The Shadow People Ep25 - Juice's Journey, D'Angelo, & NOLA's New Mayor

Episode 25 opens like a family room. Nigel’s voice drops in from the road, Lettuce dates on the horizon, and a heavy moment reflecting on losing heroes and what that does to musicians our age. Julian “Juice” joins as guest host, part New Orleans memory book, part announcement of a new chapter.

Juice talks about leaving the comfort of a longrun band to build his name, why authenticity beats trends, and how the business only starts to make sense when you claim ownership. He traces a path from marching bands and brass culture to songwriting, rapping, and teaching. As musical director at the Trombone Shorty Foundation he’s drilling scales, stagecraft, and realworld habits that keep a band together when there’s no director counting you in. The conversation turns to the local scene: promoters who import “fantasy” lineups, clubs that prize bar sales over lineage, and the ongoing work of protecting New Orleans music so it still sounds like New Orleans.

There’s joy in the details. Juice’s record Be Intentional gets love, along with tracks like “Colors,” “DKNY,” “Guestless,” and “Black Jobs,” plus the kid choir story that reminds everyone why we do this. Dates get stamped for the folks who want to pull up in person: Washington, DC on November 2 at Songbird and New Orleans on November 14 at Sweet Lorraine’s. Brown Hound Sounds holds the room together, sE Electronics mics do their part, and the signoff feels like it always does here—gratitude, a little mischief, and plans for next time.

Timestamps

• 00:06: Cold open and Episode 25 roll call

• 00:40: D’Angelo remembrance and how loss hits musicians our age

• 03:20: Guest host introduction for Julian “Juice” and what he’s building

• 06:36: Standing your ground as an artist and tuning out the peanut gallery

• 11:01: New Orleans roots, Michael Jackson influence, and crossing lanes

• 28:53: Teaching at Trombone Shorty Foundation and real stage habits

• 38:04: Local scene talk, club bookings, and protecting New Orleans authenticity

• 41:38: Juice announces shows and plans, then album talk with favorite tracks

• 50:40: “Black Jobs” story and flipping a negative into community fuel

• 54:05: Sign-off, studio love, and what’s next