Your Iconic Image : When Women Rock : Finding Success In a New Country

Julia Lage

Meet Julia Lage - bassist of Vixen and Smith/Kotzen

 

Julia is a Brazilian bass player, singer songwriter. 

Inspired by bands like, Rush, Aerosmith and Guns N Roses, she began learning the Bass Guitar at the age of thirteen.

 

At the age of seventeen Julia had become a full time member of the critically acclaimed Latin Grammy nominated Brazilian band Barra Da Saia.

After her thirteen year tenure with the band which included major network television appearances, International festivals and domestic arena tours plus 3 full albums and 1 live DVD, Julia left the band and relocated to Los Angels California.

 

With a BA in music and arts as well as extensive studio and touring experience, Julia has found herself performing and recording with a vast array of A list artists and musicians such as Pat Travers, Elliot Easton (The Cars), Richie Kotzen, as well as performing along side Pop Star Janelle Monáe and rapper Jidenna at the American Idol Finals.

 

Julia also worked with Grammy winner iconic Latin artist Alejandra Gusmán, recording a live cd/dvd called 'Live at The Roxy'.

 

Most recently Julia toured with Smith/Kotzen, a rock blues band formed by Adrian Smith ( Iron Maiden ) and Richie Kotzen ( The Winery Dogs ).

At the same time she was invited to join the all female platinum selling rock band Vixen.

 

Julia also has her own projects which include her solo music and her band The Sister Knot.

 

Julia’s prolific nature as a writer has found her compositions and performances featured in various American films and television shows. 

 

She is currently working on finishing her first solo album as well as a Sister Knot album and continues to tour with Vixen as they work on their new music.

My website: https://www.julialage.com

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_lage/

facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/JuliaLageMusic

Here is my latest video for Wake Up 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsJu0LJ0hzU&list=PLUNkX209tKPGdGCzhSUBJBhvnlIm8lxrZ&index=7

wwww.marlanasemenza.com

Audio : Ariza Music Productions

Transcript : Vision In Word

Marlana  

Julia Lage is a Brazilian bass player, singer and songwriter. Inspired by bands like Rush, Aerosmith, and Guns and Roses. She began learning the bass at the age of 13. With a BA in music and arts as well as an extensive studio and touring experience. Julia has found herself performing and recording with a vast array of alias artists and musicians such as Pat travers, Elliot Easton, Richie Kotzen, Adrian Smith, Janelle Monae, and the all-female platinum selling Rock Band vixen. Welcome, Julia.

Julia  

Thank you. Thanks for having me here.

Marlana  

So, you started off in Brazil, then you had some success in Brazil, and then you came here. Tell us a little bit about that whole,

Julia  

you know, there. Oh, well, I played for 13 years in Brazil. And we did have a good heat there for a while. I tour like I used to play like arenas there like rodeos was always on TV, radios and stuff like that. And I learned a lot with that I joined the band, I was 17. So, I was just like a baby. And I remember, you know, it was amazing. But at the same time, I wasn't really playing the kind of music I love. I was playing like what we call Brazilian country music, which is the country music people from the countryside write songs is kind of similar like America, but the rhythm is similar, but has a little different swing here and there. You know, it's Brazil. But um, so yeah, so I started there. And we did all major stuff, like for real, like, we had a boss who their faces on and he was like, a big band for a while. Then he started declining. 

In after 13 years, I was like, not seeing myself at all excited anymore, or happy about it or anything. I was like, go play like, whatever, I will come home from the shows, but my base and the side, not even look for my base or my guitar, nothing. I'll try to write anything, nothing. Just live my life. Whenever the next show was gonna happen. I was like, Okay, tell me where and what time I'll be there. You know what I mean? So, I was completely like, I don't know, I lost interest. I don't know, for a bunch of reasons. But so then after 13 years, I decided to finally quit the band. But actually, what helped me with the decision was the fact that I started dating my now husband, but you know, my boyfriend at whatever rate you so that helped me too. And then he was like, so since you're so frustrated with your band, why don't you quit? You know, sell your stuff, move and come to LA? I'm like, why? And then actually, I did it. I'm here.

Marlana  

So, we have Ritchie to thing.

Julia  

Yes. So yes. I mean, you know, he could say I ruined her life will say no, you actually, you know, made a very exciting because I was in a plateau, I was very unmotivated. I was I didn't know what I was anymore. What I wanted was too many years of the same things. And not really the kind of music I love. So. So yeah, I mean, I thank you for bringing me here because I've been taking my career here.

Marlana  

So how is the music scene different here for you?

Julia  

Well, first of all, for me, it's very different because nowadays, I'm playing what I like, which is rock and roll. So, since I moved here, I did a few different gigs during the beginning, obviously. But most of the gigs were rock geeks. And I was super surprised. I was like, oh my god, I'm just seeing a rock. I mean, America is way more rock. I mean, if you go to Costco, they're playing me golds, they're playing whatever, rock. And in Brazil, they're playing all kinds of stuff, not rock. 

So, like when I got here, I was like, Oh my God, you know, I love all this. So, for me the difference, the biggest differences for sure that I'm playing actually what I like, the most here, so and that's very important for me to do what I love.

Marlana  

Yeah. And I know along the way you wrote songs for film and TV. Were you approached to write them, or had you written them? How did that all work?

Julia  

Both I mean, I was approached to write a few stuffs. And so, I did. And funny enough was mostly rock stuff, which is good. And yeah, and then there's a few movies and you know, little placements of songs that already exist even with my band. We have a song in the movie that close the movie with our song now. That's my song. Oh, there's another movie that had like an entire song played in the scene. So, they played our entire song, the theme, and we're like, they were cheering and that was so cool. So, like both for sure.

Marlana  

So, did you have to, like reinvent anything about yourself when you came here to start to pursue a more of a rock career than what you were doing? 

Julia  

no, really, I was always a rock chick. In my heart. I as a as you said, I start learning bass because of bands like Rush, Aerosmith, guns, and roses, whatever you name it. But one thing that I had to invent, let me think, I think, because I did join my band in Brazil was very young. And they already have a band that was kind of stablished establishing lists. So, like, I wouldn't, I never, for example, is that's very technical for musicians, but they get it. Like usually, depending on the gig, you bring your own amp, or your own pair of pedals, for sure. But like, we have your microphone, stand your little gear, your PA, I never did that in music, I would get to the gigs, and everything is there. So, I was very spoiled it right in the beginning. And then I never did the hustle the gear, the gear driving far for the gears, for the gigs, because I was just you know, getting in the bus and going out. So that was different. When I moved here, I had two rings in everything. And like, Okay, what am I gonna do, and that was probably the hardest phase in my life, too. So, I even did it like church gigs, which is like, you know, completely different and you have to read, I wasn't reading anything members, you parts, you know, and then or like, carrying gear, like, you know, whatever, say like, oh, like carry gear, like, Please forged our SATs, all this stuff I did here. And I think that's a big, humbling scenario, you know, for anybody. 

I was like, Wow. I mean, I was kind of, you know, ready, and motivated in Brazil, but I hadn't good No way, you know, but then coming here, even though it was doing all this, I can Oh, and we drive and so far. And, you know, it's 2am I'm coming back home exhausted, I'm bringing this gear, putting ba together that I was still super happy. Because I was not only playing rock and roll all the songs that I always loved. But I was like reconnecting with myself again, like, oh, that's what I really liked. I liked his music. And I really liked to interact with the public him, you know, be me, I'm out. I'm outgoing. I'm like, I'm like, they like that I am an entertainer. And in Brazil, I was being like, you know, more and more quiet and more and more like, my light was kind of dimming. So that was a good, you know, like a Phenix.

Marlana  

How did you know that you were starting to get some traction?

Julia  

Well, um, a few things. But like coming here to LA, you probably already heard about that. They just tons of jams everywhere. So, people go out in the jam. Right? It's the good way to meet new people to meet new musicians. And then, you know, we talk to them, you do your network, all that stuff. And I remember, I was obviously dating Richie, my husband, and then one of the gyms wanted my husband to come jam. And he was like, you know, he, he doesn't need to go on a jam, I guess. He has a pretty established career. But he said, well, but I can come do it like a night, like a few songs. And but like, I would like to bring my band. And then he brought me as the bass player. 

I wasn't on his band. But he knew that I could perform his songs the way he liked and everything. So, he brought me in. And then that was the first step to get in. And then since then, the people from the gym capacity has come to him. Let's go gym and now go and Did I did I get hired a few times got hired a few times to do the house bands. And so, you know, and then people started knowing who you are and start. Oh, there's that girl. Oh, oh, she also can sing. Oh, she in on me. Oh, she kinda looked good. And blah, blah, whatever. Whatever do you need? Because I learned that in LA. There's a lot of looks involved, too.

So, I think that's how I start, you know, getting my name around, because that's what we have to do. It's not working period.

Marlana  

And like you said, Richie had very, you know, established career. Do you think that helped you? Or did it really not matter one way or the other because you didn't go off of him in his connections?

Julia  

I don't think it matters that much. He didn't matter that much. He married that day when he brought me in the gym. But that was it. Like after dad, everything started happening on my own, you know, like, he can bring me if I was like, not like professional or if I wasn't, whatever, good enough, right? You could bring me as many times as you want, I will not get anywhere. 

I'm very perfectionist, so every time I go places, I like to be prepared. So yeah, I mean, obviously, I guess exposure here and there, you know, people see me, for example, on his Instagram, and they clicked on the check. And then they figured out Oh, my gosh, she plays bass as well. What is that? You know, maybe that but yeah, I mean, we both have different careers, different separate things. So yeah.

Marlana  

What's it like to have two musicians in the house? 

Julia  

It can be difficult, because, like, if I'm recording something, or trying to write something like record vocals, for example, I do here in this room, because I have this little, you know, that's here, everything is here, actually. But I only do this here because he's in the studio on the other side of the house, any lyrics. So, like, if I had a perfect room just for the studio, but then the first time we try to record something that he's on his studio, I'm here, but I'm your drums on like, this is not going to work. So, I had to put together something there's room. But like other than that, I mean, it's pretty, it's pretty chill. I mean, we're not always like playing loud music in the house. I mean, we do that for a living. So, when we come in the house, we might play a radio station of Tom Paley, or like, Holly notes, or you go something chill, you know, cook something, but we don't make too much noise at the same time. We need to balance you know?

Marlana  

Do you critique each other? 

Julia  

yes, but positively, like, you know, good criticism. Like I even asked Ricci sometimes to say, you know, like, singing wise, I love his voice. And then sometimes I record something and clearly, I have Brazilian accent and stuff. So. And then I asked him, like, what do you think? What do you think like this, okay. And I do trust him. Because I tend to think too much. And overthink, I'm a Libra. And I'm like, he's like, good enough. So yeah, I asked for criticism, and he does too. Like sometimes he would talk about of course, yeah. And we know, the best of both. And I know my best I know his best. So, I think is good criticism. Never like, oh my god, you know me?

Marlana  

Well, that's good. So, when you write songs, do you have to be in a certain headspace or what is your writing process look like?

Julia  

Definitely go to headspace for sure. Usually, when I'm alone, when Richard goes out for touring for, you know goes out, I usually tend to write more. Because then there's less distractions too. And you get in the zone, like you get in a studio, and I'll sit here for hours just to get to eat I have like, coffee. And next day I have reflux and I don't know why. 

I have to go to a different place because I like writing and I imagined everything like, you know, the guitars, drums, the beats, the bass, whatever I like, literally arranging stuff to and then I go sing and I need I like to think about maybe, what am I going to sing about? What is this song bringing me you know, because rarely starts with the lyrics for me. So, then I start, you know, I have to just literally, I look outside the window here, I look at all, I start thinking about lyrics and words and what's going to be cool, what's going to make sense. 

So, for sure, you have to be in a different mind space. Like, you have to get out of things. For sure. And sometimes it can be like, if I'm upset for something, it's very helpful. You know, if you have like, a heavy energy on you, could be upsetting, could be excitement, could be whatever, that they usually help to, if you sit down and use that energy to put out in wars or whatever, or songs that helps for sure. 

Marlana  

And that's always been baffling to me that you you can just write something from nothing and put yourself there kind of a thing where instead of oh my gosh, I'm so upset about this. I have to write something.

Julia  

Right. I rarely my life, road stuff based on reality or something that happened? Rarely. I get inspirations of course. But yeah, that is interesting. A lot of people use their own personal lives, like Taylor Swift. I know she writes all about her love life or whatever

Marlana  

she writes about everybody.

Julia  

Okay, yeah, I don't know much about her work. But I know that she writes based on her experiences, and I'm like wow! I like tripping out about possibilities and wards and lakes in there. I don't know. And then I'm about to finish my first solo album. And sometimes it's even like the little what exactly, are you talking about? No nonsense. 

But like, I like to be a little too lifted the creativity of people just think about what cannot be, you know, not obvious stuff like that. So, yeah, I do know music is just very interesting. It's creating is, is art. I mean, it's like painting, you just start from nothing.

Marlana  

Yeah, that's true. And I wouldn't worry about if people understand it or not, because Queen made a whole career on them on things that you can't necessarily understand.

Julia  

Is not even. That's the point of like, some people might get upset or something, oh, my God, I don't get the feedback I want. But like, when I write a song I'm writing first of all for myself, because I have that energy, that creativity. I'm like, oh, and I get excited. I listen to the devil. Yeah, I look at it, and I want to share with my husband or someone. But that's why I'm trying to finish my album, because I've been writing for so long. 

And I have a few singles who in their britches, like people have to hear stuff finish. I'm like, Yeah, that's why because I already get excited. myself with my own...