We Speak Music
Julian Roy Shares Debut Album ‘friends first’
Hailing from Virginia, Julian Roy, a recording artist, songwriter, and producer, draws inspiration from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, and The Beatles. After being compared to the likes of Frank Ocean and Chet Faker, Julian Roy continues to push the boundaries of music with his genre-defying music.
Julian Roy is as much a seasoned traveller as he is an artist. He taught himself how to play the guitar when he moved to Thailand. He began songwriting when he moved to Nashville. He started his music career when he moved to Los Angeles.
He has travelled to over 50 countries and can speak the ‘language’ by playing music or fútbol with anyone in any country from Brazil to Japan to Morocco and Norway. He creates music to display his love and compassion, whilst exploring themes to showcase how similar we all are. He has performed in over 16 countries and has self-booked tours across the globe to connect with his fans and build his fanbase. Outside his music, Julian Roy writes songs for a variety of different label artists in LA, NYC, Colombia, and Korea.
His brother, James Sider, started a company, a music startup based in California that produced the application BandPage, an application that powered over 500,000 artists’ Facebook Pages. Artists could upload and share tracks, videos, photos, and their touring schedule on Facebook. Julian Roy had the inner tech music view while he was running BandPage. Since then it’s changed quite a bit into this streaming monster that everyone begs to be a part of. He has always been proud of being independent and pushed himself to explore avenues outside of the typical Spotify artist or streaming-focused artists.
Since working with major artists like Mike Posner and Lolo Zouai, and after garnering widespread acclaim with his debut EP, 18 lbs, Julian Roy is gearing up to unveil his highly anticipated debut album, friends first.
The debut album was recorded during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. friends first, was inspired by personal events and his travels through the island life of South East Asia and South America as well as living with musical communities in Nashville, San Francisco, and now Los Angeles. The 14-track compilation deepens his authenticity as a music artist. He is a force to be reckoned with.
friends first, echoes genres of modern R&B, indie-pop, alternative, singer-songwriter, electronica, Neo-Soul, and experimental World Beat, showcasing the foundation of his love of music and unmatched talent for fusing captivating instruments with profound lyricism. Throughout the album, Julian Roy enchants audiences worldwide as he solidifies his position as a major player in the music industry and makes a lasting impression. His demonstrations of vulnerability, effortless talents, and musical abilities place on full display his complexity and depth as an artist.
On the album, Julian Roy comments, “friends first, was recorded during and after COVID-19 in the middle of so much heartbreak and pain, during this time my father also passed away which shaped parts of the album. friends first, has nine different producers, was recorded in Mexico, USA, Colombia, and Norway (three continents), and has seven featured artists.”
With his single, “Sweetest Mistake,” out now, we took some time to hear more from ASPEN. Read below to learn more about ASPEN, the story behind his latest single, and what’s to come.
Hi ASPEN! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
It is just my first name. I have an interesting name, so I thought that it fit well as an artist name as well.
What city are you from and where are you based now?
I am originally from Tel Aviv, Israel, but I live in Miami now.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I went to Ultra a few years back, and I knew that I loved electronic music, but I didn’t realize how much I really loved it. Once I went there, I just had an overwhelming urge to pursue music myself.
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
Absolutely, my upbringing has been instrumental in shaping both who I am and my sound. Being in Miami, a melting pot of cultures and musical styles, exposed me to a variety of sounds. This diverse musical environment instilled in me a love for blending different genres and influences, which is evident in tracks like ‘Sweetest Mistake.’ The emotional depth and eclectic beats of my music are reflections of the vibrance.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
My sound can best be described as an emotive journey through soundscapes that blend electronic beats with soulful melodies. It’s about capturing both the highs and lows of the human experience, packaged within compelling rhythms that invite you to both reflect and dance. With each track, like ‘Sweetest Mistake,’ I aim to create a unique auditory experience that resonates on a personal level with listeners, drawing on elements from downtempo to more upbeat electronic vibes.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
Outside of music, I enjoy exploring the vibrant art scene here in Miami, from street art to gallery exhibitions. These visual experiences often inspire the textures and layers of my music. I also stay active with lifting, which not only keeps me physically fit, but also mentally sharp and creatively fluid. Engaging with different environments and activities helps me to maintain a fresh perspective and brings new ideas into my music production.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Martin Garrix, Gryffin, and Tiesto.
What are some of your future music career goals?
Music for me has been about following my passion. So, as I progress in my career, I want to share my passion with others. For me, I just want my crowd to be engaged, and I want to make the lives of the people that listen to my music just a little bit better.
Now onto your release, ‘Sweetest Mistake.’ What inspired this song?
I was listening to ‘High on Life’ by Martin Garrix and just came to the conclusion that I really want to make a song like that. I love the message and the euphoric feeling that the song creates, and I wanted to recreate that.
What is ‘Sweetest Mistake’ about in your own words?
‘Sweetest Mistake’ is a captivating blend of introspective lyrics and dynamic melodies. Featuring the compelling contributions of JWild, this track explores the bittersweet journey of embracing imperfections and finding beauty in unexpected turns.
How did the collaboration with JWild come about?
We have some mutual friends, and I just DMed him on Instagram because I listened to some of his stuff and really liked his voice.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from ‘Sweetest Mistake?’
Go find love and put yourself out there. You will get hurt in life, but all of those experiences build you up as a person and make you into who you are.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
I played for a crowd of almost 10,000 people in a basketball arena with Lil Jon. Everyone really enjoyed the set, and I was just so happy that I could share the stuff that I was working on with all these other people.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
You have to be patient. In this industry you have to pay your dues, and you have to be patient in terms of your growth. Also, in life as a whole, you have to be patient in terms of your career growth. There is no such thing as instant success.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I am going to continue grinding and releasing music. I have been working really hard, and I have a ton of projects that I am waiting to roll out. I’m excited for everyone to hear them. I also have a headline show on June 15th at Hyde in the SLS in South Beach.
Where can we follow you on social media?
https://www.instagram.com/aspenofc
https://www.tiktok.com/@aspen.dj
https://soundcloud.com/aspenrg
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
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