LOS ANGELES, CA- This Saturday (3/7/20), we have the extremely talented Julia Rizik coming back to our stage at Madame Siam… and we can’t wait. This young lady is growing into her own in the city of Angels, exploring musical styles and earning new fans at every turn.
We caught up with Julia in advance of her Madame Siam return, and we talked a little bit about what it’s been like in Los Angeles, and what we can expect for the rest of the year.
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You absolutely killed it for us when you performed at Madame Siam last year. I also loved the support that you got from your family and friends. It’s amazing that your family came in from Phoenix, Arizona for the show, right? What has it been like for you being away from your family and hustling in the City of Angels?
Aw, thank you so much! Every day is different. I’ve always been so close to my family, so being away from them is extremely hard, sometimes. But, those are also the days where I work the hardest. I’m not going to lie though, LA is just where I’m meant to be. I feel so complete here!
When you first moved to LA, did you find it any difficult to acclimate to the new surroundings? How easy, or hard, was it for you to find the right people to work with?
It was actually so easy for me to get used to life in LA… which I was not expecting! I guess that’s how I knew LA was so right for me- because everything felt so effortless. I’m so blessed to be able to work with people who I vibe with on so many levels, especially musically!
Speaking of your music, you’ve got an interesting sound. I know you have roots in country music, and with your 2018 debut at Stagecoach and Country Thunder, but your most recent singles (“Love Myself”, “You Wouldn’t Even Notice” and Medicin”) are more pop inclined. Was that a sound that you developed while you lived in Nashville or something that came about after you moved to Los Angeles?
I actually moved to LA because I was living in Nashville, and I started producing my own demos and the sound that came out with was extremely pop … and I wanted it to have more of an R&B flair … and I thought the best place to develop that sound and to continue going in that direction was in Los Angeles. While living in Nashville I learned so much about songwriting, but it also really showed me that I needed to be in LA.
Well, I for one, am glad that you’re here! ….and even more excited to have you coming back to grace our stage this weekend! Can we expect to hear some new cuts?
HELL YES YOU CAN! I have been on a writing streak and cannot wait to play these new songs out!
Are there any songs that you are particularly proud of? Songs that maybe have a personal resonance to you?
I am most proud of my new song, “DOWN”. I will actually be playing this one on Saturday at Madame Siam. The last few months have really taught me a lot about who I am and how strong I am… and I wrote “DOWN” in the midst of all of that. This song, for me, is a symbol that I can go through anything and still get back up and keep moving forward. I really hope that other people feel that kind of energy with this one and that it is a light to listeners. Another reason why I am so proud of this song is because… musically… I feel it’s so different from my other songs! I can’t wait to play it and release it soon, hopefully!
When you say “different” what do you mean?
“DOWN” is different in a way… where over the last year, I’ve been writing a lot of that Pop/R&B vibe and this song… it’s a little more EDM … and on the final track, I want it to be like R&B/EDM!
Whoa, EDM?! What was the inspiration to go in that musical direction? Was it something you heard on the radio or suggested by a producer?
It’s crazy, I wrote this song by myself and I swear the whole song came out in like 20 minutes. It just came to me and happened very organically! I have no clue how it happened or where it came from. The more I learn how to produce my own music, the more interesting sounds come out of me!
[LAUGH]
But I’m so proud of this one!
What has the learning curve been like learning how to produce your own music? Have you gotten any guidance from anybody in particular, or has it just been a matter of trial and error, and watching what other people have done in past studio sessions?
I’m constantly learning from other people and I love it! When I first started learning how to produce music, I relied on the guy who taught me how to play guitar when I was younger because… he is like… a legit brainiac when it comes to production. His name is Chris. And then I would ask other writers and friends of mine and watch them and learn. When I am alone and writing, I do spend a lot of time just trying things and seeing if they work or not. I’m still learning but I love this journey, it’s opened my mind and my writing abilities in so many ways!
It’s all part of the musician’s journey. You always need to keep learning and evolving. So these new tracks that you’ve cut… are they all part of future album or EP? Will you be dropping them as singles? What’s your plan for 2020?
2020!! I’m in the process right now of getting these songs recorded and I would love to release them on an EP rather than singles. They all just go together so well! I’m so excited to release these songs and perform them and connect with people through them!
We can’t wait!
TO RSVP FOR JULIA’S PERFORMANCE, CLICK HERE
Follow Julia Rizik on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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