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 Julian Angel, a German guitarist recently released his second album, 'Choreography Sucks' a somewhat unique blend of glam and sleaze coupled with R&B, Country and even Hip Hop influences. In Komodo Rock's review of the album it was described as "The album Tommy Lee wishes he made".
High praise indeed.
Komodo Rock's Mike Elliott caught up with Julian to find out more about his music, influences, and where he sees his band progressing.
Komodo Rock: Can you give us a little bit of background on yourself as a musician?
Julian Angel: Well, yeah, music is all I ever
wanted to do and so I just went along and done it. Like any other
musician out there I have suffered heartaches and pains, ate shit, got
cheated, ripped off. Nevertheless I self-released my debut album in the
year 2000 titled "angel-rock.com" (whoooah, what a marketing teaser,
huh?) and now followed up on it in 2007 with "Choreography Sucks",
which features some cool glam and sleaze rock combined with modern
sounds and slammin´ beats. In the years between? Double-crossed,
cheated, ripped off, fake promises, fast women...
KR: 'Choreography Sucks' is an interesting album title, and could be
interpreted in various ways. What was your idea behind the title?
JA: I simply hate synchronized dancing. Boygroups
don´t play instruments, so they have to make silly dance moves to
create some kind of action while the other guy is singing in the front.
Come on, this is not what a band is about, right? Also I hate it when a
solo singer is standing almost lost on stage and then they send some
dancers on stage who are itching and wiggling to make up for the
singer´s lame performance. I think they should leave it to those who
can really create something!
KR: You play almost all the instruments on the album 'Choreography
Sucks'. Was that a decision you made, or more one made by circumstance?
JA: Both. It is hard to find the right people to
join you when you play that kind of music. Cool, long-haired, skilled
musicians who don´t live too far and share your vision. I am about to
get a band together now for live gigs. Anyway, I am not a control
freak, but I just love playing those instruments, twisting the knobs,
arranging the tracks, adding effects and all that.
KR: Can you give us a little more information on some of the tracks on the album please?
JA: They rock, man!!! Well, "Sucker Punch" was the first track I
recorded. Can you imagine I had been listening to Nelly Furtado before
I came up with the groove? Many people call this "the Alice Cooper
song". My personal fave is "Sumthin´ Huge" for its "Pour Some Sugar On
Your Cherry Pie" grooves and beats and the rather 70s like guitar riff.
The real melodic "Give The Radio Back" is becoming a club favorite over
here and we will be trying to shoot a video for this. Stay tuned...
KR: You have wide ranging influences, many of which are evident on the
album. Have you found that the mixed styles have gone down well with
your fans?
JA: Yeah, I think so. There are many different
styles that spice up my music in one way or another, but after all it
is definitely glamorous and sleazy hard rock. Like you said it, it has
that rock and roll basis, but it is kind of refreshing due to the
modern elements.
KR: With so many influences in the melting pot, did you find it hard to keep your own stamp on the music you were writing?
 JA:
No, because this is it. This is my style. Even if some critics love to
say things like the artist has been trying to push it all into one
direction, I guarantee I haven´t forced myself, it just came out
naturally.
KR: Do you have any plans to tour in support of the album?
JA: Definitely. Just like I mentioned earlier, I
am putting a band together and try to play as many shows as we can.
There is already some interest in gig exchanges with bands from Italy
and, most notably, Scandinavia... Let´s see where it will take me... If
anyone can recommend a col club, please let me know.
KR: Given we're all into labels, if you had to put a genre to yourself, what would it be?
JA: I call it "rock with a slam". Anyway, the
outlets who sell my CD list it under "rock" and sub-categorize it as
"glam", cause that´s the basis.
KR: Having to cut your main influences down to just three, who would you choose and how have they inspired you?
JA: Uh, I think I would start with Mötley Crüe,
especially as their mid-tempo groove stuff is concerned. Tommy Lee is a
hell of a groove master and I love Nikki Sixx´ striking lyrics! Next
there could be Prince. He´s a genius and though he is widely known as a
black and funk artist he can definitely rock. I guess he encouraged me
to experiment a little more. Last not least I still count Poison in as
an influence as they have all the attitude, hooks and hair. Did I
mention that I interviewed Bret on the phone in 2003? Lots of fun...
KR: Given that there was a break of 7 years between your debut album
'angel-rock.com' and this, can we expect a shorter break between albums
this time around?
JA: This time you can. I have found my style and
just recently started shifting it to the next level with a few new
ideas. So I´m working on new material.
KR: You were nominated for a German Rock Award back in 2000. How did that come about, and were you surprised at the nomination?
JA: Have I mentioned the rip-offs yet? Hahaha...
This was one of them. You could apply by simply sending in some
material. I had some fast and furious Joe Satriani style instrumental
piece submitted. I got nominated, went to the awards show, got
evaluated as a great guitarist, but the judges couldn´t see a
commercial chance for that kind of song - and I was out! What does
commercial quality tell about a guitarist´s skills? Nothing I guess.
Well, I still believe: nothing...
KR: How hard has it been for you to get your music out to the world?
JA: It still is hard, as I´m just getting started
with promotion. Guys like you are cool to get along with and offer
great exposure, however, the big media haven´t got used to independent
artists yet and so they still lump you together with all the
out-of-tune-wannabes out there and don´t really believe you when you
are talking about serious intentions and a well thought-up marketing
plan. Like I said before, I`ve got used to eating shit and so they
won´t bring me down. There is a way for everything...
KR: Has the internet, and sites like myspace, helped with that process?
JA: Sure it has. The internet made it a lot
easier to target your audience and find places to promote your music.
That´s definitely more effective than just selling your CD at the local
record store. As for myspace I´m still finding out. You definitely meet
a lot of cool people there, however, I guess many of them just add you
as friends to satisfy their need for attention - "hey, I got
100,000,000 friends and most of them are hot looking studs"...
 KR: Can you give us any important web sites where fans can find out more about you and your music please?
JA: Sure, here we go:
My website: www.angel-rock.com (with information, sound samples, sales links, free mp3 download, pictures, news...)
My myspace (hey yeah, add me, add me...): www.myspace.com/julianangelroxx
CDbaby sales page: www.cdbaby.com/cd/julianangel
I´m also on last.fm: www.last.fm
Oh, and an x-large iTunes link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=268386383
KR: Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us.
JA: Thank you for taking the time and thinking up
some questions. And to you, who have actually read through all of this:
THANXX !!! I hope you dig "the album Tommy Lee wishes he recorded"
(Komodorock.com). Have a great time out there and don´t forget to
rock!
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We loved the album too, and glad you found your way to us
Cool to find a feature here of a german glam an' sleaze artist!
After I heard some great rockin' songs on myspace I googled the net for Julian Angel and now I'm on komodorock and just read the interview that's very interesting! Need to order the album, cuz the stuff really makes me dancin', yeah!!