Interview: Juliana Tucker

Pop singer-songwriter Juliana Tucker grew up in a family with deep musical roots and a passion that was nurtured throughout her childhood. At the age of 16, she appeared on American Idol, where she was told “you have the IT factor” by Steven Tyler. Although she worked closely with labels and recorded a demo CD after the show, she ultimately walked away when the music she was given was not representative of the artist she wished to be. She put music aside for a few years while attending college in Boston and working in NYC, but moved back to LA right before the Covid pandemic hit. Although 2020 was a very challenging time for Juliana, quarantine helped her to tap into her creativity, as well as allowing her to be comfortable in solitude with her thoughts and be happy with herself, rather than relying on external validation and feedback from others. During this time, she also began writing songs for herself, rather than for others, and saw herself gain confidence in herself, saying “The day I started writing music for myself, rather than for other people, was the moment I finally became confident in my songwriting capabilities.”

On March 3rd, Juliana released her debut 6-song EP The Great Indoors, in which she digs deep into raw and honest emotions and what it means to know oneself through the lens of all relationships from romance to friendship. “I’ve been working on The Great Indoors for almost 2 years and to see it finally come to life is truly an out-of-body experience,” shares Juliana. “I wrote this EP at the peak of the pandemic because that’s when I felt myself growing up the most. The Great Indoors is meant to be a self-reflective body of work that explores the difficulties and joys of growing up and learning about ourselves. It shows the good and the ugly moments in my life where I endure growing pains and express true vulnerability. While it’s meant to be deeply emotional in some areas, it’s also lighthearted in others, in the hopes people are reminded to not take life too seriously. We’re always changing and evolving, and we might look back at moments in the past and cringe, but that’s the beauty of growing up. We learn the most about ourselves through every experience and relationship we encounter and that’s what I wanted to explore in this EP.”

Along with the release of her EP, March 3rd also saw the release of her latest single “Fair Warning”, along with the official music video for her new single, directed and produced by STILLVIKA. “I wrote this song about rebounding with a guy after my previous relationship and am essentially warning him to run away because I wasn’t emotionally ready for anything serious. Then guilty feelings start to sink in because I know it was wrong to use him, but I still did anyway. This song is meant to be lighthearted but powerful and remind people that women can have rebounds too! If you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘get over them by getting under someone else,’ then this song is for you.” With plans to get her EP out into the world, write new material and release new singles this year, and perform some live shows, make sure to follow and connect with Juliana Tucker via the following links to stay up-to-date on all upcoming music, news, and show dates!

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD | ITUNES/APPLE MUSIC | YOUTUBE | TIDAL | TIKTOK

You grew up in LA with deep musical roots. What can you tell me about your childhood and developing a love for music? Who would you consider some of your biggest musical inspirations? 

Juliana: I grew up in a very musical household with my dad having been a singer, songwriter, and guitar player so I was immersed in the music culture at a young age. The household favorites were The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Phil Collins, Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, and The Rolling Stones, which are still some of my all-time favorite artists to this day. As I grew up, I would listen religiously to Britney Spears, Vanessa Carlton, JoJo, Spice Girls, Rihanna, and Michelle Branch. Those artists single-handedly got me through junior high/high school and helped shape the artist I am today. My dad taught me how to write songs at the age of 5, but they were awful. In fact, the first song I ever wrote was for my sister called, “You’re My Sister”…. The title says it all. 

At the age of 16, you were on American Idol and received praise and great feedback from Steven Tyler, later working closely with labels and recording a demo CD. What was that experience like and being given music that wasn't representative of the artist you wanted to be? In what ways did it help you to learn the kind of artist you wanted to be and have the strength to forge your own artistic path?

Juliana: It was intimidating, to say the least. I was this young kid trying to figure out the industry but I didn’t even know what kind of artist I wanted to be. I was given songs by other songwriters to sing and that’s when it felt off for me. Songwriting is not only my favorite part of music, but it’s the best way for me to express myself in the way I want to. By pausing my career, I was able to experience life and grow up in a way that allowed me to improve my songwriting skills, which in turn, connected me to my music on a deeper level.  

You put music aside for a few years while attending college in Boston and working in NYC. What inspired that decision and what were those years like for you? Do you feel like stepping away from music helped you to gain more perspective?

Juliana: I decided to take a break from music for many reasons. The main reason is fear. I had this fear of failing. I didn’t think my songwriting was good enough at the time. I was also turned off from the industry all together because I felt like I was trying to be someone I’m not. That was my age and low self-esteem coming into play. It took lots of self-work and growth to change my perspective. The other main reason I took a break from music was my health. While attending Emerson in Boston, I was constantly getting sick and was unable to sing for over a year. That in itself was extremely discouraging and I took it as a sign to slow down and take time for myself. It all worked out the way it was supposed to though because now I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. 

You moved back to LA before Covid and the ensuing shutdowns hit and started writing music in your apartment. You have talked about how during that time you started writing music for yourself instead of for others, so how do you feel that helped you to become more confident in your songwriting capabilities?

Juliana: When I was younger, I would write music I thought people wanted to hear, but as I got older I started realizing all the songs I like are songs that feel real to me. I don’t really have a specific taste in music. I enjoy songs that feel unique to each individual artist because it feels as though I’m able to connect with the artist through that song. Once I realized there’s no right or wrong way to write songs, just my way, I started to produce better pieces of work and gain more confidence in them. 

You have discussed how 2020 was a very challenging time for you. How do you feel that quarantine helped you to tap into your creativity, as well as allowing you to be comfortable in solitude with your thoughts and be happy with yourself, rather than relying on external validation and feedback from others?

Juliana: As horrible as quarantine was, I do believe we all learned something from it. I can safely say I’m not the same person today as I was before quarantine started and that’s because we were all forced to look within ourselves for happiness. Before quarantine, I relied heavily on the outside world and other people to distract me from my reality, but when Covid hit, we didn’t have that luxury anymore. I live alone so I was in true solitude the entire time with my thoughts. At first, I was losing my mind, but as time progressed, I figured out ways to entertain myself through music and expression. I started finding comfort in my alone time and removing things and people in my life that no longer benefited me. I grew up.

What can you tell me about using your platform and music to instill strength and acceptance in your fans and help them to feel more empowered? 

Juliana: I write music based on the experiences I’m currently going through. I know not everyone will feel what I’m feeling, but my hope is that they can connect to the overall themes of growing up and learning about themselves. I think the idea of learning about oneself is freeing and empowering in itself. At the end of the day, the most important relationship we will ever have is with ourselves, so I hope anyone who listens to my music is reminded of that.  

On March 3rd, you will be releasing your first EP ‘The Great Indoors’! What can you tell me about the process of writing and recording the EP, as well as the significance for you of the name? Having described it as being all about self-reflection, how have you grown as both a person and an artist with the writing of these songs?

Juliana: I have definitely grown throughout the making of this EP. I took over a year to conceptualize it before actually going into the studio and recording anything because I wanted to make sure I was sharing the most realistic depiction of my life during that time. “The Great Indoors” title came after all my other songs were completed. I had a 5-song EP at the moment that felt unfinished, so I knew I needed one song to really tie everything together and encompass what the entire EP is supposed to mean, which was ‘The Great Indoors’. The title “The Great Indoors” is meant to express my own self work and growth over the years of creating this EP. It’s all about looking within yourself to find your happiness rather than relying on anything else.  

You will be releasing the track “Fair Warning” on March 3rd, as your EP release! What can you tell me about the track, as well as the music video that will be accompanying it?

Juliana: Yes! I’m excited to release this one! This was actually one of the first songs written on the EP and will be released as the second track. It’s at the beginning of the EP because it showcases a part of me that I’m currently growing apart from. It’s about rebounding with someone after getting out of a relationship and then feeling guilty about it because you’re emotionally unavailable and not able to commit. “Fair Warning” is actually the only song on the entire EP that I have a music video for at the moment, so I’m eager to release the visual. The majority of the video is set in a room filled with mirrors, which is a direct representation of my self-reflective EP and me looking within myself to make changes and embrace my growth.  

Having released a few music videos thus far, what is your creative process like when working on your videos? What do you love about combining visuals with your music? Do you feel like it helps you to convey the message of the song?

Juliana: Visuals are so important. Whether it’s a 15-second TikTok or a highly produced full-length music video, I always love visuals because it brings me one step closer to the artist. As an artist myself, I want to make sure my song is being visually represented in a way that feels true to the story I’m telling in the song. There’s no set process for me in creating a video because I always like to try new things, but that’s what I love most about it. I love doing whatever feels right for that song. I think about colors, textures, movements, and lighting. And it’s always different for each track.  

What can people expect from your upcoming acoustic set at Hotel Cafe on March 2nd to kick off your EP release? What are you most excited about? What can you tell me about Writers Block Songwriters and working with them?

Juliana: I’ll be doing a 3-song acoustic set with Writers Block at Hotel Cafe on March 2nd and I’m super excited to kick off my EP alongside such talented musicians! It’ll be my 3rd time performing with Writers Block and I absolutely love working with them. They bring together such incredible artists and you can’t go wrong with the acoustics at The Hotel Cafe. They’re unbelievable. If you’re in LA, definitely come check out the show!! I’ll be singing my 3 favorite songs off my EP. Can you guess which ones? 

On a fun note, you have discussed your love for travel and experiencing different cultures! Where is your favorite place to which you have traveled and where have you not yet traveled to that you would love to go? Do you prefer traveling solo or with others (or both) and what do you feel your travels have taught you about the world and yourself?

Juliana: Yes! I LOVE traveling!! That’s when I learn not only about other amazing cultures and lifestyles, but also learn a lot about myself and my desires. One of my all-time favorite places to visit is Cape Town, South Africa. My sister used to work for a nonprofit there and I would go visit her in college all the time. We bungee jumped off a bridge, went on safaris, hiked, and got to really explore nature. I also happen to have an obsession with Madrid. It’s one of my all-time favorite places to visit because everyone is so nice there and the food and music are the best. You can’t go wrong with a Croquette and Sangria. There’s also so much history there, which I love. Whenever I have the opportunity to travel, I take it, because that’s where we learn about the world and gain respect and knowledge for other cultures and lifestyles.

Aside from your EP release, what’s next for you? What are your goals going forward?

Juliana: I’ll be celebrating the release of my EP by going into the studio to write new material :). This year I will mainly focus on getting my EP out into the world, but I will also release some singles this year so get ready!! I’m excited to perform more in LA as well, so follow my socials to get updates about my new shows!