Meet Julie Clark | Pianist, composer, singer/songwriter, and music streamer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Clark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I’ve found so much inspiration in the creative world around me! Ever since moving to California, I’ve been meeting a lot of other artists and creatives, and it’s impossible to not be inspired by their passion, training, performance, and art. There’s a very long list of friends I could name who have helped shape my journey in music, and I’m very grateful for the sense of community I’ve found here.

I also find boldness very inspiring. Those around me who are willing to be different and pave their own way (and especially those willing to be vulnerable with their art) have been such a major influence in my life. Passion is another big one for me- I’ve always been passionate about music, and I’ve found the realest, most genuine friendships with others who are passionate about their craft too.

The inspiration from the people around me has acted like a ripple effect. The encouragement and support, the sense of community- it all extends far past myself. Honestly, I think it’s mostly because we all just get it. Being a creative is not easy, especially when you want to pursue your passion full-time, and I think there’s a lot of empathy to be shared amongst artists because we all know how difficult the industry can be to navigate.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey in music started early- my parents had me in piano lessons starting from a very young age, and by the time I was a teenager, I had begun composing and writing songs and lyrics. However, I was encouraged to pursue a degree with an easier career path than music, and I ultimately ended up with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Political Science from the University of Utah, with plans to attend law school. As soon as I got my undergraduate and began working in my field though, I quickly realized it wasn’t the right path for me, and slowly made my way back to music after relocating to Las Vegas. Right as I began taking gigs, the pandemic hit and everything shut down, so I found myself becoming a full-time music streamer on Twitch. It was a scary change to make, as it was the first time I had ever been truly self-employed (which comes with its own joys and challenges). Luckily, the Twitch music scene is a wonderful space full of supportive artists and viewers who love music and appreciate the chance to engage and connect with artists on a more personal level.

Since starting on Twitch, I have been encouraged by my community and other streamers to write and release original music, and it’s helped me grow as an artist in so many ways. I feel more comfortable performing live and I’ve been able to connect with so many people through my stream and especially through my original music. I honestly don’t know if I would’ve had the courage or motivation to start releasing my compositions if it wasn’t for the encouragement I received on the platform, and I’ll be forever grateful. I’ve released three piano originals so far as part of an album, and I’ll also be recording my first single with lyrics in September!

Beyond my own music, I’ve also connected with countless musicians around me who are writing and releasing original music as well, and after many stream collaborations, I decided to create a way for my friends and fellow music streamers to perform IRL by organizing a Twitch music showcase called Late Night Buzz, an event that features some of the most talented and inspirational musicians on the platform. The showcase is part IRL concert and part livestream, with limited tickets available for the live show (held at a coffee shop or music venue) and a chance for viewers and fans to watch the livestream if they can’t come to the show in person. The event technically begins at 6 AM, with twelve hours of music during the day through a ‘raid train’ of virtual artists before the live concert in the evening. The concept is to bring even more talented artists into the mix from all over the world, who simply perform on their own Twitch channel, and then raid (or send their viewers to) the next virtual artist on the hour. Combining a live show with a raid train of virtual artists was an idea I’d had and executed previously, and the response has been amazing every time.

The raid train eventually merges with the livestream of the showcase in the evening (broadcast at twitch.tv/julie) and the entire showcase is crowdfunded through the generosity of the viewers. The live show itself is always a really amazing experience, as many of the artists and community members have never even met IRL, and the lineup is full of incredibly talented and passionate musicians. It’s been wonderful to meet and perform with so many artists who inspire me, and to connect more with the viewers who have supported and believed in us. I’ve organized two events so far, with plans for at least three more in the coming months in Miami, Nashville, and LA. The events have become just one more way to connect people (both IRL and virtually), and I’m really excited to see where Late Night Buzz goes in the future!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Every time I have a friend visit, I immediately take them to Mendocino Farms, and so far, every person’s loved it- an absolute must! For a week-long trip, we could easily check out different parts of LA and the surrounding areas. A trip to the Santa Monica pier would be perfect, or a walk in Venice Beach for some of the best people-watching there is. For my active friends, maybe a hike up Runyon Canyon or to Griffith Observatory, and for a change of scenery, I might even add in a trip to Long Beach or Malibu. We could even head to Universal Studios for the day, and I would also make sure we did dinner somewhere iconic like Sugarfish or Catch and explored the nightlife scene a bit. La Mesa’s Socialita is a great one (love the Tulum-inspired vibes, the dinner, and the lounge feel) and maybe some rooftop views after at one of the many bars in Weho (Bar Lis and E.P. & L.P. to name a few).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout should definitely be dedicated to the amazing music community around me, especially on Twitch.tv, which is full of some of the most incredibly talented musicians I’ve ever met. I currently stream piano music full-time on Twitch (twitch.tv/julie), and I’ve found so many incredible artists there! While the platform is best known for gaming, there is also very large community streaming in the Music category, with countless performers playing every instrument you can think of, and some of the best vocalists, writers, and producers out there. Many of these artists found a home in the Twitch music community after losing gigs due to the pandemic, and have spent the last few years performing live online, releasing original music, and building their own space to promote their art and make a living. It’s wonderful to see and be a part of, and the viewership is full of genuinely kind people who just love music and appreciate the intimate, behind-the-scenes type of content that allows them to engage on a more personal level. There is a lot of genuine support and generosity, and I’ll forever be thankful to my own community for helping inspire me to start releasing originals and making it possible for me to wake up every day and think about music!

Website: http://twitch.tv/julie

Instagram: julieclarkmusic

Twitter: julieclarkmusik

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/julieclark

Image Credits
Aaron Bloomer Mike Kirschbaum Rae Mystics