Check out our interview with stunning genre-crossing, blues, country, swing and pop artist Juliet Hawkins who just released her new music video for “My Father’s Men” today!
Juliet recently released her single “My Father’s Men”- telling the story of every artist struggle to remain true to their art, their work, their message. The challenges artists face especially as female writers and artists to be seen as equals or even to have our own voice heard in an industry riddled with misogyny, entitlement, and sexism; The artist verses the machine, the awareness of self, the power we hold as women, and the necessary breaking point to find that power and honor it fearlessly.
Follow Juliet @juliethawkinsoffcial
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Hi Juliet, please tell us a little about yourself.
I never know how little to share, because it’s a lot hah, I’m originally from the East Coast, the youngest of 3 girls, a little bit of a misfit, and a pretty awful student, bipolar. I always gravitated towards music as a kid, theater, and creative writing in high school. I was more of a noodler and a poet but I went through a dark time, bad relationships, and an opiate addiction and sort of re-found my passion for music; writing music became my outlet to heal and connect and hopefully share my experience with whoever would listen. I was singing back up in a Clapton and Cream tribute in San Diego for a few years in my late 20s and decided it was time to go give it a shot in Nashville, I felt like If I ever wanted to be great, I needed to go be around people better than me and Nashville is brimming with talent. The following 3 years of working, grinding, writing, and recording in Nashville taught me a lot: to listen, the significance of the note not played, how to keep playing when nobody’s listening and you can’t hear yourself, how to lead a band and work with people, it was critical. I moved out to California last year because I was ready for a more progressive scene, and so far it’s been awesome. I’ve put together another band, playing my original music once a month right now, from Hotel Cafe in Hollywood even down to San Diego, I’m just trying to get the sound out there as much as I can.
Describe your sound in three words.
Soulful, raspy, warm
Who influenced you, and why did you choose to make music?
Jewel, D’Angelo, Amy Winehouse, Billy Joel. I was exposed to a lot of music growing up so I feel like I’ve drawn influence from so many generations of music and genres.
Funny to think of it as a choice, it feels like I could never get away from it honestly, and I think it’s also what just flowed naturally for me. As a kid in school, I was bombed in most subjects, I couldn’t focus, and didn’t care, but music and theater came easy for me and I loved it. I started writing poetry pretty young, and my parents had me in piano lessons for 8 or 9 years, but I had found my mom’s guitar in the attic and started teaching myself. From there, I began fusing music and poetry. I struggled with depression in my teen years and took a pretty hard break from music. It wasn’t until my 20s, that I was in and out of rehabs and bored and asked for my guitar and found a whole new peace in writing, an escape, something was able to move through me. It allowed me a way to process the pain; to bring light to the darkness. I could also be *me* as a musician, there’s not many other professions you can be this romantically unstable and broke and people still come to see you do the thing so maybe that subconsciously played a role in the “choice” to be a musician too.
Do you play any instruments?
I’ll at least try to play anything I can get my hands on. Piano, guitar, I have a bass and adore bass, but I wouldn’t dare call myself a bass player. I have a melodica I’m a big fan of busting out and a wooden native flute.
Do you ever get nervous?
I do, usually when people are really engaged when it’s quiet and I know they might be able to see me shaking, and sometimes it takes a song for me to loosen up but once I’m locked in with the band, I usually go to this other place and almost forget people are watching and it’s a total blast.
Tell us about your new single, “My Father’s Men?”
I wrote this song at 4 am, the week I was recording the album, day 2. I had an all-star team on this record, my engineer, coproducer, and the players, it was a truly sacred experience, but I also had a pretty challenging and somewhat classic back and-forth with the studio owner where we recorded. I had serious revelations about the importance of honoring the music the way I wrote it, staying true to who I am, not being afraid to push back and honor my worth, standing for something, how critical it is we send this message to younger artists…this is an all too familiar struggle a lot of women have faced for decades and sexism still plagues the industry. My Father’s Men is about taking back the power and fighting for what you believe in. However, I’m a firm believer that things don’t happen to you, they happen for you I hadn’t had that somewhat sour exchange with the guy in the studio, this song would never have been born, so I still welcome any feedback or resistance and even altercation in life as it seems to be a catalyst for a lot of my material.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
I’ve had a chance recently to teach music to kids and that’s been incredibly rewarding. One of my students opened for my band, she’s 10 and I was mind-blown watching her. To be a part of her journey, to share the tools that helped me grow, kept me safe, and allowed me to hold my own as a musician, it’s been heart-opening for sure. I think if more kids were allowed to play music, to feel seen as artists, and to create without conditions, we might have a chance as a human race.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
The 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and The Creative Act by Rick Rubin.
What advice would you give to your younger self, and why?
I’ve always wanted to meet my little self. I’d probably just hug her, and maybe tell little me to not give a crap what anyone thinks. I transferred schools after sophomore year, I had a really hard time making friends and I remember hiding in the bathroom from one girl in particular and I guess maybe I’d tell little me to not be afraid, to not hide, to stand up for myself.
How would your best friend describe you?
Sensitive, intense, and creative.
If you were a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
Magic in the Tragic. It’s the name of a song I wrote a while back and it sums it up for me still. There’s been pain and loss and darkness in my story and many people’s stories, but what’s kept me going is the search for the magic in it all, the strength to continue, to let go, to surrender, and maybe create something out of that in the process. I think that’s what I’ve been trying to do my whole life with music.
What’s next for Juliet Hawkins in 2024?
Hopefully touring the album! I’m already working on some new material so getting back in the studio for sure I have a couple of local shows booked so I’m working on some new merch designs.
What is your favorite healthy food?
Is cheese healthy? Cheese. Goat cheese is my new favorite. Also avocado, I’ll just sit there and eat it with a spoon.
And your favorite cheat food?
Big fan of pizza. A thin crust pepperoni and garlic, New York style.
How would you explain your fashion style?
It varies on the day and mood for me, sometimes whimsical, sometimes edgy, sometimes I look like I dressed out of a lost and found, really whatever feels good.
What is your definition of happiness?
To feel free, physically, financially, emotionally, totally free, I think for me it comes in moments, a bike ride with no destination, warm sand, a guitar and a joint and no mosquitos, maybe a s’more or a nap in the sun.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would love to meet Jesus. Because he’s Jesus.
What would be your dream holiday, and who would you go with?
The moon and I’d take my dog, Bernie. I’ve always been fascinated with space.
Best advice ever given?
Follow your heart. It’s cliche but life is mysteriously unpredictable and too brief not to do what you love.
Do you support any charities?
I do, I’ve support the humane society and ASPCA.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years?
After winning a few Grammys, when I’m not touring, I see myself splitting time between surfing down in Mexico, and recording/writing at my own home, an A-frame I designed with a cool bathtub in the woods somewhere next to a lake with an attached studio. With a dog, maybe a baby, and maybe a partner.
What is your favorite song to belt out in the car or for karaoke?
Through the Fire by Chaka Khan.
What do you think of social media?
I think it’s the best tool for independent artists and creators, but it’s also the demise of organic human connection and a horrible waste of energy when you go down the rabbit hole of scrolling.
Where can we follow you?
On Instagram at @juliethawkinsoffcial
On my website juliethawkins.com
