Seeing an opportunity to give back, DJ and producer Julien Earle took to YouTube. It became an outlet for him to share his music production knowledge and create an online community. The Los Angeles-based artist shares more about why he decided to leverage the online world as a means to not only provide value but continue learning himself. He also imparts some advice to his fellow aspiring artists.
When did you realize you wanted to pursue music as a career and more than just a hobby, and how long have you been at it?
I always knew I wanted to do music. I come from a musical family, and my earliest memories are my parents playing me records and dancing around so it was the only thing I ever wanted to do.
The best brand to me is just yourself because being real speaks to people in a way even the best curated “brand” could never.
The power of authenticity
What has changed from when you first touched DJ or production gear to now?
Samples and sample packs have gotten so much better. When I first started, they were all over the place. Good quality sounds were really hard to find. Now they have come so far and as a result, music overall sounds better.
What prompted you to create tutorial videos and other content on YouTube?
I wanted to provide some value to the community and make the tutorials I wish existed when I was first learning. There was a lot of stuff that hadn’t been covered professionally so I decided to study those sounds and make some videos to help people with everything I learned. I also knew it would be a great opportunity for me to take everything I learn and improve my own tracks, which were not really at the quality level I wanted them to be yet.
How do you treat social media as an artist? Your content seems to be more than just music, and also showing a personal side. Are we seeing the real you there or a “brand”?
It’s the real me. I don’t know how to do anything else. The best brand to me is just yourself because being real speaks to people in a way even the best curated “brand” could never. Realness also gives you the longevity that brands rarely have in my opinion. A lot of people in the underground overthink things and try to put up this wall but I find the most revolutionary and interesting artists to be the ones who are unapologetically themselves.
What do you think is the hardest part about DIY marketing?
Doing the work, and working smarter vs. harder. Obviously putting in lots of hours for little result will deter a lot of people, but if you can push past that and keep trying you will get results. You have to also make sure you are marketing something good that people actually want as well. [This] plays into working smarter vs. harder with something people aren’t as interested in. Good business is an art form just the same as music.
Never give up. This game is disheartening. Bad things will happen. People will be mean. Just keep making tracks and stay down until you come up. You can and will do it with time and hard work. Everyone in the world is looking for the next big artist [so] prove to them why you deserve to be it.
Keep on Keeping on
Are there any artists inspiring you right now, and what is about them that attracts you?
I really really like what’s going on with Possession. It feels like the artists are trying to do themselves and not really sound like anyone other than the best version of themselves.
What’s something you’re proud of having contributed at this point in your career? Anything you’re currently striving for at this phase of your career?
It seems that I have helped a lot of people get their productions to the next level and make some professional quality tracks, which means a lot to me. That’s all I could ever hope for. I’m also really proud of my last few releases because I worked really hard and didn’t give up but kept striving and got to some nice labels. I’m now striving to keep putting out solid releases and keep going until I get to the top. I won’t quit until I do.
What words would you share with an artist who just started on this path of turning pro?
Never give up. This game is disheartening. Bad things will happen. People will be mean. Just keep making tracks, and stay down until you come up. You can and will do it with time and hard work. Everyone in the world is looking for the next big artist [so] prove to them why you deserve to be it.
Anything else you want to share?
Thanks for having me on here.
