Chandler Juliet
Following up her single “hide and seek”, Los Angeles-based artist Chandler Juliet released her latest single “Take it or Leave It” on September 27th.
Co-written with fellow artist LeyeT and co-written and produced by Aaron Blackmar, “Take It or Leave It” is a pop anthem exploring the subject of strength and self-love.
“‘Take it or Leave it’ tells the classic cat and mouse story of chasing after someone for their attention, and deciding to stop playing. It’s pretty common in this day and age with social media to have short attention spans, especially living in a fast-paced city like LA. But I’ve learned, you can’t stop and try to convince people of your greatness when someone rejects you or doesn’t give you the time of day. It’s not fair to all the people who DO love you. I want my listeners feel inspired to be their authentic selves, unapologetically,” explains Juliet.
Chandler Juliet paints empowering and fun songs that aim to encourage people to love and accept who they are.
“Take it or Leave It” is the first single off her upcoming project, to be revealed soon.
Photo credit: Raz Azraai
Introduce yourself - where are you from?
What up!! I’m Chandler, and I’m from Los Angeles - born and raised in the valley!
What's your story?
Well, I grew up in this crazy city in a family of musicians, and naturally became an entertainer myself. I’m so passionate about songwriting, storytelling and performing and making people laugh and FEEL.
Could you describe us your first musical memories?
I remember growing up hearing music all the time in the house. My parents were always working on something. They both have such a strong work ethic, especially when it comes to music. My parents at the time I believe were working on pop songs for my mom for her artist project at the time, and through their evolution into jazz artists. So I’m not exactly sure what the memories were but we were always singing and music around us was just normal.
When did you start making music?
I played several instruments growing up, starting with piano, then violin, then clarinet, then cello (for about 9 years), then I taught myself guitar and started writing songs on my mom’s old guitar around age 9. I guess that’s where the seed was first planted. It seems my songs are evolving with me wherever I am in life.
How would you define Chandler Juliet, the artist?
Chandler Juliet, is a sassy sweetheart, an empowered woman and true musician and multi-instrumentalist. A real live singer with a voice that can cross over genre lines. A jazzy vocalist with modern pop writing and introspective lyricism. Pop songs that are witty and lyrically intelligent with a message, that you can still get down to on the dance floor!
"Take it or Leave it" is your latest single - what's the story behind this song?
‘Take it or Leave it’ is exactly what it sounds like – it’s about finding your power and strength in who you are. You don’t really need anyone but yourself. I mean, we do need other people, but I think we all have to get to a place where when someone isn’t showing us the love that we deserve (and we’re ALL worthy of love) then we need to have the self esteem to move on and not wait around for those people.
You worked with LeyeT and Aaron Blackmar on this song. Could you describe us the songwriting/production process?
This song was just so fun to write and it came about so fast. LeyeT and Aaron are both dear friends of mine in the music industry and we wanted to get a session together for a while at this point, so we walked into the studio with excited energy. Aaron had already started a track on this one (contrary to how I typically write and wrote most of my previous EP “elements”– solo on the guitar). As soon as we heard it, Miss LeyeT and I were both like “oooooh!” and humming melodies into our voice memos and brainstorming ideas. I think I told her about this boy I was sort of seeing at the time that was jerking me around, blowing me off, the “typical” non-commmital LA guy, as we joked. And I think I was just like” mannn he needs to “Take it or Leave it!” – and we looked at each other and knew that was our concept. We wrote the hook in a matter of minutes. It really was one of those special moments where we all connected.
What do you like the most about this song?
I love how strong I feel when I sing this song live. I remember when I first performed it live at School Night (big industry showcase in LA) and the whole room was singing along by the end of it – it was electric. I heard a few people singing the lyrics as they walked out of the venue. It’s really nice when you hit on a song and a message that resonates with people. I want to empower my audience and encourage everyone to be themselves and be authentic – if someone isn’t giving you the time of day, then forget ‘em. You DON’T need them. The magic is within you, boo boo!!!
What can you tell us about the music video? What was the inspiration behind it?
I originally had this huge plan for the Take it or Leave it MV but had some unexpected travel jobs come up so I was doing a collaborative photoshoot with this great photographer Ryan Miller (@tbd_89) and my roommate and he asked us both, if either of us had a song that we wanted to make a music video for! And Take it or Leave it was set to release the following Friday hehe.
It was really spontaneous at first and then we just went to some cool local spots around Hollywood that looked visually vintage and soulful, which is very much my visual style and brand.
What can you tell us about your upcoming project?
I am SO stoked about my upcoming project!!! I’m sitting on a lot of songs that really ring true to me and are such a progression of me as an artist, especially after elements. That EP was so introspective and meaningful and I had such a cathartic experience writing and recording that record. It was all about letting go, and refocusing. I am a pretty deep person and get in my feels a lot of the time.
So this new project is much more like my actual personality and how I interact with others. It’s upbeat, it’s fun, it’s free, it’s edgy, it’s sassy, it makes you wanna dance, it excites you! It excites me!! The themes are much more empowering and about love with others, loving yourself, standing in your power, asking for what you need. It’s much more upbeat and dancey and steps into the RnB world a little more.
You talk about self love and acceptance on your upcoming project, what advices would you give to anyone who struggles with self love?
I think it’s such a distracting world, and we are always looking outward on what everyone else is up to. I think it’s important to implement DAILY habits of spending time with yourself. Focusing on your own life, your own goals. Looking in the mirror and really looking into your own eyes. There’s a person in there!! And he/she is amazing. Truly. We spend all our time with ourselves so it’s normal to mistreat yourself once in a while. Sometimes I find my voice in my head so mean to myself. And I would NEVER utter the words I say to myself to anyone else. So just being mindful of that, forgiving yourself for mistakes, doing nice things for yourself. It’s a process, but remembering to be kind to yourself and remember that you’re human.
If you find yourself having trouble with this, figure out what triggers those negative emotions. Is it social media and comparing yourself to someone online? Is it someone in your surrounding circle that puts you down? Identifying the source of those negative feelings towards yourself might be a good place to start.
What made you want to release "Take it or Leave It" as the first single off this project?
I think ‘Take it or Leave it’ was the obvious choice for the first single off the project – once you hear the rest of the songs you may agree. It’s a perfect introduction into the subject matter of the next batch of songs. They’re empowered and fun. I’m very loud and outspoken, and Take it or Leave it is kinda the PSA of the project hehe. You’re either on board or you’re not, but I’m still havin’ fun over here.
What does songwriting make you feel?
Songwriting is such a unique process, each and every time. I think when I write alone it is like a conversation with myself, or sometimes with God, or just figuring out how I feel about something. With others, it can be different, sometimes nerve wracking because you always want to do a good job and make a good impression, but if you can just get past that social BS and focus on the MUSIC and writing something real and meaningful to you it’s usually a good time, if you let it be. When I wrote “Love Language” – my next single, out November 2019 - with my producer David Burris, it was a completely collaborative experience. He noodled around with some chords on the keyboard, and I guided him to change them around to sound more jazzy and RnB, as he worked on making things sound good, I wrote some lyrics and melodies in the back on the couch, and then sang him my ideas. He was SUPER into my concept for the song and that built me up and got me more excited about it and then we built the song together.
In your opinion, what makes a good songwriting team?
I think being open and collaborative is really important. Contribute your ideas, don’t just sit there, but don’t be so attached to them that you’re fighting the other people in the room. I love co-writing, but lately I’ve found my best process is writing with one producer right there, so the producing becomes part of the songwriting and you build the song right away.
What advices would you give to new songwriters?
If you’re just starting, I would say find your own voice as much as you can before getting into writing sessions with others. That was my experience anyway. You want to feel like you’re bringing something to the table and you’re proud and aware of exactly what that is, and you don’t want to be a creative mooch in any way ;) Creatively or in any way, actually. Write by yourself and study other songwriters and exactly what you like about those songs.
Besides music, what are you passionate about?
I’m super passionate about traveling, storytelling, comedy, improv, acting, fitness, and cooking!
How do you stay "grounded" in a city like Los Angeles?
Guuuuurl it ain’t always easy. I feel like every few days I have a breakdown not sure what I’m doing and then I get refocused and find that “bird’s eye view” again as I like to call it: Take a look at where I am in my journey in relation to where I want to go. Attaining a balance as much as possible really helps. That means working and going out. Working out and eating healthy. All that shit. Talk to your parents.
What do you want to accomplish as a human being?
I want to give back to the world once I really have a voice and a platform to do so. I want to align with causes that really speak to me. I was bullied really bad in middle school so I want to join Anti-Bullying causes, sing and perform for the sick, and give back in any way I can. Singing and music is a gift and I want to just keep sharing it and passing it along.
My goal as an artist is to take my artistry as far as it will go. I plan to tour all over the world with my music and my entertaining and connect and encourage as many people as possible.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
I think communication helps everything. Facing issues and conflict head on, speaking your truth.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
This is a HARD question. I’ve learned so many, and am drawing a blank, but I would say a lesson that keeps coming back for me: Always be yourself, and be honest with yourself.
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