Julia Poorman
Interview conducted on February 27, 2023
By Dan Locke
Singer/songwriter Julia Poorman released her newest single “Runaway Ship” to all major platforms. The lyrics and music were written by Julia Poorman with music and production by Danny Roselle. The single was produced, engineered and mixed by Danny Roselle at Rosedome Studios. It was mastered by Michael Fossenkemper.
You grow up in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. What is your upbringing?
I was outside with my sister and cousins most of the time. I grew up surrounded by woods and a huge pond in my backyard, so I was either catching frogs or building forts in the woods as a young kid. Mom was a great cook and teacher. Dad was a great provider. We grew up really knowing the value in hard work.
How did you discover music?
My mom listened to a lot of music. If we were cleaning the house, music was playing. If we had family friends over, there was music playing, if we were exercising, driving, getting ready for school, there was always a soundtrack in the background. It just felt like I was surrounded by it from a young age and took to it really early on.
Describe your music.
My sound reflects late 90’s early 2000’s singer/songwriter pop/rock with a modern flare. I really love Indie music, so there’s a touch of Indie going on as well.
What was your first performance like?
I believe the first time I sang in public was a karaoke set at a local restaurant. Either that or my 7th grade talent show. Both were probably around the same time. The talent show was super nerve racking because it was in front of all my peers, but I do remember it feeling so liberating. It felt good to be on stage.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
It’s hard to recall my first official song because I wrote so much on paper without any music – the melodies lived in my head. It was almost as if they were poems. I do remember writing a song for my 8th grade graduation and actually recording it with my friend Gabriella. It was called “Forever More”, and they played it over a slide show at graduation. We were so nervous!
This was my first solo project, and I am still proud of it to this day! I was in such a formative period of my life. Experiencing what I thought was love for the first time, heartbreak, loss and fantasy all wrapped up in a few brief years. It felt really good to get it out of my head and onto something physical like a CD. It was extremely therapeutic for me.
What is the process of writing your music?
I typically start with a theme or a feeling and chords that accompany the vibe I’m leaning into. Sometimes the melody comes to me first, sometimes the lyrics do, it really depends on the day!
Tell me about your newest single “Runaway Ship”?
I really wanted this track to convey the feeling and excitement of new love and how beautiful it is when it evolves into something that feels indestructible. The more you experience with someone, the more opportunity there is for growth. I think it’s a rare and cherishable thing.
How was it working with Danny Roselle as a productor?
He’s fantastic. Not only as a producer, co-writer, musician, etc. But he’s also an admirable human. He always speaks his mind which I really appreciate. I’ve turned to him for advice countless times already!
What are you feeling about streaming music?
I am excited about how many people it allows modern artists to reach, but there’s a tradeoff to that. Everyone can release music now, so there’s a lot of sifting that’s happening with the listeners. If the algorithms are on your side, it’s great! If you’re an up-and-coming independent artist, it does make it much more difficult to stand out.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
No doubt! I mean, if you’re used to reading music and that’s part of your daily life, no. But the average person that maybe took some music classes or sang chorus in high school, yes. Our minds are so adaptable, it’s easy to reassociate symbols or words with something new.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Vinyl for quality, digital for convenience.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Drive by Incubus is one of those timeless classics. Every time I listen to it, I feel empowered. I personally am working on being less reactionary and motivated by fear, so those lyrics hit home for me.
How meaningful was it for you to get the photo of your dad listening to your music?
It was super sweet. Just a solid reminder of what I should be doing more of.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like a playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
It’s definitely still a thing. It seems you need a budget to promote on most platforms today. Some algorithms really limit your impressions unless you pay for promotion. It’s a bummer because it creates yet another gap, but it does somewhat prevent oversaturation I suppose. It’s easier to start a career in music if you have financial backing – at least in my experience so far.
The show Star Trek introduced people to the holodeck: an immersive, realistic 3D holographic projection of a complete environment that you could interact with.
Today holograms are already being used in a variety of ways, such as medical systems, education, art, security and defense.
Performers like Tupac, Michael Jackson, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Buddy Holly, Ronnie James Dio, Marylin Monroe, and Whitney Houston have done it already. The band ABBA just announced that they will be doing a comeback together after nearly 40 years as holograms on their next tour. With ABBA it was with the help of George Lucas.
If the cost was down to the point, you could do it also, would you be willing to do Holographic concerts in our living room?
I’ll try anything once! (Not really, I’m kind of a wimp) but this I totally would! Why not? I’ll evolve with technology!
In the past if a musician stopped doing music, they found a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
I think if I don’t “make it” as a solo artist, I will focus more on Sync licensing because I’ve already had some success with it. It will allow me to practice my craft without the pressure of gigging and being in the public eye.
If we’re totally negating music, maybe I’d open my own juice bar and focus on wellness. I’m pretty passionate about that!
What is your happy place?
In the woods. I love being in nature more than anything.
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million), Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, John Legend, ZZ Top and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young sold 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180 song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artists based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
On January 19, 2021, Hipgnosis Song Management acquired 80% of Kenny Chesney’s recorded music royalties, covering the country superstar’s discography from his 1994 debut In My Wildest Dreams through 2017’s Live in No Shoes Nation.
Someone who was totally against selling his rights was David Crosby. He did not want to sell his publishing rights. In addition, it was not an easy thing for him to do. However, by making a deal with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group, it took a big weight off his shoulders. He could pay off his house and cover other bills. Now he does not have to work for a living. It should be noted that David is battling tendinitis in his hands, which hurts his ability to play guitar.
Do you think you would be willing to sell your back catalog if someone like Universal is willing to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? Remember anything that you create forward will be 100% yours.
I’m a big proponent for doing what you feel in the moment and allowing views to change over time. I think at this stage, it would feel like I was selling out or selling my soul. But, if I was a decade or 2 older and in a different place in my life, I might me more open to it. It might feel worth it at that point. I think every person has to decide what’s best for them. Money isn’t everything, but it would also depend on the amount I was offered. Would it be something I could secure my future grandkids with? Might not be a bad idea…
Over half a billion active users around the world share their favorite music on TikTok either with something like a dance challenge and lip-sync videos or creating a funny skit or candid camera moment.
TikTok has become a great platform for music promotion, sharing songs, and finding new listeners. In which it has become a place for music artists to earn revenue when people use their music. In many cases the daily promotion on TikTok has led to huge boosts on other platforms like Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.
TikTok does this with the algorithm that generates a feed of content for each user, which you see as the displaying of #. The more a user engages with content, the smarter TikTok gets at guessing what kind of videos the viewer wants to watch.
Because a song can go viral because of this.
Sony Music and Warner Music Group-, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
I am already pretty focused on creating content for TikTok. I wasn’t aware how important it was (at least for right now) to be both on AND consistently active on the app. But I’ve enjoyed it so far, and hope it becomes a good tool for promoting my songs!
Breaking news: TikTok is launching TikTok Radio, a full-time SiriusXM music channel going live this summer. The station will be available in vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.
Some of the on TikTok include Cassyette, YukoEXE, Ashinikko, Palaye Royale, Josh Dun (Twenty-One Pilots), Yungblud, Morrissey, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Gene Simmons, and Mick Jagger.
The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary, Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent. Do you think this platform could become a force in the future of streaming music?
It’s sure seeming like it! I’ve heard so many song clips on TikTok to later hear them on the radio or charting on Spotify. I think it’s important to be open to the evolution of the industry and use it to your advantage however you can.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Life is short, the older I get, the quicker the weeks pass. So, do more of what fill your soul.
