by kaleigh gieraltowski
photo courtesy of jules is dead
Bright and spunky uprising emo rockstar JULES IS DEAD has recently taken the industry by storm with their newest single “My Own Hell.” From a very young age the singer and songwriter has gravitated towards the exuberant culture and excitement of the infamous emo and scene culture. JULES IS DEAD excels with powerhouse vocals and an even cooler take on fashion that is a huge element to their overall sentiment in the upcoming world of rock. They are currently working on even more music and expanding into some future touring that you will definitely not want to miss. We had the pleasure of talking with them and you can read all about it below!
I can see that you had a desire to create music at a young age. What first inspired you to learn how to play the piano, and what eventually motivated you to move onto the guitar at 14?
JULES IS DEAD: “My parents put me into piano lessons when I was very young, and I grew up playing it. I stopped lessons when I was 12. Then the first COVID lockdown hit when I was 14, and I remembered my dad used to play the video game Rock Band. So, I asked if we could bring it up from the basement. Rock Band introduced me to AFI, Fall Out Boy, and Paramore, who are now bands that mean the world to me. I was getting really good at the Rock Band guitar, so I decided to switch to a real one and try it out.”
Your newest single “My Own Hell” talks about being powerful and courageous even when you are feeling doubtful of yourself. Do you use songwriting as a way to cope and express your emotions when you feel this way?
JULES IS DEAD: “Yes, it’s definitely been a great coping mechanism for me, and being able to share how I feel and hopefully help others through the same things.”
When it comes time to tour, what kind of message do you want to spread to audiences that come to hear you perform live?
JULES IS DEAD: “I am so excited to perform live! Shows are where I feel at home, and I can't wait to be on stage. I want everyone who'd come out to see me to feel the same way. I'd hope everyone felt safe and like they could be friends with whoever's next to them. I've met some of the people I'm closest to at shows, and I hope that could happen at my shows too.”
Your charisma and talent is very impressive for being only 17 years old. How do you balance the everyday challenges of growing up and working as an artist at the same time?
JULES IS DEAD: “Honestly, sometimes it can be a bit tough, but making music means so much to me that I always find a way to balance it all. I'm pretty much just super busy all the time between writing and recording trips, school, shows, and seeing my friends.”
What advice would you give to other young individuals looking to start their own music career?
JULES IS DEAD: “I'd say to always remember what it's like to be a fan and to stay true to yourself and the sound you want as an artist. You have the ability to put your most vulnerable self in front of the world, so make sure it's the real you.”
You have a distinct style that is beautiful and eye-catching and goes perfectly with your ambience and style of music. Do you think that fashion is another way you express yourself besides creating music?
JULES IS DEAD: “Yes, definitely. I take a lot of inspiration for my look and my music from 2000s emo and scene culture. Dressing the way I dress is a way of showing what's playing in my headphones to everyone around me.”
Where did you draw the inspiration for the “My Own Hell” music video and the way it was executed?
JULES IS DEAD: “The ‘My Own Hell’ video was inspired by the music videos and visuals from the albums and movies I love. The whole video has this blue tinge that was very Evanescence inspired, and the scenes with the candles are a bit of a nod to The Craft, which is one of my favorite films of all time.”
What else do we have to look forward to in the world of JULES IS DEAD?
JULES IS DEAD: “There'll be a new single very soon, which I'm so, so, so excited for, and hopefully, before the year's out, there will be a couple of shows as well.”