juliaambre – Julia Ambre

What am I up to?

November 22, 2023

Hi friends! 💃🏾

I hope the fall season has not made you too gloomy yet – it is slowly starting to get to me, so I decided to write about an exciting topic! 😁

Writing songs… and the recording of my new project…(that is yet to be named!) 😅

I have always loved to write lyrics, poems, essays, etc. Putting them in music is a comfortable way for me to express myself more publicly. Unfortunately, the process to do so is not always super smooth.

For my first album, Rencontre{s}, the process was absolutely messy:

Some of my songs had been previously recorded for another project back in France, some songs are simple demos that I had recorded with my phone, some others have been produced by a friend… After a failure of meeting terms with the producers I was supposed to work with in Toronto, I ended up mixing and mastering the songs myself, during the pandemic, and learning on the go how to release a project on different platforms. It was a bit tedious, but it ended up working out well enough that I met incredible people thanks to that project. (the album came out early 2022 and is still available on all platforms with all of its flaws!) 🥳

Spotify

My second recording experience was a lot smoother, even though it was a bit more stressful. I met with Matthew Isaacs and Justin Guanio a couple months after my album release, and we proceeded to start working on my EP Secret the Summer of the same year. Matthew is a very talented Rnb artist (Kromatix) and it was interesting to dive into the writing process with him. Justin (Wess) and him have been working together for a little while now. Contrary to how I usually work, Matthew and Justin like to start with finding a beat. After asking me what artists were inspiring to me, they came up with a couple of instrumental suggestions that I helped shape along the way. Once the instrumentals were done, we started writing lyrics and recording them in Justin’s studio (Loud Studios). This was the birth of Power, Stand Back, Fake Roses and Secret (listen here!) … Although quite stressful compared to my previous collaboration work, it was fun and refreshing to create with artists from a different genre. 🙏🏾

Listen to Kromatix

Check out Wess’ prods

Discover Loud Studios

These past two months, I have been working on selecting, (re)writing, arranging and recording some songs for a new project! It is a solo project again, but I am much more comfortable with the tools that I am using now. All of the songs I have decided to record are songs that I wrote between March 2020 and now, these are fun, reflective and maybe thought-provoking songs that I want to share with the people who know me, and those who don’t know me yet.

As always, I am big on happy melodies that stick with your mind, and I truly hope this project will touch a lot of people. 🌎

I am using Ableton Live 11 to record, and I have been able to record my instruments from home, at a higher quality than for my first project. I am learning a lot about this software and am planning on attempting to mix my songs myself. For the vocals, I am also recording at home, with my brand new equipment!

Once I get my vocal tracks down, I will put them together with the instrumentals and start the final mixing process. I am not there yet, and it promises to be a big learning experience. One I will recount at a later date! 📝

In the meantime, I will release an acoustic version of the very first single off of this new project on my birthday:

Aftermath

December 7, 2023 – SAVE THE DATE!

Thanks for reading!
love, always.

Afternoon Coffee – story

December 23, 2022

This is one of the first songs I wrote about the pandemic! We were on our second lockdown, end of 2020, and I was FED UP with staying home, looking forward to seeing people, going out with my friends, and seeing the world reopen in general. This is exactly what this song is about! I hope to see you all dance with me soon.

Afternoon Coffee

December 23, 2022

Afternoon Coffee in hand
I’m determined to write again
I think about the good times that are to come
I think about what the future holds

I’m feeling peaceful today
So grateful for my journey
I think about the healing process of the world
I think about the healing process of people

I can’t wait to find myself out with my friends
I can’t wait to feel myself dancing again
Can’t wait for that patio drink
Can’t wait for that lovely feeling
That everything was meant to be
I can’t wait for you to dance with me

Dance with me *4

My morning coffee felt bland
No more energy to spend
I wonder where my emotions went
I don’t know if it’s a dream or hell

Dance with me *4

I can’t breathe if you run away from me
I can’t sing if you tell me that life ain’t worth living

Dance with me

Savage

December 16, 2022

Should you decide that I’m not good enough
I will be on my way
Should you deny that you failed both of us
I won’t want to stay

You want your peace back? Fine
You want to keep track? Fine
But if you hear me out, out
Don’t bother calling back

I’ll scream it out, Woah
If you don’t let me be
I’ll wear it out, Woah
Yeah my heart on my sleeve
You think I can be tamed
That your words bring me down
But babe I’m savage
You should know it by now, Woah
I’m a savage girl.

Could you turn your volume down and power off
I’m tired of hearing you
No I don’t mind if you think something is off
You blew your chances dude

You think you’re sorry? Love
I think you should be, Oh
Now you regret it? Sad, sad
I’m never coming back

Can you know?
Can you listen to me now?
You don’t know
I’m not hearing you right now
I’m a savage girl and this world is mine tonight
Don’t bother calling back

I’m a savage girl.

It Ain’t Easy

December 9, 2022

I could reach out for the moon I’m ready to fly
or dance under the moonsoon Reaching for the sky
I could play all through the night Music is my life
& sing for the lonely hearts hearts hearts
I will be alright
Don’t doubt me now

No patience, no mercy,
don’t be angry at me
You’re moody, you’re grumpy
It ain’t going away
If your life feels shitty
you can’t put the blame on me
I’m fucking exhausted
I strive to live another day

I could be all that I need I’m ready to fly
I could dance away my fears Reaching for the sky
I could pray God to forget Music is my life
Or I could just admit that ha ha
I – I was not okay
I am today

Keep telling you I will be alright, though you can tell by my face that it’s hard right now
No need to fake, we all have our downs, but when I’m up, I’m a queen, I can touch the stars
Dance through the fight, that’s my motto now, and if it works for Roundhouse it should work for us
Pick yourself up, you’ll get through the night, smile through the tears, and dream out loud

It ain’t easy

Music from the Moon

November 25, 2022

While you play music from the moon
We destroy our only home

While you play music from the moon
We try to conquer one of yours

We choose to ignore the mess we make
To explore some other fate

We choose to ignore the mess we make
Onto one of your planets

You can’t hear us but you know we’re there
We can’t see you but we know you’re there
For all of us try to stand and stare
Sending signals that you can’t ignore

I’ve been trying to reach out
I’m reaching out to you
When the sky gets all dark
I’ll sing out to the stars

I wish I played music from the moon
Not because I’m fleeing too

I wish I played music from the moon
Maybe more could hear the truth

I fear that we’re going way too far
& every time we try to stop

I fear that we’re going way too far
Someone drags us further down

Can you see me? If so please be aware
Can’t you feel it? Humans aren’t being fair
For all of us try to steal your share
Cause we’re not able to maintain our air

I’ve been trying to reach out
I’m reaching out to you
When the sky gets all dark
I’ll sing out to the stars

Path to freedom – story

November 13, 2022

TW: domestic violence
(please feel free to skip if it makes you uncomfortable)

Path to Freedom is one of the songs I wrote after dreaming about a painful situation. As some of you may know, I am a real fan of true crime shows… and I watched a particular show about a person taking in isolated, orphans or homeless people and abusing them and their situation to get benefits.

The dream Path to Freedom is based on was similar… I was an orphan who had been placed in a new home with her sister and unfortunately, our situation was not ideal. After weeks of abuse, my sister started to plan an escape. She got out, and left me a copy of David Copperfield with a note inside that simply said “I found a path to freedom” with a code, inside of the book, that explained how to follow the same path. My answer in the dream was “I’m not brave enough to walk it on my own”, and this is what triggered me to write this song.

It is not a happy song, and a few people have linked it to other sad stories, that, unfortunately, were not dreams. I felt that this was still a good story to share, because some people need a hand in escaping dangerous or triggering situations, and I think we should be more understanding of these people who do not feel brave enough to do it on their own.

Musically, I was attracted to a jazzy / pop sound for this song, because the atmosphere I wanted to create was close to the musical Chicag.

If this song resonates with you, one way or another, please feel free to share it and add it to your playlists!

I hope you like it.

Roller Coaster

November 11, 2022

It’s such a strange feeling, finding yourself
Thinking about her lips,
It’s such a strange feeling, wanting to get
Her sassy eyes on your skin,

Oh you want her
Think you need her
Can’t go further
Boy you lust her

She makes your heart racing like a roller-coaster
You’ve never felt this way about a girl before
Fun, sexy, something, fresh, crazy, amazing but what a mess
She is fun, sexy, something, fresh, crazy, amazing but what a mess

Love’s not what it is , you lust her shape
and you’re under hypnosis
Love is not what it is, you lust her face
The way she takes a pose

Oh you want her
Think you need her
Can’t go further
Boy you lust her

She makes your heart racing like a roller-coaster
You’ve never felt this way about a girl before
… sexy, something, fresh, crazy, amazing what a mess
She is fun, sexy, something, fresh, crazy, amazing what a mess

Fun sexy, something, fresh, crazy, amazing what a mess
She is fun, sexy, something, fresh, crazy, amazing what a mess

Power

October 28, 2022

You done messed me up
I wanna let you know how I’ve been feeling
I don’t give a fuck
Don’t come at me boy, I am healing

Don’t tell me now, I don’t forgive
I let you go,
That’s what I’ve got

Power
got no fear in my veins
I’ve got power
not afraid to try again
power
Maybe you’re the one to blame
I’ve got power
I’ve got power

It’s in the way you talk
I can tell you’re lying, boy you’re lying
I don’t wanna know what you been thinking

Don’t call me now, I don’t forgive
I’m finally free,
That’s how I feel

Power
got no fear in my veins
I’ve got power
not afraid to try again
Power
Maybe you’re the one to blame
I’ve got power
I’ve got power

I’m taking the high road
I’m taking the high road
I’m not gonna hear you
Cause you know
I’ve got power baby
You should leave her alone
You should leave her alone
She’s not gonna like you
Cause you know
She’s got power baby

Power
got no fear in my veins
I’ve got power
not afraid to try again
Power
Maybe you’re the one to blame
I’ve got power
I’ve got power
Power

Some ideas to limit the impact of live music on climate change…

October 7, 2022

My favorite activity, as a singer, is to be onstage and sing live. My biggest dream is to tour the world alongside friends and musicians, to be able meet different people and discover different cultures through my art… But when I look at it closely, touring the world has a tremendous effect on the environment. A recent study (2021) suggests that live music in the UK alone generates 405,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

Today I am brainstorming on this question: How can we limit the impact of live music events on climate change?

Festivals.

While festivals generate a lot of travels, transportation and traffic, we can encourage festival goers to save energy at home while they are away. For example, if you leave your house for a weekend or a few days, you can unplug devices that do not need to stay on, turn off all the lights, deactivate your internet, etc. You can also make sure that your food will not go to waste by packing items that may need to be eaten right away as snack! On the road, as much as possible, using public transportation such as buses or trains to reach the festival is also a way to limit emissions. During the festival, recycling waste and using water fountains instead of buying plastic bottles will help limit the impact of the festival on the environment. In terms of production, a lot of festivals take place during the day, which is a good way of limiting energy use by not using many lights… I know that sometimes a show needs to be lit to keep its magic, solar powered LED lights might be the right path to reduce pollution in this case. After the concerts, solar powered flashlights and lanterns could be distributed to festival goers and performers to enjoy while they are in their individual tents; this would help reduce the levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

Concerts at stadiums or large venues.

First and foremost, artists can choose to be sponsored by organisations that are actively engaged to fight climate change. Each concert could be a wonderful platform to keep people informed and engaged in climate related information. A band and its crew can choose to limit their flights to necessary ones and travel in hybrid vans/buses to reduce emissions while going from city to city. Some artists could decide to dedicate part of the tickets revenues to non-for-profit environmental groups. During the tour, it could be possible to only source out local providers to cater for the audience and the band crew (farmers, vineyards, artisans), this would lessen the impact of accommodating the event and shine a new light on local producers. For the audience, carpooling with fellow concert goers or using public transports would help, as it would for a festival. Digital tickets are also helpful to reduce the paper consumption during these events. In the venue, instead of using plastic cups, sustainable reusable cups (such as Circular and Co) could also be a good path towards reducing waste – people could pay a deposit on their first drink, then have the choice to keep the cup or return it.

Street / Subway Performances.

In Canada, where I live now, street performers (buskers) need a permit to legally perform in the streets. They can pick the spot that they want and perform for as long as they would like. These performances are often tips-based and do not require tickets or promotion. A lot of artists offer the option to tip online which reduces the need for liquid money. They can engage easily with the audience and be sponsored by organisations or non-for-profit groups. Buskers usually use their own equipment and car to set up their stages, so if their finances allow, they could try and use an electric car, or use a shared auto instead of a personal one… Lighting can also be an important part of a busker’s show. Developing public LED lights and solar powered outdoor plugs could be a good way to reduce the use of energy during these street performances. The city could provide such devices to artists with a valid permit.

A few artists have already come up with their own environment friendly idea, feel free to take a look on the links below:

Billie Eillish
Coldplay
Jack Johnson

This concludes my little brainstorm session of the day. I am certain that tons of other ideas could help limit the impact of live music events on climate change.

If you have any suggestions, please comment below to let me know!!!