Today we’d like to introduce you to David Julia.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
My story/ life journey is one fueled by music and gratitude. I started playing drums at the age of five in a family band. My dad and sister were both multi-instrumentalists and being surrounded by them made learning instruments easy/ accessible. By age seven, I had picked up the guitar and was good enough to play with my dad and sister. Around the age of ten, I got my first gig! It was at a local Italian restaurant, where I would play and sing every Friday from 7 pm-9 pm. This allowed me the opportunity to develop my singing/ playing ability. Around the age of thirteen, I started playing the jams/ open mics around the greater Orlando area; this led to meeting other musicians and eventually forming my first band. Recognizing the need for me to be surrounded by more seasoned musicians, my parents took me to the top pro jams all over Florida. Jacksonville, Boca Raton, Tampa, Tallahassee, everywhere! They would drive six hours so I could play two songs with the best musicians around! Things took off from there; I met the Telesca (Mark and Karen) at the Funky Biscuit a month before my fourteenth birthday. Mark ran the pro jam at the Biscuit; we had an instant bond! He produced and played bass on my EP “Simple Things.” Simple Things was released when I was fifteen; it had four original songs and one cover. That EP helped launch my journey into performing all over Florida and occasionally touring out of state. I released my first full album entitled “Inspired,” which was produced by Mike Zito and released on the Blues record label Vizztone. About the time Inspired was released, COVID hit, and everything I had been working for over three to four years came to a screeching halt. I have built up my local Orlando following over the last few years. I occasionally played festivals, cruises, and clubs. Currently, I’m writing material for the upcoming third recording. With a bit of luck, it will be released sometime in the Fall.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Every road has its hazards. While my journey has been a great one, I have had my struggles. Being a young man in the Blues world, I made friends with people who were typically four times my age. The old guys were terrific. I was eager to learn, and they were happy to teach me anything they knew and to lend a helping hand. Unfortunately, I have lost too many friends, which has stung. When I started gigging around the age of ten, one struggle I didn’t expect was the journey of developing my voice. I look back and thank my parents for pushing me to continue singing through my years of puberty even though I wanted to give up. As funny as I sounded back then, working through those complicated years gave me the control over my voice that I have today. Writing songs has been a tedious and introspective story for me. When I was younger, I would write songs about my dog, which would be true to me and what I had experienced then. As time went on, I experienced the loss of friends and family members, heartbreak, and the reality that life has to offer. I find it difficult to portray these things in a song that the listener can feel, but what is even more challenging is talking about the joys of life as well. I have seen many things as a young adult and know I will experience more. My goal is to capture these events and put them in a song.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an entertainer specializing in Blues, R&B, Soul, Funk, and Jazz. Mostly, I like to perform with my band, but doing intimate solo shows allows me to connect with an audience I love! I’ve been known for my guitar playing; I have been able to shred a guitar since the age of eight. I started working on my singing when I was around ten years old and still utilize a vocal coach. At fifteen, I entered my band in the “Suncoast Blues Challenge” for a chance to compete in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee; our band won! That was a proud moment, but my proudest moments are when I look out into the audience and see my parents with big smiles. I am proud of the many legends I have enjoyed sharing the stage with. Also, my originals! The thing that sets me apart mostly is my guitar playing. In recent years, I have been working hard with my vocal coach to bring my voice up to where my guitar playing is. Melodically, I have a good ear for capturing interesting ideas and applying them in my music without sounding too “out there.”
Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
Yes! Jams, jams, jams, and open mics, then more jams and open mics! Get out there and get involved! These helped me out so much:
- Pinetop Perkins Foundation
- Generation Blues
- Blues Foundation
- Fur Peace Ranch and go on the Blues Cruise!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.davidjuliamusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidjuliamusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.julia.5283/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidJuliaMusic
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/DavidJuliamusic
Image Credits
Images by: Frank Allen Sr., Jay Skolnick, Jim Walker, @surfdogphotography, Brad Stevens
