Julin

Hi! I am a singer/actress/normal human being most of the time. I started out writing a bunch of poetry that is my first love, and I hate when people ask me, what do you like more, singing or acting? I say poetry since I started doing that first. I love to express myself and challenge myself, I just love living life. I am not the greatest speller and I am not the greatest chef, but I love to cook in my time off and spend time outside. I don't watch a lot of tv but I love to act. I don't go out a lot but when I do, I go all out. I love to write songs A Cappella since I can't play the guitar very well, and I write a lot of songs that never get heard, but they are recorded some where. I took some voice lessons I can count on my hands how many, I just don't think any one can teach you how to make art. You have to learn it on your own and if you really want to do it, you will. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~By JOEY GUERRA Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle• Podcast: Listen to the interview with members of the band along with clips from their self-titled EP.Transitions proved the perfect name for Julin's debut disc. It's an accurate description of her journey from fledgling writer to confident artist."I went through a lot of transitions in my life: what kind of music I like to listen to, what exactly I want to sound like," she says."I had to teach myself how to pronounce everything. I would sing, and it would be nasally. Now, I know exactly what sound I want and how to do it."The Houston-born actress and singer had written poetry for years, but she was never quite sure how to translate it into music.Enter Ken Sarmiento, guitarist for long-running local band Phuz. They met in 2004 when Julin auditioned for a Phuz vocalist slot. (They were about to open for Sting.)Julin wasn't right for the group, but Sarmiento saw some raw talent. He immediately offered to produce for her."She had so much potential. She wanted to work. She had the patience to continue and build," Sarmiento says.They began working on a single as an addition to Julin's acting and modeling portfolio. (She's done local commercials and appeared in an assortment of music videos.) It blossomed into an EP and finally the full-length Transitions disc, which was recently released.The musical chemistry is apparent throughout the disc, which features ambient hip-hop touches (My World), rock flourishes (Empty Reel) and late-night lounge grooves (Don't Turn Back Now, Secret Agent).Julin's vocals are light and airy, dancing gently amid the instrumentation. She's most compelling during the buoyant pop of The Radio Song and Live in My Times."I wanted to put a lot of emotion into the songs," says Julin, who lists Björk as her primary influence."When I listen to a song, I like to be taken into that zone. That's what I also tried to add."In person, the pair is an expected study in contrasts. Julin is bubbly and bright-eyed; Sarmiento is more serious."We're both Scorpios, and when I met him, I was like, 'Ooh — he doesn't like me,' " she says with a laugh."We started writing together, and it just happened like magic."