Julyka – Artist of the Month (September 2021)

Julyka – Music Becomes the Medium Of Expression!

Great soulful music is considered a desert. It instantly enlightens the mood within minutes and makes the listener feel so much better.

In the last few years, music has become so much more important. Never-ending quarantines and lockdowns have further exacerbated boredom, adding to human lethargy. Music has been people’s best friend in this challenging time of isolation. Individuals prefer different types of music based on their moods, tastes, and likes. However, one sure thing is that music always creates a unique atmosphere and feeling for its listeners. Many people use music as a pure and inventive means of expression to communicate and convey their thoughts, emotions, and suffering.

There are many music bands and artists around the world that create premium quality music tracks and records. During the last few decades music has changed a lot. Therapists remain squarely on the idea that music provides a massive escape from anxiety. It soothes tired bodies and anxious souls, making individuals feel more alive and refreshed instantly. At the same time, others use it as a means of fun to pass the time. For some, music is a beautiful form of art that not everybody can create. Creating music is an excellent way of letting go of the trapped feelings in songs and albums as what has been holding one back is now out in public.

Julyka | German Singer, Composer & Songwriter

Many people create music to express their helplessness and pay tribute to some important people in their lives. One such unique human beings is Julyka, a German singer, composer, songwriter, freelance journalist and moderator and author; she was born in Cameroon, Africa. Julyka’s latest album “ÉTERNITÉ DE DÉLICES” is a tribute to her mother. It was produced in Ivory-Coast in 1999, remastered by Sebastian Schneider and distributed by DISTROKID. Julyka had joined a French University in Ivory-coast (INTEC De Paris) to continue her higher studies. She had left behind her sick mother in Cameroon. When her mother passed away, Julyka was shattered. She couldn’t go back to attend the funeral as her pockets were empty, nor she had the money to support her studies.

Her music inspiration came from her childhood when she sang with her Grand-mother at home, church, and in their community. Hence, Julyka wrote “Hommage aux mères” (Tribute to mothers) and added other songs. She sings in many Cameroon languages, Ivory-Coast, Burkinabe, and Wolof languages. Her song “Unité” when released was a cry to the world as she was in an unknown land in Africa (Ivory Coast) and couldn’t go back home to Cameroon.

Besides, Julyka is also an author and an international speaker and has been on stage in Belgium, Miami, Seattle, and Los Angeles. She studied in Ivory-Coast, France, Germany and London and has worked in several countries such as Cameroon, Ivory-Coast, Ghana, Sri-Lanka, US, Ireland, UK and Germany. Julyka has worked parallel as a columnist with Africa Voice Newspaper in Ireland and as the entertainer on her YouTube channel Grass fields TV and Julyka Official (music Channel on YouTube).

People like Julyka are the unsung real-life heroes who teach the world to fight every odd and never give up! Know more about Julyka and her fantastic work through the following links!

Interview by Tim brown

When and why did you start playing?

I started singing and playing music at earlier age with my grand-mother Lucia and my community. I still remember the wonderful time I spend with her and all my community singing in choir at the church every Sunday. Playing various traditional instruments and dancing in different occasions, wedding, funeral and celebrating new born. Born in west-Cameroon in Africa, I moved to Ivory-Coast to pursue my studies after my GCE-Advanced Level in Cameroon. Born in a very poor family, I felt so proud to be the first lady to obtain such a certificate. I struggled a lot to achieve it. So, I was so proud and confident to go far as I could to help my mother and my community. But the destiny decided otherwise and my mom passed away. I was so depressed that I could not work to pay my study. Without money abroad, I relied on my best friend. My friend and her parents were helping me to pays my dormitory fees. One day I wrote a poem to my mother and let it on the table. Lay on the bed I was just crying the all day. I did not have money to go back to Cameroon and mourned her. My friend came in and read it and asked me why I cannot add a melody on it and sing. And I say to her: “You are right, it sounds good, I will”. A couple of month later, I found a producer and the album “Éternité de Délices” was released. The title “Hommage aux mères” in English language “Tribute to mothers” hit the pic and I could have enough money to go back home in Cameroon to mourn my mother and build the grave and even to fly to Paris in my first concert.

Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

As a writer, in my opinion, it’s all about the amazing words. I mean, the music has to have firstly a catchy melody, of course, but I have huge admiration for artists who write clever and inspiring lyrics. For example, Dieter Günter Bohlen who is a German songwriter, producer, singer, and television personality. Felix Jaehn, Sarah Connor, Yvonne Catterfeld, Justin Bibier, Helene Fischer, Kiss, Ray LaMontagne. Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, The Beatle, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé and Jay Nash. They have built their careers from the ground up with a lot of creativity, inspiration and hard-work. They are beyond amazing! They are genuine! I admire them for all what they are and the way they use their voice and inspiration to make us happy. Their music speaks for themself, real songs about daily real life.

Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

In Africa, there is a proverb that says: “Old pots make good sauce”. In the most remote corners of Africa, in the midst of peasants and poverty, not everything is red, there is also wealth as the joy of life, music and dance. So, I grew up listening to songs from Miriam Makeba, Mireille Mathieu, Celia Cruz, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley and many other foreign artists on the radio. I had a small notebook where I wrote my songs that I repeated over the days. Until now, I continue to listen to old classical artists around the globe. Music has no borders. In my album, the title “Attention, Je suis Fachee” is a cover of Abeti Masikini. She was a singer from the Belgian Congo. Her music pulled from a variety of genres, including soukous, Congolese rumba, folk music, and the blues. I realized how awesome she was when I took care of reading her lyrics. This song in particular totally blew me away. And I decided to do a cover of her song by adding my own lyrics and singing in different African languages. The lyrics of those classic artists have always been a source of inspiration for my own songwriting work. Miriam Makeba, Celia Cruz as well and those classicals musicians I mentioned earlier, for example, are fabulous storytellers whose texts often stick immediately to your mind. It’s remarkable that they are able to write such high-quality lyrics that somehow remain actual and help also to comfort the African diaspora around the world of which I belong too. I will never stop hearing and discovering their music and lyrics.

Who are your favourite musicians? Groups? CD’s?

Music is my passion and some of my favourite musicians or group are: The Beatles, Modem Talking, Manu Dibango, The Kinks, The Who, The Byrds, Richard Bona, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Salif Keïta, Pink Floyd, Youssou N’Dour, Magic System. As I grew up, I also developed a lot of interest in blues artists like The Rolling Stones, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, SRV etc… So, I do like to listen to music that has either bluesy guitar tones or wonderful melodies and hooks with interesting lyrics.

What makes this kind of music “good” to you?

True networking, I discover how my music is sociable and evoke some specific emotions and reactions among my fans and followers. I am happy and feel honour that my music inspires not only Africans but also the world. Trough social media, I am grateful that my music connect me to others and make my fans and followers feel some emotions, provoke some thought, I mean, some human connection. Not only does a good song need to have great chords, melodies, and lyrics, but also should create some sort of reaction, or evoke a specific emotion. A lot of songwriters craft their music from specific events or experiences that they have had, making it very relatable to other In short, good music is just good.

Why did you choose to play this kind of music?

Music is part of cultures all around the globe. Whether it’s an African tribe jamming or a DJ playing the mainstage in Berlin or New-York, we all listen to music. It’s part of our lives. While every country has its own language(s), there’s only one language we can all understand: the language of music. We don’t even need words to understand what music is saying. My kind of music is above all comforting, relaxing, educational and encouraging. It creates ambiance. Can you imagine a party without music, a sports event without music, or a movie without music? Probably not. I believe that, it doesn’t matter where I come from, trough my music I can contribute to make people happy by listening and dancing it. It is scientifically proven that music enhances brain functioning, I think about this and there is an instrumental version of “Tribute to Mother”, any professional or person by working can listen this song and get inspired or relaxed when they are busy doing things. I lost my mother at earlier stage and I really know the pain, the sadness. This is the reason why I stand up and write these sad songs in order to help and assist others. I want people that they are in the same situation to understand that they are not alone. My music let’s your imagination flow and that’s obviously a good thing for your creativity and health. My kind of music is good for people memory and it’s also just about a pleasure listening to music.

Let’s Talk about your music and your last work…

My name is Julyka, a German singer, composer, songwriter. My latest album “ÉTERNITÉ DE DÉLICES” is a tribute to her mother. It was produced in Ivory-Coast, remastered by Sebastian Schneider and distributed by DISTROKID. The idea back on this album was to make a tribute to my mother. Actually, I open for managers and producers in order to promote this album.

How do you feel about the internet in the music business?

With social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook serving as a platform for any individual to reach an almost unlimited number of people globally, it is easy for any artist to communicate and gain a public. In my opinion, I can to agree that the internet makes it easier for artists to be heard, through streaming platforms’ algorithms, social media profiles such as Spotify or video sharing applications like YouTube. I am thankful that my fans and followers assist me through networking to promote my music. Internet plays an important role in the music business, a hit is really a hit, if anyone is talented enough, he can make it. A song recorded in my village in Africa on a guitar in someone’s bedroom has the same chance to become a hit as a song produced with the newest computer equipment in a studio in Europe or USA. What matters is that the artist is talented and that the song is good.

What are the plans for the future?

I am working in a new music project. My new album will be released next year. Professional bands and musicians out there who want to organize themselves into a Partnership or even a corporation should contact me and let us move together. I am based in Germany. I would like to get in touch with musicians around the globe, I do believe that music business can only growth up trough diversification of style and genre. I would like to address my sincere condolences to all the families around the world who lost their loves one because of Corona Virus. In Cameroon, we lost Manu Dibango and West Madiko, and last week Amobé Mévégué who did a lot regarding the expanding of the Africa Music around the world. So then, I would like to follow their path after Corona Crise, travelling around the world and give joy and happiness to the people through my music, dance and speaker as well.

Thank you very much MTV-USA and keep doing good job!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JSchlegl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julietteschlegl/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089D6CD5L

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Julietteschlegl/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@julykaofficial

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliette-schlegl-b6722b43/

YouTube Julyka: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4VevMMOb_lXCSY1XcI4fsg

YouTube GrassfieldsTV: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_x6Rh_VQBoQu1VgBlPLoaw

MusicInAfrica: https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/julyka

Company Name – Julyka

Marketing Manager Name – Julyka

Email – julykamusic@julyka.org

City – Munich

State – Bavaria