Julia Bhatt – Miami

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I would say genuine and ever changing. I think I pull from a lot of different sources and I hope to continue doing that so my sound never stays too similar. However, I hope to always have heartfelt lyrics that connect with people.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) The Strokes, The Beatles, America, Tame Impala and a bunch of other people. I can pull a separate list for each of my songs. “Marco” had some Mild High Club and Clairo, “Miami” has early Circa Waves, etc.

Q) How does the video for your previous single, “I’m Cool,” play into the message behind it?

A) The lyric video honestly doesn’t have a ton to do with the song itself, but it’s a lyric video, you know? The idea was to make its sorta 90s MTV vibes and I think Charlene Kaye did an amazing job!

Talk about the story behind your new song “Miami.” What is it about this city that is so special to you?

A) Miami has a special duality that is somewhat unknown because of things like Pitbull and Florida-Man articles (which, by the way, no offense to either. I happen to enjoy both thoroughly). The way that Miami gets around 5-6 pm when the sun is going down a little and everything is golden and peaceful, and you look around and see like eight random street cats who will fight you but will also let you pet them and be really cute, little things that you wouldn’t be able to experience from a nightclub or whatever. I was just trying to capture that feeling.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think it’s fun and gives a little mind vacation. If I did my job right, you can get a little bit of what I was talking about from the song, which is fucking awesome in person.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) I think I do a little bit, but sometimes lyrics will pop out of nowhere and I’ll write it down, try to fit it in a song somewhere. I guess I really do need a little music to really get a song rolling.

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I have a very informal but important presence in the production process, but Elliot [Jacobson] is the one who makes the magic happen. I just tell him what I want in the least musical terms possible. So, like, “I want this song to be kinda Voidz-y and all over the place but it needs to be heavy on the bass with a really intense oomph and …” I just ramble and he makes it happen.

Q) You recently graduated high school and have already dropped four songs! Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) I know!!! How crazy!!!! I hope so, but times are changing so plans tend to as well. While there are no hard set plans to release an album, we’ve got a bunch of songs ready for one, so it just depends on time. When it feels right, we’ll start prepping for an album, hopefully.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) I performed at the Sylvester Bar and that was really fun because the people there were awesome. There was some drunk dude harassing the girl who went on before me and I told her that if he did the same to me, I’d probably kick him. Luckily, he disappeared and everything was awesome after that. Really cool space and chill, slightly drunk people. That’s been my favorite so far.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) I mean, really any one of the influences I’ve named in past interviews, but Julian Casablancas, Tame Impala and Still Woozy do a lot of cool things with other artists, and that would be amazing if that artist was me.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) The new Strokes album just came out, so I’ve been listening to that a lot. I’ve loved all their other stuff, so of course I’ll support their stuff!

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I get a lot of support from South America, actually, so it’s a great way to connect when I can’t physically be there. I think it’s also important to respond when someone is being kind. It’s not nice to leave people hanging. It’s just very convenient and an easy way to show appreciation.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you so much!! You don’t know what that support means. It fuels what I do and gives me the confidence to keep going, so truly. Thank you.

Follow Julia Bhatt on Socials: 
https://www.instagram.com/juliabhatt/
https://www.facebook.com/juliabhattmusicpage/
https://twitter.com/JuliaBhatt

Watch The Video For “Miami”