Julia Rizik is a force to be reckoned with and she’s getting ready to release her new EP, Self Destructive on June 18. Transitioning from being a country recording artist to now having an alternative, R&B-pop sound, she’s truly making her mark in the music industry and you’re bound to fall in love with her sound.
Rizik is a Phoenix, Arizona native and found her calling for music when she was only four years old and has since learned how to play a multitude of instruments including the piano, banjo, and guitar. So, it’s no surprise that she landed an endorsement from Fender when she was 14.
“Fender is such an iconic brand and as a musician, being recognized by them and being a part of them really means so much to me,” Rizik shares. “It was such a surreal experience; I feel so lucky to be a Fender girl.”
Since the endorsement, Rizik has accomplished so much in her career. From performing at Stagecoach to releasing her first non-country single, “Human,” it seems like she’s only getting started.
Although Rizik did enjoy making music in the country genre and learned a lot from her experience, she feels like she currently has more freedom and is able to express herself in different ways that she wasn’t able to do before.
“I do feel like I’m freer where I’m at now. I think that’s maybe because I’m where I am supposed to be,” Rizik said. “If something isn’t meant for you, any way of trying to force it just limits the possibility of creating something amazing.”
This is why making her new EP, Self-Destructive, was such a different experience for her. Especially since she made it not only during the beginning of quarantine but fresh out of a break-up as well. She wasn’t able to run away from her feelings and had to deal with them headfirst.
“I’ve never been so forced to deal with my emotions,” she said regarding her music writing experience during quarantine. “Music has always been my life, but it became more than that throughout the quarantine. It was so there for me; I couldn’t have gotten through without it.”
Rizik shares that Self Destructive is a versatile music project, made up of an array of different songs and styles. The title track, “Self-Destructive,” dropped yesterday, April 23, along with a music video on April 28.
“‘Self Destructive’ is a song about my journey with self-reflection after going through a breakup. A huge part of the healing process is realizing and accepting your own bad habits, and that took a lot of strength for me to do,” Rizik shared.
“I titled the EP, Self Destructive because there was a shift in my life after writing that song. That song changed my life. Writing it was therapy to me. It summed up everything I had denied to myself for a very long time, which in a way was relieving and heroic.”
Along with the release of “Self Destructive,” you can also expect two other song releases before the EP drops. “Dumb” is set to release on May 14 and “This Is Love” on June 4, with the full EP dropping on June 18.
Read the rest of our interview with Julia down below where she discusses her musical influences, the stories behind her tracks “Human” and “Self Destructive,” what it was like to perform at Stagecoach, and lots more!
Don’t forget to let us know what you think by leaving a reaction below or send us a tweet @celebsecrets.
Celeb Secrets: Hi, Julia! How are you? How has this weird past year in quarantine been for you?
Julia Rizik: “Hi! I’m good. This last year has been interesting. Spending so much time inside really helped me learn a lot of things about myself & what I want in life & also made me realize how much I want to do in this life! So much to experience.”
CS: You discovered your love for music and singing pretty young. Did you grow up with a lot of music around the house? Are your parents musical as well?
JR: “Yes, my dad is a musician & taught me so much about music. He has always been that ear for me to lean on & learn from! Music is a huge part of my family.”
CS: Being endorsed by Fender is so cool as it is, but getting that type of support at 14 must’ve been mind-blowing! How was that experience for you?
JR: “Ah, yes. Fender is such an iconic brand and, as a musician, because being recognized by them and being a part of them really means so much to me. It was such a surreal experience; I feel so lucky to be a Fender girl.”
CS: Who were your musical influences growing up? What about now?
JR: “When I was younger, I loved listening to Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks. But as I’ve gotten older, my obsession is Aretha Franklin. She’s incredible. I also really love Whitney Houston. Their powerhouse vocals really inspire me.”
CS: You went through a breakup right before quarantine, and it sounds like you used writing music as a form of therapy, which isn’t uncommon, but I could definitely see it being hard when you’re kind of forced to be with your feelings and acknowledge them. Was that something new for you? Was it a difficult process to go through?
JR: “Yeah, it was really difficult. I’ve never been so forced to deal with my emotions. Music has always been my life, but it became more than that throughout the quarantine. It was so there for me; I couldn’t have gotten through without it.”
CS: You’ve said that the reason you’ve gone from country to a more alternative, r&b/pop sound, is because of more creative freedom. Do you feel like you’re able to write more versatile songs under the different genres? Can you explain your reasoning a bit more for us?
JR: “I do feel like I’m freer where I’m at now. I think that’s maybe because I’m where I am supposed to be. If something isn’t meant for you, any way of trying to force it just limits the possibility of creating something amazing.”
CS: You’re getting ready to release your debut pop EP, Self-Destructive, which is so exciting! Can you tell us a little bit more about what inspired your track “Human?”
JR: “Yes! I’m so proud of this project. I can’t wait to release it!! “Human” was inspired by a guy that I just had such a major crush on. I won’t say who, hehe. I remember just seeing him and thinking like, ‘Wow, okay, you’re perfect, and from here on out, you’re my muse.’ I went so far out with my feelings to write that one, and I didn’t even know him! I know that sounds weird, but it’s what songwriters do.”
CS: I definitely feel like many people resonate with “Human” because who hasn’t felt that way about someone before, but what message do you hope listeners take with them after they listen to the song?
JR: “Aw, thank you, all I want is for people to relate. I hope that song just makes people feel free to feel and show their emotions and have fun with the things they’re feeling! Love whoever it is that you want to love and let those people know you love them!”
CS: What’s the story behind your title track, “Self-Destructive?” What do you hope listeners will take from it?
JR: “‘Self Destructive’ is a song about my journey with self-reflection after going through a breakup. A huge part of the healing process is realizing and accepting your own bad habits, and that took a lot of strength for me to do. In the midst of that extremely emotional experience, I wrote “Self Destructive.” I really hope this song gives listeners strength: the strength to leave a bad relationship, strength to prioritize their peace and emotional health, and know their worth and what they deserve.”
CS: You’ve already filmed the music video for “Self-Destructive” and are getting ready to release that soon. Can you tell us a bit more about it? What can we expect to watch?
JR: “Ahhh, filming the video was such a crazy experience! The video tells the story of two completely toxic people for each other but can’t seem to let one another go. You see in the video that, no matter what, they always find their way back to each other. The team did such a good job at portraying this roller coaster of a relationship, and I am so excited for everyone to see it!”
CS: What kind of songs and vibe can we expect to hear on the rest of your EP?
JR: “I love this question because it’s such a versatile project. There are a few different moods and sounds on the EP, and I’m so anxious to hear which songs everyone clings to the most.”
CS: Why did you choose to title your EP, Self-Destructive?
JR: “I titled the EP Self Destructive because there was a shift in my life after writing that song. That song changed my life. Writing it was therapy to me. It summed up everything I had denied to myself for a very long time, which in a way was relieving and heroic.”
CS: You’ve gotten a chance to perform at huge events such as Stagecoach and Country Thunder. How was that experience for you?
JR: “So insane. I miss performing and live shows so much. I still relive those festivals because the energy was just so next level, bonding with so many people over music. I can’t wait to be back on stage and for live music to come back!”
CS: Since you’ve stepped into a new genre, how different (if at all) will performing be for you? Who are some of your favorite performers?
JR: “Performing will definitely be different. The way I see my shows are so different now, more electric and bold and stimulating. I really admire Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, and Dua Lipa as performers; they’re all so good!”
CS: Who would be your dream collaboration with? Both on a song and on tour.
JR: “Hmm, that’s a good question. My dream collab would probably be with some badass female, like Meg or Doja Cat. I’m obsessed with how real they are with their songs!”
CS: Wrapping things up here, I see that besides making music, you’re also involved with raising awareness against animal cruelty. How did you get involved with that?
JR: “I don’t know what it is, but I’m just animal obsessed. I always have been. So raising awareness about animal cruelty and endangered species has always been a goal of mine. They’re so precious and loving, and we treat them like they’re not equal to us, which is so sad.”
CS: What else do you like to do in your free time?
JR: “In my free time, I like to hang with my dogs and drink coffee, mostly. I’m a homebody who likes to have fun. It’s all very contradicting.”
CS: Since we are Celeb Secrets, can you share with us a secret about yourself that people would be surprised to know about you?
JR: “Okay, this is a simple, weird one, but I don’t know how to whistle. It’s the oddest thing, I’ve tried so hard, and I can’t.”
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