Julian King – Gone Do

By starrymag | January 6, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Next-Gen R&B, with influences ranging from pop, to gospel, to jazz. A warm, bright tone matched with music that creates great vibrations.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) I absolutely love Coldplay, Jazmine Sullivan, Kierra Sheard, Stevie Wonder and Tim Bowman Jr.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Gone Do.”

 

A) “Gone Do” actually is a self-motivated challenge. I was in a position to really talk to this guy and this song is like the conversation I had in my head as we were locking eyes and feeling each other out. Turns out he was having the same conversation in his head, and well … the rest is history. [laughs]

 

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

 

A) I think the connection comes from relatability. In today’s society we aren’t as aggressive as our parents and grandparents were because we live behind phones and the personas that it gives off. So, meeting people in person can make you anxious, and second guess yourself. But sometimes you gotta just throw a shit back and go for it.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) Well, while we have no official music video, we have a lyric video as well as a dance video. The lyric video idea was derived from the viral double Dutch video last July. The dance video was something fun to give the energy of the song in a fun, creative yet visual way.

 

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

 

A) Typically, I’ll jot down song ideas through my day in my notes. For me, it’s about the music first. If the music moves me, I then write to it. And it usually comes fast.

 

Q) Are there plans for a full album or EP in the works?

 

A) Right now, I’m working on a bunch of music, which is about to hit your timelines very soon. My ultimate plan is to create a full body of work around this era where I’m at in my life, but until then, it’s giving rapid fire soon come!

 

Q) We loved seeing you on “The Voice.” What advice did you receive, and from whom, that you really took to heart while on the show?

A) Honestly, on the show we worked with private voice coaches before our performance coaches and my private voice coach said to me, “You already made the show. You ain’t got nothing to prove, just everything to share.” And that’s stuck with me ever since….

 

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

 

A) I’d really like to do a song with Coldplay. Actually, dream come true. Also, Nicki Minaj.

 

Q) As an openly queer man looking to normalize conversations around what it means to be LGBTQ+, what do you think the music industry still needs to learn? 

 

A) I think the music industry needs to learn that until we have a mosaic of perspectives, we will forever have a narrow lens as to what the world really looks like and music has the power to change that.

 

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

 

A) There are people all over this world who don’t know me personally, but that are inspired by music, my performance and my gift. Social media allows me to be able to connect with them, to thank them and to hopefully get to know them a little better. Without them, there really is no “Julian King.”

 

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

 

A) Honestly, the fact that you guys chose me each and every day is one of the greatest honors ever. There are so many artists and so many singers and yet you chose me. Just the mere thought makes me emotional. Please know I’ve worked really hard on this next era of music and I hope that each of you feels seen at the bare minimum. We’re all human, and we go through a lot of the same things. Let this music comfort you ♥️