Native New Yorker, London resident, former Kindergarten Gym Teacher and one-time Parisian Street Sweeper, Julian Velard is a true original. The kind of character in a Wes Anderson or Quentin Tarintino film you’d like to grab a drink with. A real-life, musical version of Philip Marlowe (more Elliot Gould than Bogart) fusing the effortless
cool of Robert Downey Jr. with the self-depreciating humor of Woody Allen, serving up slices of old-school Pop perfection with a raised eyebrow.
Born in the heart of Martin Scorsese’s Big Apple to a Queen-sized legs model/4-time Jeopardy champion mother and a French ex-patriot/ATM designer Father, Velard attended Laguardia High School for the Performing Arts, immortalized in the movie Fame. His first job was delivering videos to the likes of Cyndi Lauper and The Coen Brothers. It was during those after-school afternoons Velard devoured the albums that would form his musical landscape for years to come – Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book, Elvis Costello’s Armed Forces, Billy Joel’s The Stranger, and Elton John’s Tumbleweed Connection.
Velard spent his young adulthood paying his dues, living in an efficiency apartment literally in the shadow of Manhattan, in Red Hook, Brooklyn. He supported himself with some very odd jobs (including the afore mentioned “Hungover with Hula-hoops” episode) and touring the U.S., playing shows anywhere and everywhere, from rock clubs to cabarets to bar-mitzvahs and back again, honing his quirky brand of Pop all the while. After releasing three records independently, in 2007 Velard was plucked from relative obscurity off of Myspace, the source of well deserved UK Major Label attention. He signed a record deal and promptly moved to England.
Since then, Velard has straddled both sides of the Atlantic, writing songs for himself and others, and playing shows alongside Goldfrapp, Shelby Lynne, Marc Broussard, Amy McDonald, Kate Nash, Jose Gonzalez, Sonya Kitchell, Tom Baxter, The Clarks, Horatio Sanz, Ben Kweller, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and others, and is currently working towards the 2010 release of his label debut.
Waiting Impatiently for 'Planeteer' official release. In the meantime I found a promo copy. 'End Of An Era' My Favourite Track (at the moment) Sending You All My Positive Vibes.
Hey JV, I don't know if you remember meeting me, since it was a few years ago, but I wanted to say thank you. Your music has kept me pursuing my dream and I owe you big time for it! Thanks again.
HeLLo hEllo HelLo!! I love your page, its quirky like miniature peanuts and apple strawberrys! I'm just letting you know you can now enter our 'Jimmy' Competition...Just film yourself (and maybe your dog) singing and dancing to our Jimmy Track, and post the result upto YouTube, then let us know!! Lovely. all the best now, speak v.soon. Jp & Friends.
I was eating at "Ruby Tuesday's" today and almost fell out of my chair--"Steve McQueen" came on the PA system! I guess the manager could see me looking around and gesticulating because he came over and asked if everything was OK! I told him I recognized the artist and he explained that they use mp3's containing new music and rotate them through. I raved about you and your music and told him to check you out the next time you're in Philly area. It sounded awesome over loudspeakers BTW.
ellllo Julian, Really enjoyed your set with Rachel at The fly :) I've finally just put up 3 brand new tracks I recorded with the full band, so if ya feel to have a listen I'd love to know your thoughts..love Naomi J
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