We Speak Music

Julian Roy Shares Debut Album ‘friends first’

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2024

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.”

More from We Speak Media:

We Speak Music

Pauline Frechette Releases “The Wonder of Stars” Featuring Legendary Bassist Stanley Clarke

Published

23 hours ago

November 7, 2026

Olivia Long

Billboard-charting composer, pianist, and vocalist Pauline Frechette releases her new single, “The Wonder of Stars,” featuring legendary bassist Stanley Clarke. Taken from her latest album, At the Edge of Everything, the song is a personal reflection on the beauty of the universe, the search for direction, and the quiet strength that comes from looking beyond everyday worries.

Living in Ojai, California, surrounded by mountains and natural beauty, Pauline finds inspiration in one of her favorite nighttime activities: stargazing with her husband. For her, looking up at the stars is more than simply admiring the night sky. It is a way to find peace, regain perspective, and reconnect with her sense of purpose.

“When I am tired or anxious about something, star gazing relaxes me. I feel strong and sure of the path I must follow,” Pauline explains. Inspired by the explorers who once relied on the stars for courage and direction, she sees the night sky as a reminder that there is always a way forward, even when life presents obstacles.

That feeling became the foundation for “The Wonder of Stars.” Pauline began composing the music while singing, allowing the lyrics to emerge naturally from the emotions and story already expressed through the melody. She considers the song one of her finest compositions.

Featuring the unmistakable musicianship of Stanley Clarke, “The Wonder of Stars” brings together Pauline’s distinctive approach to composition and performance with the artistry of one of music’s most celebrated bassists.

Pauline Frechette has built an impressive career as a composer, pianist, and vocalist. Her compositions have been performed by renowned orchestras, including the Baltimore Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, New West Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and National Symphony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Her work has also been presented at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Beyond the concert stage, Pauline has contributed her voice to major film scores and performed alongside some of the biggest names in music, including Paul McCartney, Beck, Cher, Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, Muse, and Leonard Cohen.

Her current album, At the Edge of Everything, features Stanley Clarke and showcases her ability to move naturally between jazz, neo-classical instrumentals, and expressive vocal compositions. Her music has accumulated more than 30 million streams worldwide.

Through her music and performances, Pauline brings together technical excellence, emotional honesty, and a deep sense of vulnerability. With “The Wonder of Stars,” she offers listeners a reminder to pause, look beyond their immediate surroundings, and find inspiration in the world above them.