Near the Sun
Multi-instrumentalist French/Canadian indie rocker Julie Peel has released her full-length debut album Near the Sun, a folk-rock effort with influences ranging from Aimee Mann to Neil Young.
Peel has also graced a number of American Laundromat Records compilations, including tributes to the popular band the Cure and the Breeders’ Kim Deal.
Currently Peel is touring in support of her album and is looking forward to performing during the coming South by Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas.
Jupiter Index: What focused you to write and perform music?
Julie Peel: Frankly I didn't really care about music much when I was younger. It was all about movies. I wanted to be a movie director.
The first album I bought was Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos, when it came out (‘92) and it was a whole new experience to me (before that, I was only listening to music scores, and old jazz and blues singers) I mean, Tori was a real storyteller, and I could really relate to what she was singing. A year after that, a friend of mine introduced me to The Pixies. and that's when I decided to buy a drum kit and be in a band, and maybe a year later I borrowed my friend's guitar and started to play it, without really knowing what I was doing (no real chords) I began watching MTV unplugged and figured out chords played by Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain. never had a teacher, except for them.
Which instruments do you play?
I play a few instruments, but I don't excel at any. Guitar (Martin acoustic, Fender acoustic, Fender telecaster), piano, harmonica (Honer Blue Harp mostly), banjo, lap steel guitar, ukulele, drums (a mix of different parts I gathered since I was 14), bass (Fender jazzbass, Epiphone SG).
It has been said that you enjoy listening to Aimee Mann, Beth Orton, and Neil Young. How have they influenced your music?
I've been listening to Neil Young since I was a kid, because of my mom's records and I discovered Aimee Mann and Beth Orton's music in my teens. I'm not sure they've influenced me directly, but I sure would love to be able to write songs as good as these three.
Tell us how did the track Alone come about?
I think I was strumming my Ukulele, and it just came out. I remember the words coming along right away.
Do you have a certain way of writing your songs?
I guess I have. It usually starts with the musical composition, then the vocal melody, that I usually hum along the music, but the humming often leaves place to what we call "yogurt" in France, meaning, humming mixed with almost words, and out of this gobbledygook, one or two words often stand out. I know this can sound weird, but they are, somehow, the words I needed, and they're gonna set the tone but also the subject of the song.
There is a lot going on musically with your music. Would you say your album is biographical in nature?
I think it is. But I can't really explain it. I know people expect me to explain what I'm trying to say in my songs, but I think they're pretty easy to understand.
What are your hopes for your music at this time?
Evolve. Become a better songwriter and musician.
Would you like to share anything else about your music?
I'm working on new songs, and will probably have new songs on my MySpace player in a few months! I'm also working on an indie-rock project, and an electro-rock project.
Julie Peel answered Jupiter Index’s interview questions via email.
Peel has also graced a number of American Laundromat Records compilations, including tributes to the popular band the Cure and the Breeders’ Kim Deal.
Currently Peel is touring in support of her album and is looking forward to performing during the coming South by Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas.
Julie Peel: Frankly I didn't really care about music much when I was younger. It was all about movies. I wanted to be a movie director.
The first album I bought was Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos, when it came out (‘92) and it was a whole new experience to me (before that, I was only listening to music scores, and old jazz and blues singers) I mean, Tori was a real storyteller, and I could really relate to what she was singing. A year after that, a friend of mine introduced me to The Pixies. and that's when I decided to buy a drum kit and be in a band, and maybe a year later I borrowed my friend's guitar and started to play it, without really knowing what I was doing (no real chords) I began watching MTV unplugged and figured out chords played by Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain. never had a teacher, except for them.
Which instruments do you play?
I play a few instruments, but I don't excel at any. Guitar (Martin acoustic, Fender acoustic, Fender telecaster), piano, harmonica (Honer Blue Harp mostly), banjo, lap steel guitar, ukulele, drums (a mix of different parts I gathered since I was 14), bass (Fender jazzbass, Epiphone SG).
I've been listening to Neil Young since I was a kid, because of my mom's records and I discovered Aimee Mann and Beth Orton's music in my teens. I'm not sure they've influenced me directly, but I sure would love to be able to write songs as good as these three.
Tell us how did the track Alone come about?
I think I was strumming my Ukulele, and it just came out. I remember the words coming along right away.
Do you have a certain way of writing your songs?
I guess I have. It usually starts with the musical composition, then the vocal melody, that I usually hum along the music, but the humming often leaves place to what we call "yogurt" in France, meaning, humming mixed with almost words, and out of this gobbledygook, one or two words often stand out. I know this can sound weird, but they are, somehow, the words I needed, and they're gonna set the tone but also the subject of the song.
I think it is. But I can't really explain it. I know people expect me to explain what I'm trying to say in my songs, but I think they're pretty easy to understand.
What are your hopes for your music at this time?
Evolve. Become a better songwriter and musician.
Would you like to share anything else about your music?
I'm working on new songs, and will probably have new songs on my MySpace player in a few months! I'm also working on an indie-rock project, and an electro-rock project.
Julie Peel answered Jupiter Index’s interview questions via email.
