Singer-songwriter Julyan has released his debut album, titled Future Loverson September 20th. This one is a compilation of sunny songs that talk about romance, reminiscence, and putting a relationship in the past.
Since last fall, he has been presenting us with the songs Pina Colada (playful and with intimate memories), Think About You (catchy and calm) and 1999 (nostalgia, which is transmitted with a dreamy acoustic guitar). On Future Lovers, There are also those that are more melancholic in sound, like Morning Light et Beautiful Lie, but they are mixed with those that encourage us to tap our feet (especially The Game et Howling at the Moon).
Julyan was part of The Seasons et Forest Boys and in recent years he has collaborated with Simon Lachance, San James, Gabrielle Shonk et Jerome 50among others. Since his EP, entitled Julyanin 2020, his solo project evolved. We met Julyan in the Limoilou district of Quebec, on the day of the release of Future Lovers, to talk about his creative vision and the music industry he knows well.
First, you’ve been very involved in the Quebec music scene in recent years. So how do you feel about finally releasing your first solo album?
It’s really something because it’s two and a half years of work. I feel like today I remember why I started the album and why I worked so hard.
What was the reason?
It was a need to express myself. I have a hard time having a lot of solid points in my life. I need to be on the move and have changes and adventures. It’s fun, but I think I write songs to understand everything that I’m going through. The album is out, so it’s like the idea is coming back in full.
What was the journey of the album? Has the vision changed since the beginning of its creation?
Some things, yes, but other things, no. I would say that musically I stayed pretty close to what I had envisioned. I think when I started working on the album, there was a lot of pressure because I wanted it to be a success. Over time, I came back to something personal and I managed to make the album that I wanted to make without worrying too much about industry standards.
Even though you have collaborated with many French-speaking artists and composed/wrote songs in French, your solo project is all in English. Why are you more attracted to the English language to express yourself?
I don’t really have a clear answer, but it’s something that comes naturally to me. I decided to make music because I wanted to do something that appeals to me and to go into an environment that allows me to do things that I want to do. I don’t know why songs come to me in English, but I know I can’t fight it. I want the process to be natural and for the music to represent me, otherwise it would be a betrayal of why I make music.
How has this writing developed over the years?
I consume a lot of music in English. So, it definitely had an impact on my language skills. English is not my mother tongue, but it is a language that I feel close to, in terms of media and the travels that I do.
The mood of the album is very sunny pop, or feel good popand it is very Julyan because you already had a distinct style that was immediately recognizable. It’s also, in your opinion, a breakup album. How would you describe the best breakup songs? Have you incorporated these elements into your own music?
I say it’s a breakup album because I know what motivated me to write it. Not all the songs are directly about a breakup. There are a lot of songs, like Pina Colada et Morning Lightwhich are more about meeting new people. For me, it comes from the concept of the breakup because it covers all the aspects that come before and after. I don’t necessarily know what makes a good breakup song because I haven’t tried to do it. However, the theme happened naturally.
Could you talk about the people you collaborated with for this album? How did they influence the result?
I worked with Philippe Brault in the production, a great director in Quebec. I also worked with Ghyslain-Luc Lavigne who is a sound engineer and mixer. Hubert Lenoirmy brother, helped me with direction and advice. He was my reference when I had some kind of dilemma and I didn’t know where to go musically. We know each other well and he understands my tastes. There is also Jose Major who is a phenomenal drummer. I played almost every instrument on the album, but I’m not very good at drums. I play them okay, but not good enough to record in the studio. Jerome 50who is my best friend, gave me a lot of advice when I was stuck.
Was the album recorded in Montreal or also in Quebec?
The main recordings were done in Montreal, but I still did a lot of post-production in Quebec, whether at home or at Marius Laruea friend who has a studio here. The album is like a mix of a lot of places, but the main recording was at the Treatment Room in Montreal.
You’re definitely very proud of the album, but are there songs that mean more to you, maybe because of the story behind its creation?
Hmm. All of them, but I think that The Gamethe last song on the album, has a very strong meaning. It talks about the journey I went through in the music industry that broke me, but I speak in a way that is not accusatory and I do not believe I was a victim. I recognize my part and my responsibility in what I went through and I understand who I am.
How would you describe the Quebec music scene and have you noticed any changes over the years?
Oh yes, really. The scene I know is with artists my age and younger. I find that this scene has marked a really fun change. Before, artists were a little emancipated from the commercial side, so it was very restrictive. It’s fun to see artists, like Valence, Jerome 50 et Hubert Lenoir, to be able to really perform and bring something to the Quebec landscape without having to follow a very commercial model.
Are there things you think should change or evolve?
Hmm, there are a lot. However, I’m not an expert so I’m careful not to criticize too much. There’s not a lot of money in music and artists from all over the world say they’re poor. The people who are in it are in it with their hearts, so I think everyone is doing their best. It’s a world of independence, so I think there should be more trust in artists to manage and exist financially. I’m talking about subsidies, etc. I’m with a record company and I’m very happy, but I also know artists who work completely independently. Artists today are businessmen, businesswomen and they do marketing, etc. If they don’t do these things, it would be difficult. Artists work very hard and I think they deserve more recognition for that.
You spend your time between Quebec and Montreal… What are the differences between these two cities and do they influence your music?
Definitely. Quebec is small and there is less industry. At the same time, it seems like we have more peace. I am with my friends and I live my life. The rent is cheaper and I am less stressed. So I can concentrate more on my music. In Montreal, there are definitely more professional opportunities.
You will have two launches for Future LoversOctober 3 at Casa del Popolo (Montreal) and October 4 at Pantoum (Quebec). What are your plans for these shows?
This is the official start of my tour, so I plan to celebrate big. This album was written with the intention of sharing it on stage. Sometimes, making music is very abstract, you compose and imagine how it will sound. My way of materializing music and feeling that it is more concrete is to imagine myself sharing it with people. The effect is that my music works well on stage and my artistic choices lead me to that naturally. I am really looking forward to playing shows.
Finally, since your name is already known, what do you hope people will take away from this first album?
I made it with the purpose of being myself. It’s an album that talks a lot about finding our identity and our place in this universe. I hope it could inspire people to find their place too. Finding or not finding, it’s not so important. What’s important is that we search and ask good questions.
Frankie Rose | Journalist
Frankie is originally from England but is a French speaker at heart and loves to discover and promote the language. When it comes to music, she loves songs that tell stories, whether it’s in the lyrics or the personal connection that music can create.
Photo Credit: Sam Billington
