Jullian Gomes is the young and very bright future of South African dance music. Having started out in his earlier years in a group called G Family, Jullian has crafted great success in his musical endeavours. He has now teamed up with Martin Atjazz to create a collaborative album entitled The Gift The Curse.
Our first insights as to what Jullian and Martin can do together came from their wildly successful track, Overshadowed which demolished charts and dance floors resulting in sell out vinyl sales and cult Youtube videos. The excitement is mounting as we all anticipate this new work of art.
You have gained critical acclaim of the last few years what would you attribute to your sturdy success? I would say it’s all about the Journey, I take it one emotion at the time, one song at the time, Just trying to make and play the music I believe in...
The industry is very intricate and had its ups and downs how do you cope with that and stay positive when things aren't going so well? I guess I always turn to music, It’s what i started with it’s what I’ll end with, It’s what gets me through.
You've worked with a lot of people on this album who would you like to work with in the future and could we ever see the return of G family? Haha. Who knows when there will be another G. Family Album... Yeah, I’ve been blessed to come across people that have the same energy as me when it comes to a creative aspect. Working with people always gives me that satisfaction but I sense I need to go on another road soon.
Both of you have had very humble beginnings in the music industry and are regarded as some of the greats in the industry at the moment, how did the concept of this album come about? Martin and I met through a Remix that G. Family did for Atjazz'' Love Someone'' Feat. Robert Owens. From there we just kept in touch became good friends. Then when I was playing in Barcelona at Sonar, Martin offered to fly me down to his studio in the UK and that’s how ''Overshadowed'' came about from that point we just had a good energy when it came to music and felt like we had more to say so we decided to write and Album.
The electronic music is fast paced and ever changing how would you say you keep up and stay relevant with the times? I think personally it’s all about being creative, I wake up in the morning asking ''what can I tell people today'', you don't say the same thing to someone everyday so why should music be like that, and it’s about growth it’s about expression.
Leading to the production of this album would you say that it is easier or harder to work alone or with someone else when producing, did you just gel or were there some hard times? Martin and I have a good energy in studio we have mutual respect for each other and we always meet each other half way and both confirm our inputs into the music we make together. Logistically it could be a little difficult as we on separate sides of the world but we always pull through and we always sacrifice for the greater purpose. Which is Music.
The South African market is booming at the moment, we've seen it grow exponentially in the last few years. As a South African how would you compare to the world? South Africa is home. This is where I’m always gonna be, my heart and soul is here. It’s always cool to experience different parts of the world and I try and take in as much as possible from each experience as possible. We always growing you never stop learning and our scene is always reshaping itself across the globe and not only in South Africa. The key is to keep it going and keep it strong pass it down from the next generation to the next so music can help future generations just like its helped us.
What birthed the concept of this album and led to you guys working together, had it been a long time coming? Wow! This album has been in the making for about a year and a half. Martin and myself really felt like we had something to say together and even given the obstacles that we were faced with we always stuck to the core of our purpose for this album.
You have collaborated with the likes of Osunlade and many other greats on this album tell us about those collaborations and what can listeners expect? We've featured Osunlade, Robert Owens, Wunmi, Zano, Clive Astin and John Agesilas. I’m Humbled to have worked with the artists that were involved on the Album, I’ve always looked up to them, Yeah sure I know them and we friends but when I think about the music they've put out there and how I was just kid with a dream, dreaming to collaborate with the likes of Osunlade and Robert Owens etc. It takes me back. I have so much respect for every artist that was involved on The Gift The Curse they amazing people and it was a pleasure working with them.
To you what is this album an expression, what are you trying to communicate with the album and for people to hear? The Gift The Curse has a mood of its own, its own story and theme. It’s not a typical House Music compilation or Album pushed at an angle of appealing to what is expected from the scene. Martin and myself have written and artist album for people that love House Music and Music in general. We see The Gift The Curse as being life's contradiction and how we get true the tribulations in our lives. At the end of it, our Gift always gets us through the Curse.
Is there a tour being planned if where can your fans catch you? Yeah, Most definitely. Atjazz & I will be touring the Album in South Africa from the 19th Sep till the 7 Oct. Then we'll do Europe later.
Listen to a preview of The Gift The Curse