By SARAH CLARK
Contributing Writer
The warm lights illuminate Jack’s Stage. Students, faculty, and trustees fill the audience to celebrate the dedication of Studio G3, formerly known as Jack’s Place. Behind the piano is Julia Gargano, 20, an emerging artist who knows how to pour passion into her pieces, and with the beauty of her compositions, bring audience members to tears. =
Gargano is a music industry major from Staten Island, New York. Since the age of six, she has been writing her own songs. As she progressed in her arts high school, her songwriting process went from easily writing songs on the bus to carefully constructing her verses and instrumentals. In college, throughout her nine hour days, she is able to practice, and explore the history and creation of music. Coming to The College of Saint Rose has offered her the ability to develop an image within the songwriting program that has helped jumpstart her career.
“Sometimes people look at college, when you’re a musician, as a halt to getting out there and actually doing it,” said Gargano. With the Rose Record Label, she has been able to gain insight on subjects regarding the distribution, publishing, technical, and legality aspects of music. “I have that ability to have a whole team behind me, recording my music, and it’s definitely a thing other students might not have the opportunity to do.”
“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,” says Gargano. Gargano has performed at several venues—some with nearly five hundred people. Throughout her early childhood, Gargano and her brother were between houses as their parents were in the process of a divorce, which causes strain on young children. Gargano needed an outlet. So, at the age of six, she decided to pursue music with the support and love from both her family and friends. She recalls one night in particular at a venue called The Bitter End in the West Village of New York City. Gargano was surrounded by friends and family, and this random night at The Bitter End provided her with the energy that every performer strives for. “Sometimes you just get on stage and you’re completely one with the audience, and you love what you do so much. It’s really special.”
A broad issue within the music industry is the lack of female representation. According to Women in Music, the music industry is only 30 percent women, and only 6 percent of those women are recognized producers. As any female musician, this concerns Gargano.
“It’s very common for females to be looked at as specifically singers,” she said. “It’s kind of about sex appeal for girl singers, and that’s something that’s hard when it’s not who you are.” However, Gargano has also faced personal issues of her own. While interviewing her, she opened up about her sexual assault and how it has helped her as a musician. Although sexual violence is a horrific experience, Gargano has channeled her pain into her art. “It’s definitely pushing me to dive deeper into my music and be kind to other people because you never really know.”
As Gargano has immersed herself into this industry and educated herself on the process of being a successful musician, it was apparent that she strives for nothing less than authenticity.
“Find the thing in your music that separates you from the rest of what is going on,” said Gargano. When artists strive to become known, it is easy to fall into the trap of listening to managers who will control your image. People will want to brand you and alter your appearance to be like the mainstream artists in the industry. But Gargano reveals that it has all been done before, and stresses to younger artists that this will not benefit them. “No one is looking for another song like that. Maybe they think they are until they hear something that is new and opens their ears up—that’s the exciting part about listening to music.”
Gargano also shared her next event, the Rose Record Label Gala, which will feature Pink Nois as well, that is on Feb. 15, 2019 at 7 p.m. She is excited for this event, as she is releasing her new single “Tired,” which is her favorite song that she has written. Gargano described how the pop song came to her almost instantaneously. “[The song] just flew out of my mouth. All of the words, the melody, the chords. It all happened really quick, and I think it’s so exciting when songs happen like that.”
While Gargano sings to the crowd of peers, faculty, and the Hearst family, she dreams of the future, where she hopes to perform in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by a crowd who knows her songs and feels her passion through the music she writes and performs.
