Johnny Juliano: Let The Beat Build - INTERVIEW

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24: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are.

My name is Johnny Juliano. I'm a [music producer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, relocated to Atlanta, GA. I'm best known for my production with Wiz Khalifa as well as on SoundClick.com, but I've worked with many others and hope to expand my horizons in all other areas of music.




24: For those who may not be familiar with who you are, can you lease some of the records and artists you’ve produced for?

I've done 40+ records with Wiz Khalifa, including "Say Yeah, Ink My Whole Body, Pedal To The Metal and Goodbye". French Montana's "I'm On It" Featuring Big Sean, Nipsey Hussle, and Wiz Khalifa. Soulja Boy's "London". Those amongst 30+ major artists.




24: Briefly give us a little insight into how you came about getting into the music industry[ and who were some of the people that inspired you?

I started working with Wiz Khalifa when were both local artists in Pittsburgh, when I was about 16. It was a very wide variety of people that influenced me, hip hop artists from Kanye West, Lil Jon, and Just Blaze, to other unspecified genre artists like Daft Punk, Chromeo and Japanese video game composers like Joe Hisaishi. I try to incorporate other genres of music in my work, because in all honesty they're all I listen to anymore.




24: What made you want to produce compared to being an artist or singer, manager, etc?

I am an artist as well, and have been since I started producing. But I excelled in production because I was more interested in instrumentals and the overall musical creation process.




24: How would you describe your production style and what is distinctive about your sound?

Vintage funk meets modern hip hop. The funk leads, then drum programming/sequencing.



24: Do you both consider yourself a producer or a beat maker and explain why for either answer?

I am a producer, but I'm a very isolated one at that. I have sat in on sessions, and guided artists in writing/recording. But I prefer to be isolated while working, because even while I'm working it's like I'm with another person because I'm so hard on myself. I am my best critic.




24: How do you approach making your beats? Do you start with the drums first or a kick?

I always start with the melody , then I add drums, etc.



24: How did you first connect with Wiz Khalifa?

I met Wiz when I was 16, he was 17, back when we just so happened to go to the same Pittsburgh studio.



24: Can you describe how the two of you work together on a musical project?

Usually, I just have people jumping on all of my tracks and doing their thing. But with Wiz, it was a basic producer/artist relationship. As far as recording and writing, I try to offer as much input as possible.



24: Are there any producer(s) in the game at the moment that when you hear a beat they did, makes you want to step up your production?

As far as urban production, nobody. Not right now. Probably Ryan Leslie and Kanye, that's about it for hip-hop.



24: Do you have a favorite musical project that you've worked on?

Not really. I have yet to actually work on a project that meant a great deal to me. Don't get me wrong, they all mean something, but nothing extravagant as of yet.



24: Who are some other artists you're trying to work with in the future?

Kanye West, Kid Cudi and the whole G.O.O.D. Music camp. Drake, Lil Wayne, Birdman, Daft Punk, Chromeo, Musiq Soulchild, Daley and Hayley Williams of Paramore.



24: Do you have advice for young people who want to become successful music producers in today's industry?

Use all of the free venues that you can, Twitter, SoundClick, etc. Give your music away until people notice. If you want to make good music, you need to be a better listener and observer. You can learn a lot by just listening and emulating.



24: Speaking on changes in the industry, how would you describe the changes you’ve witnessed in the music industry from when you entered the game to now?

It's gone from looking up to looking into an abyss. No body knows where the industry is going. Record sales are dropping, there are more one hit wonders being made than actual careers. I hope things get better.



24: What's some up and coming moves you’re trying to make in the near future that everyone should look out for?

I'm looking forward to reinventing myself yet again. I want to educate people as well as provided great music for them to listen to. Hopefully I can do that THROUGH my music and my venues.



24: How can the readers keep up to date with everything your doing?

They can keep up with me on Twitter @JohnnyJuliano, or Facebook.com/JohnnyJuliano. You can alco contact me via email at Sales@JohnnyJuliano.com



24: Thank you for providing 24hourhiphop.com with this exclusive nterview, do you have any last words for your present and future fans?

I appreciate your love, feedback, loyalty and ears.


http://24hourhiphop.com/article.php?id=8975


:cheers:
 
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Respect to Johnny he's doing his thing. He drops good advices.
 
"If you want to make good music, you need to be a better listener and observer. You can learn a lot by just listening and emulating."

I really needed to read this today.
 
This was kinda dry. It lacked personality. Good read tho. I don't agree with the "give away your music part" as it is printed (never know there might be some sh*t 'between the lines' that wasn't added). Cool tho. Good to see muhfuggas taking notice to cats that are talented.
 
Johnny Juliano is a dope producer, he kills the drums and got the kind of leads that would make Peezy's pussy wet.

BUT.
This interviewer sucks Fred Flinstone balls. Let The Beat Build? He didn't ask one interesting question about making beats. Not any mention of his production equipment, what kind of VSTs he uses or recommends. We didn't learn how he gets his mixes so clean or what drums he likes.

He basically asked him how he made it in the game 50 different ways.

Just like this Webbie interview.


Let the beat build? ***** I don't wanna hear shit about no seizures
 
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Got respect for Johnny and props for making it on a big website, but yah that was a weak interview.
 
Johnny shittin on alotta these producers here.

---------- Post added at 12:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:25 AM ----------

i dont get how this is a boring interview
what did yall expect???

---------- Post added at 12:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 AM ----------
DumFOUND said:
He basically asked him how he made it in the game 50 different ways.
Click to expand...


wtf are u talking about, all the questions were good, and not about the same thing.

wtf were u reading??
 
nice article ... not really a fan of giving out music, but you can't really argue with the evidence of him getting it in the way he did ... you just gotta be selective with the artists you do that with, everybody ain't Wiz
 
If you ever plan do go really big. Like boi1da newcomer big.
Don't ever use or mention soundclick and beat leases.

Kudos for juliano working with wiz khalifa...

But no matter what jj is doing at this point, i believe he'll always have that soundclick stigma surrounding him for the rest of his musical "career". This stigma is not a positive thing to have imo.

You certainly don't ever hear boi1da, alex da kid and dawaun parker mentioning soundclick or finding it a good idea to boost your buzz.

That's the reason why these guys are working in mainstream camps and johnny juliano is just known as a soundclick/mixtape beat maker. Period.

The same reason Lex luger will never completely go mainstream big.

If all you do is dirty south mixtape type material, you'll eventually stay in that lane forever.

And i know i know leg luger made that rick ross song. Doesn't change the fact that it sounds like some mixtape shit.
horn stabs, snare rolls, hi hat tripplets...repeat again...mediocre mixtape formula...I think you get what i'm saying.

But oh well...quote me and call it hating. I've already said what i had to say. I respect his grind but theres nothing special about his music. I don't feel anything when i hear his music. My head is empty when i listen to these soundclick type joints. Just my opinion.
 
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assthouasand said:
wiz aint nothin special.

unless u mean fanbasewise??
Click to expand...

that's debatable but the point is

if your on a local level, as an unknown producer, and your giving out your beats to get ahead, I'm gonna go ahead & say 75% of the people pursuing you aren't gonna get past putting out mixtapes locally ... there's no way to no for sure, but you gotta be wise & kinda research people's music because having 3 albums done with a random rapper that nobody cares about won't do much for you, but you'll also have some people who will get as big as Wiz, or even how big he was locally say 3 years ago, where it might not get you a ton of national attention like now, but he was still the top of the town, to where everybody was gonna hear your production and want it for their own, and you could raise your prices based on that

I don't agree with giving beats out for free just because, but you can make an educated gamble when necessary
 
Aykey said:
If you ever plan do go really big. Like boi1da newcomer big.
Don't ever use or mention soundclick and beat leases.

Kudos for juliano working with wiz khalifa...

But no matter what jj is doing at this point, i believe he'll always have that soundclick stigma surrounding him for the rest of his musical "career". This stigma is not a positive thing to have imo.

You certainly don't ever hear boi1da, alex da kid and dawaun parker mentioning soundclick or finding it a good idea to boost your buzz.

That's the reason why these guys are working in mainstream camps and johnny juliano is just known as a soundclick/mixtape beat maker. Period.

The same reason Lex luger will never completely go mainstream big.

If all you do is dirty south mixtape type material, you'll eventually stay in that lane forever.

And i know i know leg luger made that rick ross song. Doesn't change the fact that it sounds like some mixtape shit.
horn stabs, snare rolls, hi hat tripplets...repeat again...mediocre mixtape formula...I think you get what i'm saying.

But oh well...quote me and call it hating. I've already said what i had to say. I respect his grind but theres nothing special about his music. I don't feel anything when i hear his music. My head is empty when i listen to these soundclick type joints. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

The thing is to be successful in soundclick versus main stream is two different ball games. Soundclick doesn't appreciate innovation only imitation. Main stream is the opposite ( its not that black and white but for simplicity sake). There are dudes that started on SC and they end up working with majors and PROMPTLY left SC. For a unknown producer with no connections trying to get a lil money I don't see why you should just ignore a valid business opportunity.... not everyone is lucky enough to get their foot in the door the same way.
 
JJ is doing what almost everyone on here aspires to do. He's working with established artist. As far as Soundclick or not who cares. Not to mention he's a real cat. I PM'd him and he gave me a nice tip that helped my mixing. He could have ignored my request. Seems to me that instead of coming on FP and hatin on JJ you should learn something from his grind. Maybe ask him a question or two.

Just my 2 cents.
 
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