Jackson references in your press kit and on your website...how long have you been a fan of the King of Pop, and how would you describe your affinity with his music?

JV: MJ definitely comes from that same magic. When I was 3, my favorite, and only record was Thriller. I would stare at the cover for hours on end. I had this theory that the hand he holds the baby tiger with was fake. Thinking back, I might have been blurring Empire Strikes Back. Michael Jackson was Luke Skywalker. Now unfortunately, he's a curiosity, an example of what this culture can do to someone supremely talented. We devour them like vultures.

MM: No guitars on your last album....why the hostility with guitars?

JV: Guitars suck! No not really, I've just had bad luck. Plus I think the modern soundscape is so full with bland, boring guitars. It's like listening to plastic scraping, or walls being whitewashed. There is something so funky about those early Stevie Wonder records, like Talking Book and Fulfullingness First Finale, where he's playing everything, and there's barely any guitar, or even bass. I was definitely going for that vibe. Though I don't even register as a drummer. Stevie is a BADDASS!

MM: Describe working with Roger Greenawalt. (producer for Rhett Miller, Martin Sexton, Rufus Wainwright, etc.)

JV: He's beautifully insane, the best (and worst) of all worlds. But what can I say? The product speaks for itself. Who cares how crazy it was making it? I'm really happy with it. Roger definitely taught me a lot. He's running a hospital for wounded, baby rock stars. Thank you Doctor Roger. Well well well you're feeling fine!

MM: Studio recording vs. Playing Live....which do you prefer?

JV: Live 100%. Working in the studio is not pleasurable for me. It can be sometimes gratifying, but mostly frustrating. I find I'm on an emotional tightrope while recording, everything is so crucial, I don't wanna get it wrong, soil the song. It's like a prayer, a hymn. You gotta do it right or you can wind up in hell. Wow Did I say that? Playing live is a celebration, a sermon. You get to be the master of ceremonies. I think of myself as a ringmaster of sorts.

MM: Did you play music in high school? What kind of bands were you in...

JV: I went to a performing arts high school, so I was playing and singing. You've seen the movie Fame? I went to that school, really I did. I did mostly choral singing, a little Piano, but not much band work. Was more into movies at the time, thought I wanted to be a filmmaker, I still might do it you know. Music was always there for me, but it really sunk in in college. Songs were an emotional release, a way to deal with being away from home, girls, sadness, heartbreak, girls. Oh girls they hurt me so.

MM: The music industry seems to be in such a state of flux and change right now. Is it better or worse for you? What is exciting for you being a musician right now? What is frustrating?

JV: I was fortunate to get snatched up by a major label earlier this year (EMI UK), or unfortunate depending on who you're talking to. For me it was a saving grace. Being an independent artist for 7 years was no joke and while I loved it, it's nice to have help. It was really good for me to be on my own for so long, really honed my work ethic. I was nowhere near this focused and motivated at 22. I'm glad to have the support cause I dunno how much longer I coulda kept going on my own. After a while you start to feel like you're treading water. It is so hard to make even a modest living as a musician. A lot of super talented people fall by the wayside. They give up and I don't blame them. The music industry is true Darwinism. Ambition and business acumen are rewarded, while inspiration and passion comes a distant second. There is a Hunter S. Thompson quote that about sums it up: "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." I hate to sound negative, but there's a lot of truth in it. I've found the best way is to keep your art and the business separate. Developing split personalities is necessary.

Fill in the Blank:

On the road, I hate..... Subway. Just the smell of Subway makes me sick

Sometimes around the holidays I like to...... sleep and watch movies. I go into hibernation around December 20 and come out on New Year's Eve.

If I was an actor I would never.... portray a President, unless it was Bill Clinton. He's a pimp.

When I am compared to Daniel Powter I say.... who is that? Do you mean Elton John? Why thank you so much! ;)