The latest single from Julez comes through with a heavy-handed emotional drive and feels like a cinematic power ballad packed to the brim with heart and passion.
"Pieces" grows more intense as it plays on, and the vocals build and swell with the music as it all begins to wash you away with the sound.
The single has a crisp pop undertone with very solid production on the beat side of things to go along with synth pads that add this dreamy ambience and a fresh tonality to match up with the melodic and lush vocals.
This feels and sounds like a love song for sure. It's relatable and is open to interpretation but it's clear that Julez wears his heart on his sleeves for this one for the world to hear.
The song is quite beautiful and keeps you floating just above ground with its impactful and almost anthemic pop vibe.
"Pieces" feels like it came from someplace very real and perhaps it did.
That aspect shines through and really brings the song to that cinematic place.
This was a wonderfully tasteful piece of work that does an outstanding job of crossing a few genres together and creating something familiar, but still quite new and refreshing.
With such a great release, we wanted to have a chat with Julez to find out where the song came from among other things.
Here's what happened.
RAG: okay so let's start with "Pieces". The track has such an intense and cinematic tone to it! Where did this single come from?
“Pieces” was created a few years ago, it was the first of many new songs for me that I started to write that were inspired by an extremely hard breakup and I looked upon music to get me though a very difficult time in my life. The Track ‘Pieces” was written late one evening when i was playing the piano after getting in from a long day at work. The chorus came to me very quickly around the riff, but couldn’t find a verse that suited the song, but after writing three different verse styles, I finally finished writing the track that you hear today. I really hope my music can help heal others when you listen to it, as much as music has helped me find “Peace, strength and hope going forward.
RAG: I'm hearing some great styles on this release. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I listen a lot to The weekend, Avicii, David Guetta and Coldplay. I really love the style of Edm, Electro pop, Hip hop and R&B pop cross over. On the flip side I'm a massive fan of Cinematic productions with Orchestral influences. “Pieces” has orchestral parts throughout the song that give the song deeper layers to the sound. I love playing the piano and creating a strong vibe with my style of playing on my songs, that's really important in my music.
RAG: So how did this all begin for you really? When did you fall in love with making music?
So from an early age of 9, I was became passionate about drumming, started forming bands throughout my early musical days. I always loved writing and producing music and when I started playing the Piano many years later I was inspired to write my own songs through my piano playing. Writing new songs on the piano was always my escapism or muse for me, it always relaxed me from my design career, that always took a lot out of me.
RAG: What's next for you as an artist?
I really want to focus on finishing my album “Reveal” by the end of the year and also work hard on trying to get my music heard and get more of a following on all music platform globally. I'm planning at the moment my first Music Video for “Pieces” which I hope to start filming next month, so look out for it!
RAG: What inspires you to write a song?
Many things inspire me to write songs, A lot of my melodies come to me when I'm playing the piano or when I'm out walking, to the shops or on the beach.
My children inspire me a lot to write also and since my breakup in my relationship, I've had so many different emotions have filled my heart and I’ve kind of used my music as a form
of therapy and turned these emotions and feelings into melodies and words.
RAG: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
I'm an experienced Design Director specializing in the world of Brand design and graphics in London. Having worked for many of the finest leading global design agencies throughout my career. I've helped create award winning designs and I'm always passionate about design and also my music, I feel lucky I have these passions in my life.
RAG: Who are you listening to right now?
I'm listening a lot to The weekend, Coldplay, David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Kygo.
RAG: Are you doing live performances?
Nothing has been planned yet to perform live with my new songs, my priority is to work hard at finishing my album called “Reveal” by the end of the year and also release a new single in July.
RAG: This album seems like a big undertaking. What kind of advice might you have for other up and coming artists out there?
Always follow your dream and never give up, if you find happiness in music that really is the main thing. Since an early age music has always been a massive part of my life, coming from a musical family.
Find a process that's helps you achieve the best productions possible, I write all the music at home and then go into a studio to produce the track up with a brilliant producer called Patrick Hunt. Music can be created virtually any where these days, so creating good strong productions really is achievable today.
RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
Id like to thank everyone for listening to my music and following me on this musical journey.
Its been an amazing experience so far and hope you come along and enjoy it with me. Look out for my new single “Pieces” out now!
and “ Lift me up” due out in early July.