Building Community & Finding Purpose: An Interview with Alex Julia on Queer Identity, Music, and Inspiration

Hi Alex! How are you at this moment?

I’m doing pretty good! Staying busy. Playing a lot of shows and working on new music. 

You've organized inclusive showcases and open mics in NYC that emphasize diversity and acceptance. How has building community in music affected you, and what is one of the most memorable open mic moments?

Building community has been really important to me. Growing up as a queer alternative artist I didn’t get a lot of support within my own community and decided to focus on creating an inclusive accepting environment . Indie artists are so passionate and inspire me everyday to be a better musician and grow as a person. There have been so many amazing moments. I would say my favorite open mic as of recently was an event me and an activist in the community put together called Marigold’s Open Mic to raise awareness and funds for a family in Gaza. I had collaborated with hanging gardens, a traveling outdoor art installation in Brooklyn. It was amazing to see local musicians and poets come together to make a difference. My performance at this event felt very spiritual and people really resonated with the themes of my songs. 

As a female queer indie rock artist, how has your identity influenced your music and the spaces you create for others?

My identity as a female queer rock artist has made me tend to gravitate towards curating shows that are geared towards artists in the queer community. When I had first gotten into the industry there weren’t as many females in rock. I am influenced by many genres so this has definitely played a part in the diversity of my showcases. I love having the creative control of curating multi genre shows and being able to create the vibe. I focus on creating a safe space for queer artists where we can feel seen and heard. 

If you could go back to being a child what would you tell yourself?

I would tell myself to breathe… that things get better and to keep following my dreams. I would tell my younger self to never give up.  That one day things will make more sense. 

Has music always been a large part of your life or did your love for music grow as you grew?

Music has always been a big part of my life. My father was an incredible drummer and DJ. He would burn me cd’s of songs that I really liked and would throw in his old school roots. I started performing original songs in high school. Once I fell in love with guitar playing and writing it gave me a purpose and made me feel like I had a voice. As a weird introverted kid that had a hard time expressing myself to others this had opened up a whole new world for me and gave me the opportunity to connect with people on a deeper level. My love for it definitely grew  everytime I would perform and improve my craft. I started to realize the power of my words and music. 

What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced in music and how have you or are you overcoming it?

Being in the spotlight can be really overwhelming for my mental health. I get such a thrill from performing and inspiring others but sometimes I do get worn out. Being very frequently analyzed and critiqued can be draining. I’m learning to have a healthy balance between my social life and the constant grind. I fully manage myself and it can be a lot but I love being in control of what happens next. Sometimes I just need to take a step back and realize how far I’ve come. I think when we are constantly on the grind we forget where we came from and how we got here. It’s important to appreciate things and live in the moment.

Finally, here at Pop Palace, we all have our own little 'Royal Court' of artists who inspire us and keep us going. So, if you could build your own musical palace, who would be sitting on your throne, and who would be in your royal court of all-time favorite artists?

For me, Hayley Williams wears the crown. As a teenager she woke something up inside of me. I remember seeing her live for the first time and I was like….. THIS is what I need to be doing. Stevie Nicks would absolutely be on a throne she changed my life. Kurt Cobain would be in my royal court for inspiring my grunge roots. Freddie Mercury and David Bowie changed my soul. Jimi Hendrix inspired me to play electric guitar. Those are really the artists that stand out to me and shaped my sound.