Julie Peel Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 16th 2010 11:57AM by Linda Leseman
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Singer and songwriter Julie Peel is as charming as her music, which invigorates more traditional folk with a contemporary pop sound. Peel, originally from Cannes, France, and having lived in Paris for the past ten years, relocated to Brooklyn about two months ago and is now preparing to perform at SXSW for the first time. Known to her friends as "Jules," she prefers not to reveal her full given name. "Peel" is the beginning of her real surname, but that's all she's willing to tell. Other than that bit of secrecy, both Jules and her music are refreshingly open and honest.

Have you played SXSW before?

No. It's the first time I've been invited to. As soon as we submitted to it, it was really very early, and they replied straightaway, and they said, "Oh, my God, we love your music, and you can be sure that you will be on the list." So I was like, wow. I received that e-mail, and it was awesome.

How would you describe your sound?

The music I've been listening to forever is lo-fi music. And that's actually how I recorded my album. I recorded everything by myself with just one computer, a good sound card and a good mic. So I'd call this album lo-fi, but when you listen to it, it's not like the lo-fi definition because I worked hard on my album to make it sound OK. Everybody describes it as folk pop. I mean, if you need to put a name on it, I would say folk pop.

Who are some of your influences?

I have plenty, but Aimee Mann, for instance. In the older stuff, I love Joni Mitchell. I love Bob Dylan. In the recent stuff, I really like Neko Case. A lot of songwriters.

How long have you lived in Brooklyn?

I'm kind of in between France and Brooklyn, but I'm in Brooklyn right now. Just two months, really. But I've been coming here all the time for the last past year, so it's almost like I've been here for a year now.

How do you think the music scene in Brooklyn compares to the music scene in Paris?

Oh, my God! You know, I'm thinking about that every day because my parents just wrote me, saying, "Why aren't you coming back to France?" And I'm like, "You don't understand!" Here it's like everywhere, everybody is talented. It's crazy insane for me. I mean, for the kind of music that I love, and I listen to, and I play as well, it's like there are so many artists. It's like every person I meet are singers, songwriters or are in bands or are musicians, and in Paris you don't find that.

You're a solo artist, right -- not the lead in a band?

Yeah, it's me. I have a side project, though, that I'm working on right now. It's really different from what I do right now. This band is going to be all over the place, more indie rock.

What is your side project called?

It's called Release the Sharks. We were with a friend, and we arrived in a room, and she was watching the movie 'G.I. Joe.' And at the very moment we entered the room, Dennis Quaid was screaming, "Release the sharks!" And we were like, "Oh, my God, that's the perfect name!"

What would you say your biggest vice is?

Vice? Chocolate comes to mind because I'm always craving it. I gained weight since I arrived here because there are so many good things. Not like really good, but there are so many things. In France, you don't have that much choice. For instance, you go in a grocery store here, and you look at the chocolate. You have so many choices! You go in France, and you have like four of them. I mean, I'm exaggerating, but you have, like, 10 at the most.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Last night I was saying that it's Frank Black, but people looked at me like, "Are you kidding? Frank Black is fat." But I don't care. It's not my first crush, though. I'm trying to picture my walls when I was younger. I guess Kurt Cobain. He's one of the reasons I started the guitar.

What are you taking to SXSW in your survival kit?

I'd say Ricola. For the throat. When you go on tour, it's the worst -- you can't eat healthy food. And to me it's really important to eat as healthy as you can, so you don't get sick. It's the worst if you get sick on the road. So I'd say I'll try to bring some oatmeal with me and stuff like that. Breakfast is the most important for me.

What is the craziest thing you've ever experienced or seen on tour?

Back when I was younger, I toured with a band in Ireland, and we toured in a van that U2 had toured in for their first album or something. Also, Patti Smith had been in this van. So many bands had been in this van! And the van was obviously very old when we rode in it, but it was kind of mythical. That's one of the things that I love, like when you go into places, and you see that someone signed the wall, and it's an artist that you love, and you're like, oh, my God, I can't believe I'm in the same place where they've been before! And I think as long as you don't lose this feeling, you're still OK. You have to remember that you're very lucky to be touring.

Linda Leseman is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.