February 11, 2020 • 37 mins
Sammy Jaye catches up with Julia Michaels about love, songwriting, American Idol and what it feels like to challenge yourself creatively in this episode of Let's Be Real. Julia opens up about the vulnerability of songwriting with a boyfriend, getting into creative flow with songwriting partners like Selena Gomez, and her favorite musical at the moment. Check it out!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hi, guys, I am so excited for you to listen
to this week's episode because Julia Michael's is my guest,
which is still crazy to say. Her music help me
get through a very hard time with my anxiety last year,
and so it just meant a lot that she agreed
to come on. UM. This episode was actually recorded in
two different sessions. The first one was in person, and
(00:23):
then we did a follow up over the phone just
a couple of days ago, since she has a lot
of new stuff going on in her life. I hope
you guys enjoyed this episode. I'm so happy that you're here.
I'm happy to be here. Last time I spoke to you,
it was during the American and I saw you on
Inner Monologue Part one tours, and I have to say,
(00:43):
I think that was the best concert I've ever been to.
I have never cried, laughed, and screamed all in the
same concert. That makes me so happy. It was like
after the concerts, the weirdest thing. I felt like took
a big breath in, but it was like a refreshing thing.
It was so interesting, like I've never felt that before
at a concert. That is the most beautiful thing anyone
could ever say to me, so thank you incredible, Like
(01:05):
it was the most amazing energy. It was just karaoke
basically what it was. Now, I'm I really am grateful
my my fans are, you know. I like to say that,
like you attract like minded people. So if you're a
very open, vulnerable, honest person, you're going to attract those open, vulnerable,
honest people. And that's the that's the kind of energy
(01:26):
that comes to my shows. And that's the kind of
energy that I wanted my shows. I want people to
feel free to have these beautiful cathartic experiences and cry
and laugh and scream and like really scream, you know,
like I love so therapeutic. Yeah, because it's also a
therapeutic for me, you know, Like I love to help people.
That's my thing, you know, I'm like, I'm a songwriter.
I like I love to help people. So when I
(01:48):
get to see I'm helping people in the crowd, like
they're helping me too. So it's like it's just a
full circle thing for me. For those who don't know,
you've written for some of the biggest stars. You've written
for Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Britney, spears and that's just
a few. So I'm curious, what is it like, you know,
writing for so many different artists that have so many
different styles, how do you connect to them individually? You know,
(02:13):
I think I think it's just a personal sort of
connection and then the sonics sort of form around what
we write. Um, you know, I've I've found that a
majority of people all sort of have the same problems,
and you know, we all think the same things. And
you know, even if you know, like take heartbreak for example,
(02:35):
like it's something that everybody can talk about. The experiences
may be different, but it's something that we've all sort
of experienced, you know. If it's not love, it's you know,
losing a friend, it's losing a dog or something like that. Yeah,
So there's always something that you can connect to somebody with.
So it's easy to sort of crush genres because you can,
(02:56):
you know, you kind of can you can do that
with anybody. Well, before you were your own artists, you
work for these people. Was there like a specific moment
You're like, I'm going to be my own artist, I'm
not gonna be behind the stage anymore and friends center. Yeah, Actually,
when I wrote Issues that was like the first time
where I was like, m I think I want something. Actually,
(03:17):
I had written a song for somebody and I was
sort of supposed to be on it, and UM, I
wasn't signed to a label at the time, and UM,
the label that the song was attached to, decided to
go with another person, UM to be did it? I did,
and and UM, yeah, you know, like it wasn't something
(03:39):
that I originally wanted. And when they told me, just
for political purposes, they wanted someone that was on their
label to be a part of the song, I got
really sad and it made me realize you're like yeah.
So I was in a session with a good friend
of mine, Justin Tranter, and I had been in the
bathroom for a while and he was like, wow, Julie
has been gone for about forty five minutes. This is
not like her. And he knocked on the door and
(04:02):
and he and I let him in and I was crying,
and he's like, what's going on? And I was like,
I don't know, I'm I'm just like sad. And he
was like, well, maybe this is your brain saying you
know you want something more than you think you do
when you're just scared. They're just scared of it. And
so when I wrote Issues, I was like, I'm never
doing that again. And now you know, now that you've
(04:25):
wret an issue, I know it's about a breakup. How
long after you read the song? Did you break up
with that guy? Because he did not seem like he's
supported to you the way you're so right? Uh, we
broke up, Oh dear, we broke but didn't he hear
the song? And then he was like, oh I'm in trouble. Yes,
But he wasn't too upset with me because I had
(04:47):
written it on the on a day where where like
it was acceptable for him to be like, Okay, I
deserve this. You know. It was like one of those
where it's like I get a pass your paths. Well,
even in all these songs, do you regret ever, Like,
do you wish you kept one for? You know? I
(05:09):
wish that you say that one for yourself. Um. You know,
there's songs that feel more special to me than others.
But um, if I'm in the studio with that person
and even if I love it like that's there's like
I'm not how do you separate that? Um? You know,
I guess you could you sort of, don't, you know.
Writing for other people is my first love. That's like
(05:32):
something that I started with. And there's something so incredible
to me about having somebody that you just meet trust
you so much to you know, get their thoughts and
feelings out on paper and and put it together like
a little puzzle, you know, and then that builds this
just this beautiful relationship with somebody, and you know, I
(05:52):
just love that so much. Um so like for me
writing for someone someone else and you know you and
if I love the song, it's like, you know, I
know that you're going to love this song just as
much as I do, and you're going to do it
just as much justice if I did. It's given when
you're your kids for adoption, but you know that your
kid is going to a good home, you know. So
(06:15):
it's when I came up with the idea for this podcast.
I was going through a really rough time the school
and I listened to anxiety. It just came out because
I everyone was talking about it, and for some reason,
I just burst it into tears. I was like what
And I've never felt a connection to lyrics like I
felt with your music. It's truly incredible. And you know
(06:37):
there are two songs in particular that especially live, Anxiety
and Happy. Those songs Live were amazing one. So I'm
curious that your song Anxiety, which features Selena Gomez. UM,
I know you've talked openly about you having anxiety. What
was the story about creating that song in particular? Well,
(06:58):
when I was about nineteen now, I used to have
panic attacks every day. Panic attacks are the worst thing. Yeah,
They're terrifying, and I used to have them all the time,
literally like everyday fetal position. I thought like if I
stopped rocking, I yeah, I would pass out or like
(07:21):
something would happen to me. Do you feel like the
word Like when I've had it before, it feels like
like things are just like closing in like that you
feel like claustrophobic. My hands shake, Mike gets sweaty, Like
it's the weirdest feeling. It's bizarre, and it's like all
in your mind. It's so wild, And um, I was
having them so much, and you know, I always try
to be really honest with everybody, you know, like about
(07:44):
how I'm feeling and what I'm going through. And I
always knew I wanted to write a song about anxiety.
And I think it just took being in the right
place with the right people and me feeling comfortable to
talk about it with those people. And you know, I
wanted it to be sort of like, um, I didn't
want it to be were heavy, you know, I almost
wanted it to be like slightly comedic, like because like,
(08:05):
you know, I just sort of wanted to like laugh
at myself, like I am that kind of person that
will like get ready and and then like no, I
don't want to go. And then like I see all
my friends out having a good time. It's like they
went without me. Yeah, I mean like and it's like,
why are you doing that? You're so ridiculous. You were invited,
So like I just wanted to like talk about those
silly things that you do when you have anxiety, and
(08:26):
like it's it seems like a big deal in the
moment when you look back, like this is comedic. It
doesn't logically make sense. It doesn't. Okay your first verse,
can you sing it so people can know it or
I can read it? Okay, it's my I just try
to be social. I make all these friends with friends
with plans and hope they call and canceled. Then I
overthink about the things I'm missing now I'm wishing I
(08:47):
was with them. To a logical person, that does not
make sense at all. But the person you're like, oh,
I totally get that. That's been there, done that. That
line like it's it depicts it so perfectly. Thank you.
It doesn't make sense. But why wouldn't you just go out?
Did it just like did it just like come out
like out of like it was so easy to write?
Were those lines hard to you know, figure out? No,
(09:11):
it sort of was pieced together pretty fast. I think
because it's something that I deal with on a daily basis.
We were just sort of talking about and all and
the people that I wrote it with two are like
highly neurotic, So I think, like it's just a perfect
It just like made it so easy for us to
just like go back and forth with things that we
do on a daily basis that we're we just like
why do we do those things? How would you describe
(09:33):
anxiety to someone who doesn't have it? It's sort of
feels like, well, you know, everybody experiences anxiety completely different,
but for me, um, it's sort of feels like an
earthquake that just won't stop, like and and almost like
there's like a million natural disasters going on in your
(09:53):
body and there's no cure for it, like you have
no idea how to fix it, and it's it can
be so overwhelming. But I'm not going to therapy and
it changed my life. Same. Yeah, Okay, I think it's
so underrated. It's so underrated, and I think people are
afraid to go because it makes them think they're crazy. Yes,
(10:14):
you know, like there's something wrong with them. But it's
the opposite because you're just wanting to better yourself. What
strategies that have you learned that have helped you? I
have learned mostly to talk myself out of things. Um.
That's hard to do, especially when you're in your own head.
It's hard to do. UM. Like when I get really
anxious before I go on stage or something, you know,
(10:34):
I go, Okay, why am I nervous? Or like, why
do I feel like this? It's probably because you know,
like X, Y and Z from when I was eight
and that was then and that's not now and I'm
okay now, you know, or like if I've been doing
so much and I'm just like super anxious, Like why
it's like, oh, okay, I haven't slept, blah blah blah blah. Okay,
(10:55):
I'm I need to let my people know that I
need a second to sleep and take a breather and
then I can, you know, come about this much better,
you know. So it's yeah, I've learned a lot of
like little baby coping mechanisms. Yeah. I feel like those
are the little things that help you get through the day.
I think of anxiety is like, okay, like when you
(11:16):
have it, like you always have it such to some degree.
I think I think of it like a glass of
water and the waters like half filled, and that's just
it being moderate. When something that makes you anxious, it's
like the water overflows and it comes out, and that's
the anxiety. And that's an anxiety. It's like that's how
my picture, and that's a that's a really good, good
mental picture. Right. I feel like, okay, it's really good.
(11:38):
Do you remember the first time you ever experienced it? Um?
You know, I was about seventeen. I had just signed
my first publishing deal, and I think I experienced like
this immense pressure to perform and um, and then the
more songs that I had written for other people. The
(11:58):
more pressure I started to put on myself because I
was like, you know, I feel like people are looking
at me a certain way and they know I can
write a certain thing, and if I don't go in
there and I don't do what they're expecting, like, am
I like, am I gonna ever work again? Am I
going to be able to ever write a good song again?
And you know, yeah, and I it just overwhelmed me
(12:20):
so much that I just started having them all the time.
For someone who's debating on going to therapy, what do
you say to them? Go seriously? Yeah, no, literally if
if you like, you know, it takes somebody with a
lot of courage and a lot of self awareness to
be like, you know, I think I really need to
talk to somebody. My dad actually was like super against therapy,
(12:44):
super against it, and I think that's a generational thing.
And um, when he saw just like how much it
changed me, it actually it made him want to go.
So he started going to therapy and it it opened
up his mind about so many from things. And you know,
now he does the same thing. He'll talk himself through
things and stuff like that, and I just think it's
(13:07):
super insightful It helps you figure out who you are
and why you have, you know, these problems that you
deal with on a daily basis, And I think it's beautiful. Yeah,
I think I completely agree with you. You did a
Cosmopologan interview UM and he talked about how m you
didn't want to live your life in fear and you
want to try things. And I'm sure, is there one
thing that you're still like fearful of that you just
(13:29):
haven't got the courage to you quite yet? For a
long time? Performing was that for me? But you I
you know, conquering your fears, man, it's the thing. You know.
When I saw you on stage during the toy it
was just like you could see how happy where it
was genuine. Well, you know, I've I've found with performing
that the thing that makes me feel really calm is
(13:49):
when people sting with me. So that concert must have
been everyone say like those those moments for me are
just like Okay, I can breathe now, you know, Like,
I think there's a big part of me that feels
like what if they don't like I feel very like
alone and isolated and like they're trying to figure out
if they like me or not. And that can be
like so scary. It's like a blind date with six people.
(14:11):
You know, that's actually what it is. Yeah, oh my god,
that must be terrifying, be really scary. But then when
you see everyone singing with you, you're just like, Okay,
they liked me. So, like, I know you got over
your fear, and I know you talked about how you
had it in a panic attack at the Billboard. Ward,
how did you how did you get back on stage
(14:33):
after that? Because like, I don't know if I could
have done that, because like that just seems it's, you know,
the worst thing to overcome. I have run away, I've
hidden in staircases. People have had to try and hunt
me down before performances that after the Billboard Yeah, um,
but you know you just keep trying again, you know,
like I want to conquer fears. I don't want to
(14:56):
be afraid, you know. I think that's a big part
of anxiety. It's it's just all based on fear and
also the fear of yeah, of course, And and I
think also people are always afraid to to reach their
full potential, so they'll you know, sabotage things, so they'll
create problems in their heads. That aren't there, and you
know all that stuff, and I just have always wanted
(15:17):
to conquer fears. I don't want to live in fear.
I think one of the reasons why your music is
so relatable to so many people because you know, you
don't try away from stigmas. You talk about everything mental health,
you know, anxiety, depression, sex, all of it, and I
think you just normalize it in a fun way. So
in a lot of songs you talk about love and heartbreak.
I'm curious. I'm sixteen, never been in love. I love
(15:39):
the idea of it. How would you describe it love?
Oh boy? You could just because I just want to
imagine it, like close your eyes, can imagine what it is, okay, okay.
Imagine going on a roller coaster, okay, okay, and you're
about to like get up to the drop like it's coming,
(16:01):
and you're like, oh my gosh, like this is happening.
I don't I'm a little scared, but like I know
this is probably gonna be really fun and blah blah blah.
And then when you drop, instead of like that like
horrible like throw up feeling, you feel like butterflies, like
like going through your whole body and like all of
(16:21):
a sudden, like weird hearts are like flying out of
your eyes and you're just like, this is just the magic,
like magical feeling on the planet. You should write a
song called roller Coaster and it should just be that
totally honestly, maybe their love is a little bit like
roller coaster, lots of lots of twist and turns. Do
you remember the first time you ever experienced love? Um? Yeah,
(16:45):
I was probably around eighteen, I think. And I met
my first boyfriend who worked at a coffee shop and
he was making my latte. That's how it always started, right,
It's such a move, it's so l a. It's like
such a movie, a movie about it, right, Um yeah.
And I met him when I was eighteen, and and yeah,
(17:09):
we broke up when I was twenty. Is that your
first heartbreak was my first? No, not really. I think
my first heartbreak, my first real real heartbreak, came after that.
I was like super in love with someone for three years,
which is the guy wrote issues about. And I think
when we broke up, that was the one that was
(17:29):
like I can't get out of bad, I can't sleep,
I can't eat, I can't do anything, and that one
was pretty crushing. Did your heart actually hurt me a heartbreak? Yes?
I think it's the closest thing to like to grief,
like losing somebody, only you have to see them around
with their new girlfriend. Like definitely. It's one of the
(17:59):
deepest pains I think you can you can, you can
feel but worth it because love is great. So you
wrote us on body, which I think it is so
vulnerable and beautiful and I'm curious people at all ages
are self conscious with themselves. How do you get through it?
And how do you love? Oh, that's a good question.
(18:21):
It's a deep question. Um. You know that's something that
I still struggle with every day. I think with social
media culture and makes it really easy to be insecure.
You know, you click on your suggested posts and it's
a model in turks and cacos, and you're just like,
I don't look like that, and I know that like
(18:42):
this kind of person or whatever like likes that or
wants that, and I'm not that. And you know there's
things that like, you know and mean girls. Have you
seen mean girls? You know when they're like looking in
the mirror and they're like, oh, like my nail beds suck,
and you're like, my thighs are bad, right like you
you over analyze every part of your body. And you know,
(19:05):
I I wrote it because I was just like I
can't be the only one that like completely picks myself apart,
you know, And and I do do the things like
in the second verse, it says, you know, um, like
I'm sorry I don't let you go out with your friends.
And it's like, so I put a sweatshirt on because
you gave up, um watch TV still in your makeup,
(19:27):
and you stayed in it until you waked up. You
wiped it off and we made up. And it's like,
you know, you in that like toxic inner turmoil with yourself.
And that's something I definitely do all the time. Um.
But you know, I think the thing that really helps
is not being on social media. I think social media
really makes you question lots of things, like things you're
doing in your life and the things that you eat,
(19:49):
and the things and like the way that you look.
And I think it helps. How do you think social
media plays a role in anxiety and all that? I
think it plays a huge because for me, I think
so too. I know a lot people that are really depressed,
um because of social media. You know, like they see
their friends doing, you know, some sort of amazing something
(20:11):
and they're not a part of it. Or like they
see their friends with their other friends and they're out
at a party or something like why was I not invited?
Am I not good enough to like hang out with people?
And you know, it's like there's so many things that
it contributes to that I think, I completely agree can
be very negative. And the thing is, especially with snatch,
I don't think Snapchat has talked about enough, especially teens
(20:34):
and like young people. Um is that snap maps you
can do? You know what? Like snap maps you can
share your location so people you can see where anyone is,
so you can see you in the last time someone
is on. So let's say someone snatchats you and you
snatch with them, like, hey, h do you want to
hang out? You can if you go on snap maps
and there are locations on you could see that these
(20:56):
two people are together in this moment and they're on
their phone and they're not responding to horrifying? How toxic?
Is that? Horrifying? That is so horrified? I feel like
that part isn't talked about enough because like it's creepy,
like you can see people's locations. Obviously you can turn
it off, but people choose to have it on and
you can see so and so and so and so
(21:16):
are together. They were on their phone two minutes ago,
you sent that five minutes ago, so they definitely saw
they're not responding. It's that endless cycle. I just have
to shut it. Or like when you're when you check
your d MS on Instagram and you respond to someone
and it's seen, its like respond but knowing that they
(21:38):
saw in their not responding. Oh, it's the worst, so
so much anxiety. It's so bad, especially like it's someone
you talked to or whatever comments on your photo and
they don't follow, and you were there, why didn't you follow?
It's like it's that toxic even that you know. It's
like people like can check how many followers they have
(22:00):
every day and like they get like so consumed over like, oh,
this picture didn't get as many likes as this picture.
Why didn't that happen? Okay, I'm going to delete it.
I've done that. It's so hard to get not get
in that cycle. So what I did actually did this
last week? I turned off my notifications because I was
just I posted them and I was like, you know what.
I talked to my brother about it. It's like Mark, like,
(22:21):
I don't know what to do. Like people aren't seeing this.
He goes, why do you care? Do you like the photo? Like? Yeah,
he goes, keep it up, Like who cares? More like it?
I think social media's pros and cons. Yeah, you know,
like I get to talk to people all over the world.
I get to, you know, really connect with people from everywhere,
and you know, most of the time when I do
(22:42):
meet and greets, I know a majority of them by
name because I run all my socials and I talked
to all my Twitter fans all the time, you know,
So that part of it is amazing. And I think
you've definitely your community that you've built. It's definitely I
think a group of just non judgment of people that
it's I think it's so beautiful. I think that energy
just like a resonate, especially at the concert. You know,
(23:03):
I've seen you on social media and you love drawing.
I love drawing too, So we are going to draw
a few shirts and then maybe one of your fans
will win them. That sounds super fun. I'm really down
for that. We have an option of hats and shirts
whichever you'd like. We have markers, many colors. Let me
do the hat. Okay, I'll do a hat with you.
I'm gonna do the hat. Yeah. We have some fabric markers.
(23:27):
Julia is choosing pink. I think I'm gonna go for blue. Um. Yeah,
I'm not sure. What are you gonna draw? Um? I
don't know. I like drawing, like these little doodle characters. Okay,
I might, I might do that. Okay, I feel like
we should switch halfway, so then we could do one
half one half and I'm super dunblant and we can
(23:47):
sign it afterwards. I'm super down fort Okay, let's do it.
I'm gonna go a little squiggle line. Okay, I'm gonna
do a heart right over here in the corner. What
is your songwriting process? Like? Well, it varies. It's very
and it depends really. If I'm by myself, sometimes I'll all, Um,
I'll just go on the booth and I'll just sing
(24:09):
down what I feel. Um. If I'm with somebody, it's
all about listening and being you know, like attentive to
their feelings and their thoughts. Um. Yeah, it really kind
of just very Sometimes I'll go in with an idea.
Sometimes I'll I won't go on with an idea at all,
and then three hours later I'll come out with something
(24:31):
so completely different than I anticipated. Yeah. Wait, I want
to ask you a question. Okay, how did you get
started in like interviews? Okay? So I was writing for
my school newspaper. I was at the end of seventh grade. Amazing.
And then they have a family friend who um works
at my Heart. She's like you kind of a good
(24:51):
like you have a good personality, Like what do you
want to do like a test thing? And I was
like yes, but like okay um. And then it was
with Jordan Fish Sure before he released his first EP
or anything. Incredible um and that kind of started it.
And then I did some other stuff. And then in
September of I was at I Heart Music Festival in
(25:13):
Las Vegas and I saw Jordan and he introduced me
to Phil Radio and then EVER said and love him.
It's just that's what's happened. That's incredible, That is so magical.
That is he is an incredible person. Phil. You know
who you are. Phil. We love you the best honestly. Yeah,
(25:41):
I mean I find I think, you know, this is
like therapeutic for me. It's fun and I get inspiration
from it. Like what where do you get inspirations? Um?
You know, I get a lot of my inspiration through conversation.
I think, um, you know, listening to people. And I
know some people that get like inspired by going on
(26:02):
road trips, are going to a cafe and sitting down,
you know, somewhere and you know that kind of thing.
But I think a lot of my inspiration comes from
relationships and just listening to people. It's so therapeutic. I
feel like marthy Craft is so underrated. Agreed. What's the
best advice you've ever received? Um? I think the best advice,
(26:29):
which is so interesting now that I think about it,
was from um it was from Chester, from Lincoln Park.
He would tell me not to take things too seriously
and to have fun, which is I received. Have fun. Yeah,
(26:50):
not take life too seriously. I think that's you know,
I think means even more to me now. Yeah, you know,
I have a deep question for you. Go for so
years to come and you've created many more albums, probably
when if your Grammy's how would you like to be
known as an artist. Um, I think I'd like to
(27:13):
be known as someone that's sort of stuck to her guns.
Was always like always try to you know, be honest
and open and um, you know, I just want to
be authentic. I think I think that's the most dumb.
I think you're doing that. Well, thank you very much.
(27:36):
I try very much. I try. Okay, I think I'm done. Okay,
do you want to switch sides? Yeah? Okay, I think
I've think I've I've done it. I did some color
and hearts and smiley faces. Oh my goodness, Julia, I
feel like this could be another career for you. I
actually think we're going to start making some rich here
with those I think you should, which I'm pretty excited about.
(27:58):
What's okay? What's your spirit in all? I feel like
my spirit animal would be like a person. Do you
know who Goldie Hawn is? Of course? Okay, I think
Goldie Hawn is my spirit? Well, how did you come
protect recusion? Very curious. I just think she's really vibrant
and like and she's just really spunky and I just
(28:19):
love that about her. I just I just I think
Goldie Haunt is my spirit. No, I wish. Okay, if
you met her, what would you say? Um? I would
tell her that her and her me and her daughter
getting mistaken for each other. Um, and that I'm pretty
(28:40):
sure I'm related to her and some I really wouldn't
surprise me. I think that's so interesting. Yeah, she's so awesome.
What would you tell your younger Nothing? I just see
what happens, you know. I feel like if I had
advice when I was a kid, I one't have made
(29:00):
the mistakes that I've made, and my path would be
completely different. So I I don't think I would tell
my my younger self anything. I think I just let
myself learn. I think everything sort of happens for a reason.
But I'm sort of glad that I've learned how I've
learned the way that I've learned it. Okay, I'm done.
(29:21):
This is really cute. We've we've done it. We've done it.
We've done good. That's so beautiful and we've did it.
So if you want to see what it looks like,
I will be posting on my Instagram, So make sure
you check it out and you guys can possibly win it.
So wait, look at that. How would you say? How
has music changed your life question. Oh my gosh, no,
(29:44):
it's amazing. Um, music has changed my life in so
many ways. I mean, for me, it's it's an outlet
of expression. Um, you know, I've I tend to be
a very non confrontational person. So for me, you know,
writing is just as cathartic for me now as performing is.
And um, I mean, music is such a huge part
(30:06):
of my life. I don't even know what I would
do without it. Would you ever write a book? Oh?
I don't know, See I always I always think about, um,
like there's so many different types of writing, but but book,
I don't know if I have the capacity to write
a book because I'm as your writing is so like
well beautiful the way that I write, I guess, like
(30:30):
so like movies. I love to watch movies, Like I
like watching movies sometimes more than I like watching shows,
because I like that it's like everything sort of condensed
into one like two our movie. And I think it's
because my brain has been trained to write, you know,
like a certain amount of sentences and then into a
(30:50):
song and you know it's like it's three minutes, but
it takes you know, it can take sometimes six hours
to write and you know that three minutes has to
be impact full enough to make a statement, which is
the same thing as a movie. You know, you get
two hours to tell the story, and it tried to
make some sort of impactful statement. Um, so like for me,
(31:12):
that's how I don't know. I don't know. Music is
just amazing. It's just amazing and it's changed everything about
my life. Well, I don't know, have you ever seen
Hamilton's I haven't yet, Okay, but book, I don't know.
Have you musical probably that I would love to try,
But book. Have you listened to the Hamilton sound check? Yes? Okay,
so you know brilliant it is. Oh, I mean I
(31:34):
feel like you should. I could totally see you and
lit my mom, we're into the creator that doing. Like though,
that collaboration I feel like would be incredible. I've never
attempted to do musical, but that's something that I feel
like in the future. Yeah, she did Waitress and I
actually saw Waitress and it was super super good. And um,
I've seen like Deer Evan Hansen, which is like the
(31:55):
best musical I think I've ever seen. No musical I
would totally do. That was my initial conversation with Julia
from late last year, and she is simply the best.
Since then, she's had a lot going on and I
wanted you to hear about it directly from her, So
we caught up on the phone just a couple of
(32:15):
days ago. We talked about what's to come in her
dream claps and falling in love. One of the biggest
things that's changed since we talked last is that you
found love. Yeah, that's so weird, dude. Okay, so you
wrote a lot about your toxic relationships and now you're
(32:36):
freaking in love in a healthy relationship. What is that
difference like and has your songwriting changed? It's super different. Um.
It's funny because a lot of the topics that I
usually right, I just can't and I'm just like, who
am I now? No? But it's it's wonderful, you know.
(32:58):
You you sort of adapt your you sort of adapt
yourself to your surroundings. And when you're in a constant
state of toxicity, that's just sort of where you think
you're always meant to live. And then you meet somebody
that completely changes your mind about everything, and you had
(33:22):
no idea that it could even be that lovely and
it's it's such a it's such a it's such a
mind fuck in a great way. I don't mean to cuss,
but it is. It's such a mind fuck in a
great way. I can only imagine. And also you get
to sing with him too, and you have a song
with him, so thats so when you perform it, that
(33:43):
just must make it so much more special. It does,
and it makes it that much more special because I've
definitely done songs with other x is in the past,
and this one like just feels right different. It just
feels different, and it's great. And I hope he doesn't
break up with me. I'm sure because you were a
(34:06):
literal angel. Oh thanks, my love. So okay, not only
has twenty story, but you also just released a song
with Diblo heartless I did. You are a busy, busy woman.
I try, I try, Sammy. I mean, I can only imagine.
How many songs have you written so far in twenty twenty.
(34:26):
I don't even know, probably about We're only one month in,
I know, so that's crazy. I toured for seven months
last year and I didn't really get the chance to
be home and and write and just be in my
zone and now I'm not touring this year so far,
(34:49):
and I'm just home and I'm writing and I'm and
I just it feels good. It feels good to just
be back with all my friends and just creating again.
So I want to just be in the studio as
much as possib but while I can. Okay, so you're
writing a lot. Could there be music coming or an
Internet three or a new album. I don't know if
(35:10):
I'm going to do a Part three. I hope I'm
going to do an album. I don't know what I'm
gonna do, but I'm definitely gonna put out some more
music and and just you know, like you try new things,
you know, just be expansive with my creativity. Yeah. One
of my goals is to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Yes,
(35:30):
I love that. So what's one thing that you want
to do that you haven't done in that either makes
you anxious or you want to push yourself to do.
I think I want to push myself to kind of
do more genres. I think doing this country pop song
with Morgan and Diplow has been so cool, and I
(35:50):
love just the combining of worlds. I think it's so
much fun. And you know, we're in a time where
we can do those things. We can, you know, push
the boundary reason, say what we want and and blend
all kinds of different sounds and perspectives. And I think
that's so fun. So I think, I think is going
to be just the year of of trying different things
(36:13):
in different sounds and different genres with people that I love. Okay,
So to put it on the universe dream collab, Um
dream collab, I think probably Chance the Rapper or Rosalia.
Oh my goodness, I that would be incredible. I would
die or both at the same time. Imagine Sammy, Holy
(36:34):
sh it, wait start writing. I'll start writing a picture
to that. I need to manifest. To Sammy, I need
to manifest exactly, That's what do. I made a vision
board and that's what I'm doing perfect, Julia. I cannot
stress how much you have just changed my life, not
just with your music, but this podcast won't be happening
without you. And I'm so so so grateful, and well,
(36:57):
I believe in you so much, and I'm so i'll
be You're living out your dreams and I know how
busy you are, so thank you for taking the time
to town of course, I love you, dude. I love
you dude too. I hopefully will see you soon. Yes,
please hit me up man, of course. All right, love
you Annie, bye bye. I just want to thank Julia
(37:18):
Michaels again for coming on my podcast. It means the
absolute world to me, and just make sure you follow
her on all our socials. It's at Julia Michaels and
also follow me on Instagram It's at It's Sammy J.
That's I T S S A M M Y J
A y E. I also recommend you follow our podcast
account if you guys want to get those hats, that's
Sammy J. Dot. Let's be real, all right, you guys.
(37:40):
I'll see you next week. By
Hi, guys, I am so excited for you to listen
to this week's episode because Julia Michael's is my guest,
which is still crazy to say. Her music help me
get through a very hard time with my anxiety last year,
and so it just meant a lot that she agreed
to come on. UM. This episode was actually recorded in
two different sessions. The first one was in person, and
(00:23):
then we did a follow up over the phone just
a couple of days ago, since she has a lot
of new stuff going on in her life. I hope
you guys enjoyed this episode. I'm so happy that you're here.
I'm happy to be here. Last time I spoke to you,
it was during the American and I saw you on
Inner Monologue Part one tours, and I have to say,
(00:43):
I think that was the best concert I've ever been to.
I have never cried, laughed, and screamed all in the
same concert. That makes me so happy. It was like
after the concerts, the weirdest thing. I felt like took
a big breath in, but it was like a refreshing thing.
It was so interesting, like I've never felt that before
at a concert. That is the most beautiful thing anyone
could ever say to me, so thank you incredible, Like
(01:05):
it was the most amazing energy. It was just karaoke
basically what it was. Now, I'm I really am grateful
my my fans are, you know. I like to say that,
like you attract like minded people. So if you're a
very open, vulnerable, honest person, you're going to attract those open, vulnerable,
honest people. And that's the that's the kind of energy
(01:26):
that comes to my shows. And that's the kind of
energy that I wanted my shows. I want people to
feel free to have these beautiful cathartic experiences and cry
and laugh and scream and like really scream, you know,
like I love so therapeutic. Yeah, because it's also a
therapeutic for me, you know, Like I love to help people.
That's my thing, you know, I'm like, I'm a songwriter.
I like I love to help people. So when I
(01:48):
get to see I'm helping people in the crowd, like
they're helping me too. So it's like it's just a
full circle thing for me. For those who don't know,
you've written for some of the biggest stars. You've written
for Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Britney, spears and that's just
a few. So I'm curious, what is it like, you know,
writing for so many different artists that have so many
different styles, how do you connect to them individually? You know,
(02:13):
I think I think it's just a personal sort of
connection and then the sonics sort of form around what
we write. Um, you know, I've I've found that a
majority of people all sort of have the same problems,
and you know, we all think the same things. And
you know, even if you know, like take heartbreak for example,
(02:35):
like it's something that everybody can talk about. The experiences
may be different, but it's something that we've all sort
of experienced, you know. If it's not love, it's you know,
losing a friend, it's losing a dog or something like that. Yeah,
So there's always something that you can connect to somebody with.
So it's easy to sort of crush genres because you can,
(02:56):
you know, you kind of can you can do that
with anybody. Well, before you were your own artists, you
work for these people. Was there like a specific moment
You're like, I'm going to be my own artist, I'm
not gonna be behind the stage anymore and friends center. Yeah, Actually,
when I wrote Issues that was like the first time
where I was like, m I think I want something. Actually,
(03:17):
I had written a song for somebody and I was
sort of supposed to be on it, and UM, I
wasn't signed to a label at the time, and UM,
the label that the song was attached to, decided to
go with another person, UM to be did it? I did,
and and UM, yeah, you know, like it wasn't something
(03:39):
that I originally wanted. And when they told me, just
for political purposes, they wanted someone that was on their
label to be a part of the song, I got
really sad and it made me realize you're like yeah.
So I was in a session with a good friend
of mine, Justin Tranter, and I had been in the
bathroom for a while and he was like, wow, Julie
has been gone for about forty five minutes. This is
not like her. And he knocked on the door and
(04:02):
and he and I let him in and I was crying,
and he's like, what's going on? And I was like,
I don't know, I'm I'm just like sad. And he
was like, well, maybe this is your brain saying you
know you want something more than you think you do
when you're just scared. They're just scared of it. And
so when I wrote Issues, I was like, I'm never
doing that again. And now you know, now that you've
(04:25):
wret an issue, I know it's about a breakup. How
long after you read the song? Did you break up
with that guy? Because he did not seem like he's
supported to you the way you're so right? Uh, we
broke up, Oh dear, we broke but didn't he hear
the song? And then he was like, oh I'm in trouble. Yes,
But he wasn't too upset with me because I had
(04:47):
written it on the on a day where where like
it was acceptable for him to be like, Okay, I
deserve this. You know. It was like one of those
where it's like I get a pass your paths. Well,
even in all these songs, do you regret ever, Like,
do you wish you kept one for? You know? I
(05:09):
wish that you say that one for yourself. Um. You know,
there's songs that feel more special to me than others.
But um, if I'm in the studio with that person
and even if I love it like that's there's like
I'm not how do you separate that? Um? You know,
I guess you could you sort of, don't, you know.
Writing for other people is my first love. That's like
(05:32):
something that I started with. And there's something so incredible
to me about having somebody that you just meet trust
you so much to you know, get their thoughts and
feelings out on paper and and put it together like
a little puzzle, you know, and then that builds this
just this beautiful relationship with somebody, and you know, I
(05:52):
just love that so much. Um so like for me
writing for someone someone else and you know you and
if I love the song, it's like, you know, I
know that you're going to love this song just as
much as I do, and you're going to do it
just as much justice if I did. It's given when
you're your kids for adoption, but you know that your
kid is going to a good home, you know. So
(06:15):
it's when I came up with the idea for this podcast.
I was going through a really rough time the school
and I listened to anxiety. It just came out because
I everyone was talking about it, and for some reason,
I just burst it into tears. I was like what
And I've never felt a connection to lyrics like I
felt with your music. It's truly incredible. And you know
(06:37):
there are two songs in particular that especially live, Anxiety
and Happy. Those songs Live were amazing one. So I'm
curious that your song Anxiety, which features Selena Gomez. UM,
I know you've talked openly about you having anxiety. What
was the story about creating that song in particular? Well,
(06:58):
when I was about nineteen now, I used to have
panic attacks every day. Panic attacks are the worst thing. Yeah,
They're terrifying, and I used to have them all the time,
literally like everyday fetal position. I thought like if I
stopped rocking, I yeah, I would pass out or like
(07:21):
something would happen to me. Do you feel like the
word Like when I've had it before, it feels like
like things are just like closing in like that you
feel like claustrophobic. My hands shake, Mike gets sweaty, Like
it's the weirdest feeling. It's bizarre, and it's like all
in your mind. It's so wild, And um, I was
having them so much, and you know, I always try
to be really honest with everybody, you know, like about
(07:44):
how I'm feeling and what I'm going through. And I
always knew I wanted to write a song about anxiety.
And I think it just took being in the right
place with the right people and me feeling comfortable to
talk about it with those people. And you know, I
wanted it to be sort of like, um, I didn't
want it to be were heavy, you know, I almost
wanted it to be like slightly comedic, like because like,
(08:05):
you know, I just sort of wanted to like laugh
at myself, like I am that kind of person that
will like get ready and and then like no, I
don't want to go. And then like I see all
my friends out having a good time. It's like they
went without me. Yeah, I mean like and it's like,
why are you doing that? You're so ridiculous. You were invited,
So like I just wanted to like talk about those
silly things that you do when you have anxiety, and
(08:26):
like it's it seems like a big deal in the
moment when you look back, like this is comedic. It
doesn't logically make sense. It doesn't. Okay your first verse,
can you sing it so people can know it or
I can read it? Okay, it's my I just try
to be social. I make all these friends with friends
with plans and hope they call and canceled. Then I
overthink about the things I'm missing now I'm wishing I
(08:47):
was with them. To a logical person, that does not
make sense at all. But the person you're like, oh,
I totally get that. That's been there, done that. That
line like it's it depicts it so perfectly. Thank you.
It doesn't make sense. But why wouldn't you just go out?
Did it just like did it just like come out
like out of like it was so easy to write?
Were those lines hard to you know, figure out? No,
(09:11):
it sort of was pieced together pretty fast. I think
because it's something that I deal with on a daily basis.
We were just sort of talking about and all and
the people that I wrote it with two are like
highly neurotic, So I think, like it's just a perfect
It just like made it so easy for us to
just like go back and forth with things that we
do on a daily basis that we're we just like
why do we do those things? How would you describe
(09:33):
anxiety to someone who doesn't have it? It's sort of
feels like, well, you know, everybody experiences anxiety completely different,
but for me, um, it's sort of feels like an
earthquake that just won't stop, like and and almost like
there's like a million natural disasters going on in your
(09:53):
body and there's no cure for it, like you have
no idea how to fix it, and it's it can
be so overwhelming. But I'm not going to therapy and
it changed my life. Same. Yeah, Okay, I think it's
so underrated. It's so underrated, and I think people are
afraid to go because it makes them think they're crazy. Yes,
(10:14):
you know, like there's something wrong with them. But it's
the opposite because you're just wanting to better yourself. What
strategies that have you learned that have helped you? I
have learned mostly to talk myself out of things. Um.
That's hard to do, especially when you're in your own head.
It's hard to do. UM. Like when I get really
anxious before I go on stage or something, you know,
(10:34):
I go, Okay, why am I nervous? Or like, why
do I feel like this? It's probably because you know,
like X, Y and Z from when I was eight
and that was then and that's not now and I'm
okay now, you know, or like if I've been doing
so much and I'm just like super anxious, Like why
it's like, oh, okay, I haven't slept, blah blah blah blah. Okay,
(10:55):
I'm I need to let my people know that I
need a second to sleep and take a breather and
then I can, you know, come about this much better,
you know. So it's yeah, I've learned a lot of
like little baby coping mechanisms. Yeah. I feel like those
are the little things that help you get through the day.
I think of anxiety is like, okay, like when you
(11:16):
have it, like you always have it such to some degree.
I think I think of it like a glass of
water and the waters like half filled, and that's just
it being moderate. When something that makes you anxious, it's
like the water overflows and it comes out, and that's
the anxiety. And that's an anxiety. It's like that's how
my picture, and that's a that's a really good, good
mental picture. Right. I feel like, okay, it's really good.
(11:38):
Do you remember the first time you ever experienced it? Um?
You know, I was about seventeen. I had just signed
my first publishing deal, and I think I experienced like
this immense pressure to perform and um, and then the
more songs that I had written for other people. The
(11:58):
more pressure I started to put on myself because I
was like, you know, I feel like people are looking
at me a certain way and they know I can
write a certain thing, and if I don't go in
there and I don't do what they're expecting, like, am
I like, am I gonna ever work again? Am I
going to be able to ever write a good song again?
And you know, yeah, and I it just overwhelmed me
(12:20):
so much that I just started having them all the time.
For someone who's debating on going to therapy, what do
you say to them? Go seriously? Yeah, no, literally if
if you like, you know, it takes somebody with a
lot of courage and a lot of self awareness to
be like, you know, I think I really need to
talk to somebody. My dad actually was like super against therapy,
(12:44):
super against it, and I think that's a generational thing.
And um, when he saw just like how much it
changed me, it actually it made him want to go.
So he started going to therapy and it it opened
up his mind about so many from things. And you know,
now he does the same thing. He'll talk himself through
things and stuff like that, and I just think it's
(13:07):
super insightful It helps you figure out who you are
and why you have, you know, these problems that you
deal with on a daily basis, And I think it's beautiful. Yeah,
I think I completely agree with you. You did a
Cosmopologan interview UM and he talked about how m you
didn't want to live your life in fear and you
want to try things. And I'm sure, is there one
thing that you're still like fearful of that you just
(13:29):
haven't got the courage to you quite yet? For a
long time? Performing was that for me? But you I
you know, conquering your fears, man, it's the thing. You know.
When I saw you on stage during the toy it
was just like you could see how happy where it
was genuine. Well, you know, I've I've found with performing
that the thing that makes me feel really calm is
(13:49):
when people sting with me. So that concert must have
been everyone say like those those moments for me are
just like Okay, I can breathe now, you know, Like,
I think there's a big part of me that feels
like what if they don't like I feel very like
alone and isolated and like they're trying to figure out
if they like me or not. And that can be
like so scary. It's like a blind date with six people.
(14:11):
You know, that's actually what it is. Yeah, oh my god,
that must be terrifying, be really scary. But then when
you see everyone singing with you, you're just like, Okay,
they liked me. So, like, I know you got over
your fear, and I know you talked about how you
had it in a panic attack at the Billboard. Ward,
how did you how did you get back on stage
(14:33):
after that? Because like, I don't know if I could
have done that, because like that just seems it's, you know,
the worst thing to overcome. I have run away, I've
hidden in staircases. People have had to try and hunt
me down before performances that after the Billboard Yeah, um,
but you know you just keep trying again, you know,
like I want to conquer fears. I don't want to
(14:56):
be afraid, you know. I think that's a big part
of anxiety. It's it's just all based on fear and
also the fear of yeah, of course, And and I
think also people are always afraid to to reach their
full potential, so they'll you know, sabotage things, so they'll
create problems in their heads. That aren't there, and you
know all that stuff, and I just have always wanted
(15:17):
to conquer fears. I don't want to live in fear.
I think one of the reasons why your music is
so relatable to so many people because you know, you
don't try away from stigmas. You talk about everything mental health,
you know, anxiety, depression, sex, all of it, and I
think you just normalize it in a fun way. So
in a lot of songs you talk about love and heartbreak.
I'm curious. I'm sixteen, never been in love. I love
(15:39):
the idea of it. How would you describe it love?
Oh boy? You could just because I just want to
imagine it, like close your eyes, can imagine what it is, okay, okay.
Imagine going on a roller coaster, okay, okay, and you're
about to like get up to the drop like it's coming,
(16:01):
and you're like, oh my gosh, like this is happening.
I don't I'm a little scared, but like I know
this is probably gonna be really fun and blah blah blah.
And then when you drop, instead of like that like
horrible like throw up feeling, you feel like butterflies, like
like going through your whole body and like all of
(16:21):
a sudden, like weird hearts are like flying out of
your eyes and you're just like, this is just the magic,
like magical feeling on the planet. You should write a
song called roller Coaster and it should just be that
totally honestly, maybe their love is a little bit like
roller coaster, lots of lots of twist and turns. Do
you remember the first time you ever experienced love? Um? Yeah,
(16:45):
I was probably around eighteen, I think. And I met
my first boyfriend who worked at a coffee shop and
he was making my latte. That's how it always started, right,
It's such a move, it's so l a. It's like
such a movie, a movie about it, right, Um yeah.
And I met him when I was eighteen, and and yeah,
(17:09):
we broke up when I was twenty. Is that your
first heartbreak was my first? No, not really. I think
my first heartbreak, my first real real heartbreak, came after that.
I was like super in love with someone for three years,
which is the guy wrote issues about. And I think
when we broke up, that was the one that was
(17:29):
like I can't get out of bad, I can't sleep,
I can't eat, I can't do anything, and that one
was pretty crushing. Did your heart actually hurt me a heartbreak? Yes?
I think it's the closest thing to like to grief,
like losing somebody, only you have to see them around
with their new girlfriend. Like definitely. It's one of the
(17:59):
deepest pains I think you can you can, you can
feel but worth it because love is great. So you
wrote us on body, which I think it is so
vulnerable and beautiful and I'm curious people at all ages
are self conscious with themselves. How do you get through it?
And how do you love? Oh, that's a good question.
(18:21):
It's a deep question. Um. You know that's something that
I still struggle with every day. I think with social
media culture and makes it really easy to be insecure.
You know, you click on your suggested posts and it's
a model in turks and cacos, and you're just like,
I don't look like that, and I know that like
(18:42):
this kind of person or whatever like likes that or
wants that, and I'm not that. And you know there's
things that like, you know and mean girls. Have you
seen mean girls? You know when they're like looking in
the mirror and they're like, oh, like my nail beds suck,
and you're like, my thighs are bad, right like you
you over analyze every part of your body. And you know,
(19:05):
I I wrote it because I was just like I
can't be the only one that like completely picks myself apart,
you know, And and I do do the things like
in the second verse, it says, you know, um, like
I'm sorry I don't let you go out with your friends.
And it's like, so I put a sweatshirt on because
you gave up, um watch TV still in your makeup,
(19:27):
and you stayed in it until you waked up. You
wiped it off and we made up. And it's like,
you know, you in that like toxic inner turmoil with yourself.
And that's something I definitely do all the time. Um.
But you know, I think the thing that really helps
is not being on social media. I think social media
really makes you question lots of things, like things you're
doing in your life and the things that you eat,
(19:49):
and the things and like the way that you look.
And I think it helps. How do you think social
media plays a role in anxiety and all that? I
think it plays a huge because for me, I think
so too. I know a lot people that are really depressed,
um because of social media. You know, like they see
their friends doing, you know, some sort of amazing something
(20:11):
and they're not a part of it. Or like they
see their friends with their other friends and they're out
at a party or something like why was I not invited?
Am I not good enough to like hang out with people?
And you know, it's like there's so many things that
it contributes to that I think, I completely agree can
be very negative. And the thing is, especially with snatch,
I don't think Snapchat has talked about enough, especially teens
(20:34):
and like young people. Um is that snap maps you
can do? You know what? Like snap maps you can
share your location so people you can see where anyone is,
so you can see you in the last time someone
is on. So let's say someone snatchats you and you
snatch with them, like, hey, h do you want to
hang out? You can if you go on snap maps
and there are locations on you could see that these
(20:56):
two people are together in this moment and they're on
their phone and they're not responding to horrifying? How toxic?
Is that? Horrifying? That is so horrified? I feel like
that part isn't talked about enough because like it's creepy,
like you can see people's locations. Obviously you can turn
it off, but people choose to have it on and
you can see so and so and so and so
(21:16):
are together. They were on their phone two minutes ago,
you sent that five minutes ago, so they definitely saw
they're not responding. It's that endless cycle. I just have
to shut it. Or like when you're when you check
your d MS on Instagram and you respond to someone
and it's seen, its like respond but knowing that they
(21:38):
saw in their not responding. Oh, it's the worst, so
so much anxiety. It's so bad, especially like it's someone
you talked to or whatever comments on your photo and
they don't follow, and you were there, why didn't you follow?
It's like it's that toxic even that you know. It's
like people like can check how many followers they have
(22:00):
every day and like they get like so consumed over like, oh,
this picture didn't get as many likes as this picture.
Why didn't that happen? Okay, I'm going to delete it.
I've done that. It's so hard to get not get
in that cycle. So what I did actually did this
last week? I turned off my notifications because I was
just I posted them and I was like, you know what.
I talked to my brother about it. It's like Mark, like,
(22:21):
I don't know what to do. Like people aren't seeing this.
He goes, why do you care? Do you like the photo? Like? Yeah,
he goes, keep it up, Like who cares? More like it?
I think social media's pros and cons. Yeah, you know,
like I get to talk to people all over the world.
I get to, you know, really connect with people from everywhere,
and you know, most of the time when I do
(22:42):
meet and greets, I know a majority of them by
name because I run all my socials and I talked
to all my Twitter fans all the time, you know,
So that part of it is amazing. And I think
you've definitely your community that you've built. It's definitely I
think a group of just non judgment of people that
it's I think it's so beautiful. I think that energy
just like a resonate, especially at the concert. You know,
(23:03):
I've seen you on social media and you love drawing.
I love drawing too, So we are going to draw
a few shirts and then maybe one of your fans
will win them. That sounds super fun. I'm really down
for that. We have an option of hats and shirts
whichever you'd like. We have markers, many colors. Let me
do the hat. Okay, I'll do a hat with you.
I'm gonna do the hat. Yeah. We have some fabric markers.
(23:27):
Julia is choosing pink. I think I'm gonna go for blue. Um. Yeah,
I'm not sure. What are you gonna draw? Um? I
don't know. I like drawing, like these little doodle characters. Okay,
I might, I might do that. Okay, I feel like
we should switch halfway, so then we could do one
half one half and I'm super dunblant and we can
(23:47):
sign it afterwards. I'm super down fort Okay, let's do it.
I'm gonna go a little squiggle line. Okay, I'm gonna
do a heart right over here in the corner. What
is your songwriting process? Like? Well, it varies. It's very
and it depends really. If I'm by myself, sometimes I'll all, Um,
I'll just go on the booth and I'll just sing
(24:09):
down what I feel. Um. If I'm with somebody, it's
all about listening and being you know, like attentive to
their feelings and their thoughts. Um. Yeah, it really kind
of just very Sometimes I'll go in with an idea.
Sometimes I'll I won't go on with an idea at all,
and then three hours later I'll come out with something
(24:31):
so completely different than I anticipated. Yeah. Wait, I want
to ask you a question. Okay, how did you get
started in like interviews? Okay? So I was writing for
my school newspaper. I was at the end of seventh grade. Amazing.
And then they have a family friend who um works
at my Heart. She's like you kind of a good
(24:51):
like you have a good personality, Like what do you
want to do like a test thing? And I was
like yes, but like okay um. And then it was
with Jordan Fish Sure before he released his first EP
or anything. Incredible um and that kind of started it.
And then I did some other stuff. And then in
September of I was at I Heart Music Festival in
(25:13):
Las Vegas and I saw Jordan and he introduced me
to Phil Radio and then EVER said and love him.
It's just that's what's happened. That's incredible, That is so magical.
That is he is an incredible person. Phil. You know
who you are. Phil. We love you the best honestly. Yeah,
(25:41):
I mean I find I think, you know, this is
like therapeutic for me. It's fun and I get inspiration
from it. Like what where do you get inspirations? Um?
You know, I get a lot of my inspiration through conversation.
I think, um, you know, listening to people. And I
know some people that get like inspired by going on
(26:02):
road trips, are going to a cafe and sitting down,
you know, somewhere and you know that kind of thing.
But I think a lot of my inspiration comes from
relationships and just listening to people. It's so therapeutic. I
feel like marthy Craft is so underrated. Agreed. What's the
best advice you've ever received? Um? I think the best advice,
(26:29):
which is so interesting now that I think about it,
was from um it was from Chester, from Lincoln Park.
He would tell me not to take things too seriously
and to have fun, which is I received. Have fun. Yeah,
(26:50):
not take life too seriously. I think that's you know,
I think means even more to me now. Yeah, you know,
I have a deep question for you. Go for so
years to come and you've created many more albums, probably
when if your Grammy's how would you like to be
known as an artist. Um, I think I'd like to
(27:13):
be known as someone that's sort of stuck to her guns.
Was always like always try to you know, be honest
and open and um, you know, I just want to
be authentic. I think I think that's the most dumb.
I think you're doing that. Well, thank you very much.
(27:36):
I try very much. I try. Okay, I think I'm done. Okay,
do you want to switch sides? Yeah? Okay, I think
I've think I've I've done it. I did some color
and hearts and smiley faces. Oh my goodness, Julia, I
feel like this could be another career for you. I
actually think we're going to start making some rich here
with those I think you should, which I'm pretty excited about.
(27:58):
What's okay? What's your spirit in all? I feel like
my spirit animal would be like a person. Do you
know who Goldie Hawn is? Of course? Okay, I think
Goldie Hawn is my spirit? Well, how did you come
protect recusion? Very curious. I just think she's really vibrant
and like and she's just really spunky and I just
(28:19):
love that about her. I just I just I think
Goldie Haunt is my spirit. No, I wish. Okay, if
you met her, what would you say? Um? I would
tell her that her and her me and her daughter
getting mistaken for each other. Um, and that I'm pretty
(28:40):
sure I'm related to her and some I really wouldn't
surprise me. I think that's so interesting. Yeah, she's so awesome.
What would you tell your younger Nothing? I just see
what happens, you know. I feel like if I had
advice when I was a kid, I one't have made
(29:00):
the mistakes that I've made, and my path would be
completely different. So I I don't think I would tell
my my younger self anything. I think I just let
myself learn. I think everything sort of happens for a reason.
But I'm sort of glad that I've learned how I've
learned the way that I've learned it. Okay, I'm done.
(29:21):
This is really cute. We've we've done it. We've done it.
We've done good. That's so beautiful and we've did it.
So if you want to see what it looks like,
I will be posting on my Instagram, So make sure
you check it out and you guys can possibly win it.
So wait, look at that. How would you say? How
has music changed your life question. Oh my gosh, no,
(29:44):
it's amazing. Um, music has changed my life in so
many ways. I mean, for me, it's it's an outlet
of expression. Um, you know, I've I tend to be
a very non confrontational person. So for me, you know,
writing is just as cathartic for me now as performing is.
And um, I mean, music is such a huge part
(30:06):
of my life. I don't even know what I would
do without it. Would you ever write a book? Oh?
I don't know, See I always I always think about, um,
like there's so many different types of writing, but but book,
I don't know if I have the capacity to write
a book because I'm as your writing is so like
well beautiful the way that I write, I guess, like
(30:30):
so like movies. I love to watch movies, Like I
like watching movies sometimes more than I like watching shows,
because I like that it's like everything sort of condensed
into one like two our movie. And I think it's
because my brain has been trained to write, you know,
like a certain amount of sentences and then into a
(30:50):
song and you know it's like it's three minutes, but
it takes you know, it can take sometimes six hours
to write and you know that three minutes has to
be impact full enough to make a statement, which is
the same thing as a movie. You know, you get
two hours to tell the story, and it tried to
make some sort of impactful statement. Um, so like for me,
(31:12):
that's how I don't know. I don't know. Music is
just amazing. It's just amazing and it's changed everything about
my life. Well, I don't know, have you ever seen
Hamilton's I haven't yet, Okay, but book, I don't know.
Have you musical probably that I would love to try,
But book. Have you listened to the Hamilton sound check? Yes? Okay,
so you know brilliant it is. Oh, I mean I
(31:34):
feel like you should. I could totally see you and
lit my mom, we're into the creator that doing. Like though,
that collaboration I feel like would be incredible. I've never
attempted to do musical, but that's something that I feel
like in the future. Yeah, she did Waitress and I
actually saw Waitress and it was super super good. And um,
I've seen like Deer Evan Hansen, which is like the
(31:55):
best musical I think I've ever seen. No musical I
would totally do. That was my initial conversation with Julia
from late last year, and she is simply the best.
Since then, she's had a lot going on and I
wanted you to hear about it directly from her, So
we caught up on the phone just a couple of
(32:15):
days ago. We talked about what's to come in her
dream claps and falling in love. One of the biggest
things that's changed since we talked last is that you
found love. Yeah, that's so weird, dude. Okay, so you
wrote a lot about your toxic relationships and now you're
(32:36):
freaking in love in a healthy relationship. What is that
difference like and has your songwriting changed? It's super different. Um.
It's funny because a lot of the topics that I
usually right, I just can't and I'm just like, who
am I now? No? But it's it's wonderful, you know.
(32:58):
You you sort of adapt your you sort of adapt
yourself to your surroundings. And when you're in a constant
state of toxicity, that's just sort of where you think
you're always meant to live. And then you meet somebody
that completely changes your mind about everything, and you had
(33:22):
no idea that it could even be that lovely and
it's it's such a it's such a it's such a
mind fuck in a great way. I don't mean to cuss,
but it is. It's such a mind fuck in a
great way. I can only imagine. And also you get
to sing with him too, and you have a song
with him, so thats so when you perform it, that
(33:43):
just must make it so much more special. It does,
and it makes it that much more special because I've
definitely done songs with other x is in the past,
and this one like just feels right different. It just
feels different, and it's great. And I hope he doesn't
break up with me. I'm sure because you were a
(34:06):
literal angel. Oh thanks, my love. So okay, not only
has twenty story, but you also just released a song
with Diblo heartless I did. You are a busy, busy woman.
I try, I try, Sammy. I mean, I can only imagine.
How many songs have you written so far in twenty twenty.
(34:26):
I don't even know, probably about We're only one month in,
I know, so that's crazy. I toured for seven months
last year and I didn't really get the chance to
be home and and write and just be in my
zone and now I'm not touring this year so far,
(34:49):
and I'm just home and I'm writing and I'm and
I just it feels good. It feels good to just
be back with all my friends and just creating again.
So I want to just be in the studio as
much as possib but while I can. Okay, so you're
writing a lot. Could there be music coming or an
Internet three or a new album. I don't know if
(35:10):
I'm going to do a Part three. I hope I'm
going to do an album. I don't know what I'm
gonna do, but I'm definitely gonna put out some more
music and and just you know, like you try new things,
you know, just be expansive with my creativity. Yeah. One
of my goals is to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Yes,
(35:30):
I love that. So what's one thing that you want
to do that you haven't done in that either makes
you anxious or you want to push yourself to do.
I think I want to push myself to kind of
do more genres. I think doing this country pop song
with Morgan and Diplow has been so cool, and I
(35:50):
love just the combining of worlds. I think it's so
much fun. And you know, we're in a time where
we can do those things. We can, you know, push
the boundary reason, say what we want and and blend
all kinds of different sounds and perspectives. And I think
that's so fun. So I think, I think is going
to be just the year of of trying different things
(36:13):
in different sounds and different genres with people that I love. Okay,
So to put it on the universe dream collab, Um
dream collab, I think probably Chance the Rapper or Rosalia.
Oh my goodness, I that would be incredible. I would
die or both at the same time. Imagine Sammy, Holy
(36:34):
sh it, wait start writing. I'll start writing a picture
to that. I need to manifest. To Sammy, I need
to manifest exactly, That's what do. I made a vision
board and that's what I'm doing perfect, Julia. I cannot
stress how much you have just changed my life, not
just with your music, but this podcast won't be happening
without you. And I'm so so so grateful, and well,
(36:57):
I believe in you so much, and I'm so i'll
be You're living out your dreams and I know how
busy you are, so thank you for taking the time
to town of course, I love you, dude. I love
you dude too. I hopefully will see you soon. Yes,
please hit me up man, of course. All right, love
you Annie, bye bye. I just want to thank Julia
(37:18):
Michaels again for coming on my podcast. It means the
absolute world to me, and just make sure you follow
her on all our socials. It's at Julia Michaels and
also follow me on Instagram It's at It's Sammy J.
That's I T S S A M M Y J
A y E. I also recommend you follow our podcast
account if you guys want to get those hats, that's
Sammy J. Dot. Let's be real, all right, you guys.
(37:40):
I'll see you next week. By
Host
Sammy Jaye
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