What sparked your interest in songwriting?
When I was a kid, I found myself writing tunes on the piano instead of practicing whatever material my teacher wanted me to learn. I would feel inspired by the way a chord rang out, and the piano became my journal.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Freddie Mercury’s theatricality, Janis Joplin’s grit and Aretha Franklin’s soul.
Can you describe a moment when a song came to you unexpectedly?
I had a song come to me in a dream once – that was weird but super cool! I had to jump out of bed in the middle of the night and discreetly hum a voice memo into my phone.
What is your typical songwriting process? Do you start with lyrics, melody, or chords?
Oh man, it really depends. There are times when I’ve started out with a line and crafted a melody from there, and vice versa. Over the last nearly two years of collaborating with my producer Tom Chandler, my songwriting process has changed a ton. Sometimes I’ll just shoot him a few lines and he turns it into a full blown song. He’s insanely talented.
Do you have any specific rituals or practices that help you get into a creative mindset?
I usually write all my lyrics on my phone, but if I’m writing with Tom in the studio then I need a pen of paper to really see all my lyric ideas in front of me. Oftentimes I write based on whatever emotional place I’m in – if I’m experiencing despair or heartbreak, that’s the truth I write. If I’m writing a song about empowerment, then I write the words I need to hear. Whatever it is, it has come from whatever truth you’re sitting in at that moment.
How do you decide when a song is “finished”?
After a certain point, you have to just let a song go. There are always finishing touches, last-minute lyric changes, whatever. But if you keep tinkering with a song then you’ll never put it out. So how do I know? When the lyrics feel true, the production kicks ass and the performance is inspiring. That’s how I know the song is ready.
Have you collaborated with other artists? What did you enjoy most about that experience?
I collaborated with artists A TON during Covid – it was the best way to stay connected and feel like I was still “playing” with other musicians. In fact, my favorite Jules & the Howl songs that came out during the pandemic are co-writes: “Bring Me Your Tears” with Deffo, “Rule Your Mind” with Adam Nye & “My Turn” with the Noise Machine.
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About: Jules & the Howl
Hailing from Chicago, Jules & the Howl is a modern glam-rock artist today based in LA. Heavily influenced by the Chicago music scene, Jules combines elements of blues with classic rock and roll – with a contemporary flare and a raw, gritty, cathartic feel.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Jules has built quite a following – headlining shows at legendary LA venues such as Whisky A Go Go, Lucky Strike Live, Molly
Malone’s and the Bourbon Room. Furthermore, her outstanding releases have gained the attention of features in publications such as The Women’s
International Music Network as well as Lost World Reviews. Jules also won the 2018 L.A. Music Critic Award for Best Blues (Traditional) Band.
As a household name in the LA-rock scene, Jules is also an active force for equality with her work as promoter and co-founder of the popular Women Rock
LA show, providing a platform for female rockers to perform and to be highlighted further in the scene.
With more releases in the works, 2025 is going to be a big year for Jules & the Howl.
Find more about Jules & The Howl in S.L.R. Magazine
Title photo by by Linn Holmstedt
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