Exclusive interview with national recording artist and actress Julie Gribble.
CLEARWATER: National recording artist, actress, and award winning singer/songwriter, Julie Gribble, is currently on tour in support of her latest album, “Letting Go”. Gribble will be making a stop in the Tampa Bay area this week for a performance at the Banana Boat Too in Clearwater this Thursday, January 27th, presented to you by Mario Vitali, Bay Area Band Source, and the St. Petersburg Live Music Bar Scene Column.
Prior to Julie’s performance this coming up Thursday in Clearwater, Julie was gracious enough to agree to a one-on-one, over-the-phone interview with me on this past Saturday, January 22nd. Unfortunately though, and to my dismay, I was unable to conduct the interview myself due to a prior commitment of mine that I could not cancel or postpone. I then contacted my good friend and professional colleague, Dina Mead of Bay Area Band Source, and asked if she would conduct the interview on my behalf, thankfully she agreed. Armed with a dozen questions from me that I had prepared for Julie in advance, Dina conducted a great interview with Julie.
Here is the one-on-one interview with Julie Gribble, conducted on Saturday, January 22nd:
Dina:
"First of all Julie, let me say it’s an honor to be speaking with you today. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule and agreeing to do this interview for Keith Wilkins and the Examiner. We know you have been feeling a little under the weather lately and hope you are feeling better this evening. Keith also wanted me to send his deepest apologies for not being able to conduct this interview himself personally, Unfortunately he had a prior commitment that he was not able to cancel on such short notice, but Keith looks forward to meeting you on the 27th when you perform at the Banana Boat Too in Clearwater."
Julie:
"Thank you."
Dina:
"You started out as an entertainer at a very young age. tell me, what was it exactly that drew you towards having a career in the entertainment field? Was their one specific moment growing up where you said to yourself, “That’s it, this is what I want to do with my life.”
Julie:
"Yeah, I started acting when I was about 5. My parents got me into singing....that was my first thing, I just loved to sing and perform and it really just all started from there, because I just loved being on the stage singing."
Dina:
"Obviously you are a multi-talented artist. being a musician and an actress. Not only are you out there touring in support of your latest album, but you also have two new movies coming out soon that you have appeared in. Tell me, how are you able to balance and juggle both music & acting?"
Julie:
"Very, very carefully [Julie laughs]. I think the hardest part is just not...honestly, not having a manager, because I’ve been doing all this myself."
Dina:
"How does it differ being a recording & touring artist as compared to being an actress?"
Julie:
"It is totally different. When I moved to L.A., I moved to L.A. as an actor, and I kind of had to set it aside. People get to the point in acting where you’re trying so hard, you get to a point like you’re not loving it anymore. You wanna get something so bad that you forget why you’re doing it, ya know."
"The music, for me, was a way for me to be honest and genuine and be who I really am. It’s like, the music for me says to me that there’s no falseness....When I tell my stories about me, and my life experiences, and I like to get on the stage and actually be like...That’s me, ya know. I tell my stories and I hope that, ya know, you can learn as much about it from me."
Dina:
"Is their one field, either music or acting, that you enjoy doing more....that you have more of a passion for?"
Julie:
"I don’t know, it’s so hard to say honestly. My first big movie...it was just really cool...being involved in it every day, it was like...ah, I forget how much I love this...the energy and the creativity and just watching how everything comes together. It’s kinda like a song where everything comes together once you get on stage with a great band...it’s like...ah, there it is, ya know. It’s hard to say what I love better because people keep asking and I’m like uh, I don’t know."
Dina:
"Regarding your acting, you have two movies currently in post-production at the moment that you will be acting in, “Quarantine 2" & “2 Girls + a Guy”. Is there any other projects at the moment that you are working on or getting ready to work on in the near future?"
Julie:
"Right now I’ve been auditioning so hopefully something comes around, ya know. It’s kind of a crazy thing...’cause I have to be honest with myself as well. I’m not putting 100% or 110% behind my acting because I can’t, because I have to put the other 110% behind my music and touring...that’s where it gets hard to do both."
Dina:
"Right."
Julie:
"Right now my main focus is music. The acting thing, I love it...and if it comes around and I get something, Im super excited. I don’t know ‘cause I just released this record and I’m super excited about it and I just wanna play all the time."
Dina:
"As mentioned before, you are currently out there touring in support of your latest CD. Tell me, how does your latest CD compare to your previous releases."
Julie:
"This one for me was probably the most interesting because literally my first record was made probably 6 months after I even started playing guitar. So it was like really quick and just like thrown together because like, Oh my God, I wanna make a record now, ya know."
Dina:
"Right."
Julie:
"I think that each record after that has really been like these easy journeys, and this one for me was like a huge journey ‘cause I moved back home to Atlanta, and that whole record’s like really about that moving back and being back in my roots...starting over again really, ya know."
Dina:
"Right."
Julie:
"This whole record’s about letting go."
Dina:
"Some artists prefer to be in the studio writing & recording as apposed to being out on the road. Which do you prefer to do, writing & recording or being out on the road performing?"
Julie:
"I love being on the road. There’s nothing like being live. There’s something about the studio to, don’t get me wrong, it’s awesome, but you lose that interaction. It’s like even when you play a coffee shop gig where there’s 5 people, those are some of the best gigs in the world because you can just hang out. That’s why I like doing smaller tours that I book myself, because that way...I mean even if there’s 20 people there...20 people you can actually talk to, hang out, have a beer, share a story. You never know if they’re gonna be a life long friend. I love that stuff...that’s the best part about music."
Dina:
"Do you like to be more personal with your audience vs. bigger touring venues?"
Julie:
"Big shows are awesome because there is nothing like that...Whoa, here I am ya know, this is awesome...but there’s also something really special...I think Coldplay was talking about it a couple of months ago, how you have to go back and play your small crowd, ya know. There’s a beauty in both, but I started playing in coffee shops and I think a lot of artists forget that like that’s where your real fans really, really come from, so like they can connect with you as a person, not as a guitar and a voice."
Dina:
"That’s awesome. When you’re writing though, where do you draw inspiration from for your songs?"
Julie:
"Mainly relationships ‘cause I’m on the road a lot, so relationships seam to be a little horrid [Julie laughs]. Honestly, most of the inspiration for my songs are from personal experiences. I mean, of course I’ll draw a little bit out from things I see around me...but it’s very personal, honestly...trying to be as artistic as I can without [revealing] too much information about myself."
Dina:
"Totally understandable. Now, I have heard people compare your singing & songwriting style to such artists as Sheryl Crow & Natalie Merchant. Can you tell me though...in your own words, exactly which artists growing up have been an inspiration to you in your singing & songwriting?"
Julie:
"Sheryl Crow is probably...honestly...and then there’s the old greats like Rosanne Cash and Patsy Cline, and all these people...all the old country [singers] like Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton got so much crap for so long, that I love the fact that, that woman was just like...ya know what, this is who I am. I [Dolly] do my thing...you don’t like it, [then] you don’t like it, I don’t know what to tell you. She just did her thing and she was like, this is it."
"I just love strong female women who can sing. I love a lot of male music too, I mean, don’t get me wrong...like Bruce Springsteen. I like road music, you know. That’s what really inspires me is the lyrics, not necessarily the music, lyrics really."
Dina:
"When you are not working and you are just being Julie the person and not Julie the entertainer, what do you like to do with your free time? Any hobbies or interests?"
Julie:
"I love being outside. That’s really why I loved living in California...I loved being able to hike and constantly being outside, ‘cause the weather is always so great, ya know."
[Julie laughs]
"That helps a lot."
Dina:
"Oh yeah, definitely. You don’t want a torrential down-pour when you’re trying to go hiking or something."
[Dina laughs]
Julie:
"Yeah right. It’s a little discouraging when it’s freezing, or snowing, or hot. I like doing that [hiking] honestly. I love to read, kick back, hanging out with friends and just like...chill."
Dina:
"As most of us know, it’s not easy trying to obtain a successful career in either music or acting, there are a lot of “dues” that need to be paid in order to “make it”. Exactly what advice would you give to someone who wants to seek a career in either of those fields."
Julie:
"I think the #1 thing...’cause I used to talk to people, like younger artists in L.A., about it alot...When everybody else is out partying and drinking and doing all that, you need to be at home researching, playing where other people [musicians] are playing, or going to other people’s [musicians] shows, learning what works, researching what’s hot on the radio. I don’t go out and party and stuff because I’m at home. I’m the one after the show going home because I gotta go book the next gig, ya know."
"If there’s one piece of thing [advice], it’s just be genuine. I think it will get you everywhere in this world, honestly. Because it’s like when I tell a booker ya know...he’s like, well how many [people] are you looking to draw? It’s like, I don’t know. You never know. Because you could have an amazing night of 300 people, or you could have an amazing night of 1 person...you just never know. I’ve always been honest and I think that people appreciate that ‘cause I’m not gonna try and B.S. people about stuff, ya know."
Dina:
"Right, right, I totally agree. I absolutely totally agree."
Julie:
"It’s so hard, you just never know. It could be one of those nights when the game’s on or whatever, ya know."
[Julie laughs]
Dina:
"Well, it’s extremely hard, and you being in the field that I’m in, booking for a lot of the local bands...you never know what kind of crowd you’re gonna draw. It just depends on who feels like going out that night, you know."
[Dina laughs]
Julie:
"Exactly. It’s a weird, weird business. You just gotta kind of take it for what it is, and you gotta love this life. If you don’t love this life, you will crash and burn, it’s a total fact."
Dina:
"Oh yeah, I’ve seen it happen over and over again."
[Dina laughs]
Julie:
"Yeah, it’s sad too sometimes because people just get let down and let down, and I’m like...and I’ve been to so many bars where I walk in and I think it’s gonna be an amazing venue, and there’s just one person there. But that one person might be your fan for life."
Dina:
"Well, you are absolutely amazing in all the different roles that you are playing. I’m certainly inspired by you and what you’re doing."
Julie:
"Aw, thank you."
Dina:
"Julie, thank you so much for your time, Keith and I look forward to seeing you on the 27th for what we are sure will be a great show in Clearwater."
Julie:
"Oh Dina, I can’t wait. I’m so excited to get down there. I mean, it’s water time...I love beach people."
Dina:
[Dina laughs]
"Yep, I miss the ocean whenever I’m gone for awhile, I love coming back. I miss the water most of all. Once again though Julie, thank you so much for your time, Keith and I look forward to seeing you on Thursday."
Julie:
"We’re very excited. My guitar player just lost his mother...he needs to play."
Dina:
"Yeah, and get his mind off everything."
Julie:
"We’re touring at a perfect time, ya know."
Dina:
"Well, glad I could help out. Mario [Sarasota Promoter, Mario Vitali] made the call to Keith [Keith Wilkins], and Keith immediately called me and asked if we could get you booked somewhere in the Tampa Bay area. I’m like yeah, yeah, we can work something out and get her [Julie] here."
"I think it will help the Banana Boat Too out as well. It’s a newer venue in the area that has moved a couple of times so it’s in a different location, and a lot of people still don’t know about this great venue yet. It will be a great night for all parties involved. We definitely put the word out, and got the flyers out."
Julie:
"We’ll have a blast, and make it fun. We have some covers that everybody likes that we’ll play too, that’s always fun."
[Julie laughs]
Dina:
"Regardless, we’ll all have fun."
[Dina laughs]
Julie:
"Absolutely, and if you have any great musicians there, tell them to come jam with us. We always love to have that up on stage...when they come and do a tune with us or something."
Dina:
"Yeah, yeah, definitely. I’ve got actually a couple of musicians that were interested in coming out, and who were acoustic players in the area that were really looking forward to seeing you play. We definitely got the word out there, and I know it will be a good night."
"We wish you the best of luck on your interview with “Good Day Tampa Bay”, and we are glad you are feeling better."
Julie:
"Thank you....upswing, upswing, ready to rock n’ roll!"
Dina:
"Thank you, I appreciate all your time Julie, and I’m definitely looking forward to the show on Thursday. Hopefully it will be a huge success...definitely expecting a good turn-out, we’re looking forward to meeting you."
Julie:
"Awesome! Thank you so much for everything and I look forward in meeting you two as well."
*UPDATE: Due to time and scheduling disputes, Julie Gibble will NOT be appearing on “Good Day Tampa Bay” this week, as originally hoped for. However, Julie will still be performing at the Banana Boat Too this coming up Thursday, January 27th. The Banana Boat Too is located in Clearwater at 5858 Roosevelt Blvd. The show will be from 9:00pm - 12:00am. If you are a local musician and would like to get up on stage and jam with julie at the show, please come out and do so.
After Julie's performance at the Banana Boat Too this Thursday, Julie will be heading down to Sarasota to headline the Music Expo Competition at Pastimes Pub on Friday, January 28th. The event is part of the Florida Regionals of the "Battle For America" band competition. Pastimes Pub is located in Sarasota at 6540 Superior Ave.
I would like take this opportunity to publicly thank Julie Gribble for graciously taking the time out of her busy touring schedule in order to do this interview. I would also like to thank my good friend and professional colleague, Dina Mead of Bay Area Band Source, for conducting the interview on my behalf.
Keith Wilkins was the "2010 Most Read Examiner Columnist" in the St. Petersburg (Tampa Bay) market. All articles published in the St. Petersburg Live Music Bar Scene column are written by Keith Wilkins, and are under copyright laws. Articles cannot be re-printed, re-posted, or re-produced in whole without written consent by the author (Keith Wilkins), KAM Music Publishing, or the Examiner. Partial re-printing, re-posting, or re-producing with a link back to the original article is permitted. For consent, questions, or comments, please email Keith Wilkins c/o Amy Joyner at: kampublishing@aol.com.
For more information on Keith Wilkins, please check out the Keith Wilkins official facebook fan page. For more information on KAM Music Publishing, please check out the official myspace & facebook pages. Follow Keith's Examiner column on Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter for local live music & bar news updates. Don't miss a single article, subscribe to Keith's St. Petersburg Live Music Bar Scene Examiner column now by clicking on the button at the top of the page.
Want to learn more about Examiner Columnist Keith Wilkins? Read part 1 & part 2 of an interview with Keith Wilkins that was published in the San Antonio Single Parenting Examiner Column on October 4th & October 6th, 2010.
Comments