Q&A: Julian Forest on Crafting Soulful Narratives and Embracing Authenticity in Music
JULIAN FOREST IS AN ARTIST WHO HAS SPENT A LIFETIME NURTURING A DEEP CONNECTION WITH MUSIC. From their early years surrounded by their parents' vast CD collection to performing original compositions as a child, Julian’s passion for music has been a constant thread weaving through diverse life experiences. Now, as an up-and-coming trans artist from Southern California, Julian brings a unique blend of soulful vocals, rich lyricism, and genre-fluidity to the forefront of their craft. With the release of their latest single, "Thinking About Your Love," and an upcoming EP titled Silver Linings, Julian is poised to share their message of empowerment, unity, and individual expression with the world.
We delve into the stories behind their latest work, explore the themes of their upcoming EP, and discuss the importance of staying true to oneself in an industry that often demands conformity. Julian also reflects on the life experiences that have influenced their artistry and offers valuable advice for young, aspiring musicians navigating their own paths. Through it all, Julian’s commitment to creating music that resonates with authenticity and emotional depth shines through, making them an artist to watch in the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary music.
Read below to learn more about their musical journey, the inspirations behind their songwriting, and how their identity as a trans artist shapes their art.
LUNA: Your journey as a musician began at a very young age. Can you share a bit about how your love for music developed and how it has shaped your career so far?
FOREST: My love of music began with my parent's massive cd collection, my mother's singing voice and my father's love of song. My father first taught me a few chords on guitar around age 8 and I began writing songs between age 10 and 12, young enough not to question the creative process or where I fit into it. My folks recognized my natural ability to perform and pushed me to play for others at every opportunity, whether it was a reimagined cover or my own creation. Over the course of my life, writing a song became a way to channel the ether into a vibrational memory, one that evolves each time you play it.
I never stopped writing, playing and exploring music while studying history at Berkeley, traveling through Australia after graduating, and working a series of jobs in Seattle and Hawaii. It’s only recently in coming back to Southern California that music has come into the foreground as a career. Song creation and performance are an end in themselves for me and I’m so grateful to have the means to bring a blissful presence to myself and others, even just for a moment. It is very special to have lived what feels like a few lives before bringing my greatest passion forward and out into the world.
LUNA: You describe your music as soulful and filled with imagery and themes of empowerment. What inspires your songwriting, and how do you approach the process of creating a new song?
FOREST: In my experience so far, each song is a happening. Sometimes the melodies that come to me ask to be sung through a certain set of words that appear scattered at first. For me it’s all about riding the wave and in essence saying “yes and”. Sometimes they take shape quickly, other times over weeks or years. Of course, my phone is overflowing with voice memo melodies and lyric ideas new, old, finished, or partially so. My songs can be letters to myself or to others, sparked by a single moment or a string of them. They can be detailed stories, factual or imagined. The most powerful of mine have seemingly written themselves as if they were waiting to be pulled into our realm.
LUNA: As an artist who floats between genres, how do you find balance in your sound, and what draws you to explore different musical styles?
FOREST: Groove, across genres, is what ties everything together. For me, the Blues, R&B, reggae and everything in between is all about staying in the pocket and allowing vocal performance and lyrical context to drive it all home. I was drawn to artists like Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Gary Clark Jr, and Brittany Howard growing up, to name just a handful. Tasteful and raw lyrical storytelling is what cuts through to me as a listener and has become the foundation of the music I strive to make.
LUNA: Your new single, “Thinking About Your Love,” marks the beginning of an exciting string of releases. What can fans expect from this track, and how does it set the tone for your upcoming EP, Silver Linings?
FOREST: “Thinking About Your Love” was a song I wrote start to finish in a few minutes on a flight a couple years back. It’s a nostalgic combination of what I love most about a soul song; thoughtful lyrics, passionate vocals and a classic guitar, bass, drum trio to back it all up. I think this one captures the sweet longing of a new love connection. It revels in the calm before the storm that inspired Silver Linings. The whole EP came together in the wake of a break-up that shifted my reality drastically. I’m glad I was able to give my listeners a classic love song before we move into a more reflective place.
LUNA: As a trans artist, how do your personal experiences and identity influence your music, and how do you hope your message of unity and individual expression resonates with listeners?
FOREST: In the 2020s, I think we are all grappling with our sense of identity and how to stay true to ourselves in a society that demands adherence, both subtly and overtly. I also recognize my good fortune in living in a moment where we have the language to better honor our identities as we evolve and allow others to share in how we view ourselves along the way. Being trans and non-binary gives me a window into our individual complexity and eradicates my fear of expression beyond the confines of gender and genre. It inspires confidence and allows what I naturally gravitate towards to dictate how I create and how I move through the world, apart from societal expectations. As artists, and simply as people, we are a reflection of everything before us and everything around us. In the act of creation and in being seen, we have an opportunity to remind ourselves and others of our humanity. I hope to tell my own story as it plays out, and inspire others to share in that act.
LUNA: You’ve worked in diverse fields, from carpentry to teaching, while maintaining your passion for music. How have these experiences influenced your artistry, and what lessons have you carried into your musical journey?
FOREST: I think having skipped around in different lines of work has allowed me to collide with a lot of folks I otherwise wouldn’t have. With music and writing to translate these experiences, I’ve grown as a songwriter. I’ve studied history at a university, worked in a rock-climbing gym, worked construction in a high rise building, I’ve been a barista, a baker, a substitute teacher, a mentor. I have learned that none of us were or ever will be one thing. In the end, our only constant is ourselves. I choose to define myself as an artist because it is the most accurate identifier for others to understand the way I interact with the world, and nothing feels more natural and authentic to me than creation and performance. Music is a language I speak as I continue to evolve.
LUNA: Can you tell us more about the themes and stories behind the tracks on your upcoming EP Silver Linings? What message do you hope listeners take away from it?
FOREST: Silver Linings is a collection of 4 tracks and each conveys a different dimension of my experience through the end of a serious relationship. The first track, “Talk It Out”, reflects on the damage done on both sides of the tether when two people no longer hear each other. The second, “Shiny”, is an introspective track that dives into the self-sabotage of martyrdom. “Silver Linings”, the title track, reckons with the conflicting nature of knowing something has to end and convincing yourself to hold on anyway. The final track, “Saying goodbye”, is an honest letter and a book end for me. In letting these songs go, I hope listeners can trust themselves in their own vulnerability as they hear mine. Grieving is a process and a space that is just as deserving of its own moment as any other experience, however uncomfortable it may be. Collecting the pieces of yourself and moving forward looks different for everyone, but I hope this batch of songs encourages all to journey inward and onward.
LUNA: What advice would you give to other young, aspiring artists, especially those who may feel like they don’t fit into traditional molds within the industry?
FOREST: I would say to remain open and pay close attention to what resonates with you. As you become more in touch with your own ever-evolving voice, work to de-center your own and others judgement of your creativity. With love as the intention behind your words, you can speak anything into existence. If perfectionism is something you battle with, remind yourself to navigate around it to better connect with yourself and others. In this life, nothing is worth more than graceful authenticity with yourself in the moment. Cultivating that space and sharing what surfaces from it with others, in whatever capacity or medium, frees us all in the end.
