Diandra Interviews Juletta + Ishan: If I Never Hit Land

Juletta + Ishan feel like they were destined to make music together; with their chemistry as artists being so palpable they even began a romance. The way they loves music together, naturally, made them love each other, and their newest EP, If I Never Hit Land, manifests how their talent and creativity untied them. In our interview, we discuss their connection, how someone can elevate what you have, and how quarantine only amplified that. 

Diandra: What about each other as artists most attracted you to this collaboration, and what do you feel it taught you so far?

Juletta: Why I always choose to work with Ishan is because everything he makes is better than the last. On top of being naturally talented, he’s extremely disciplined about what he does, and his goal is to always be improving. I have so much respect for that, and trust in him because I know that whatever he works on will be incredible just because of his dedication.

Ishan: When I met Juletta she was bright, cheery, and clearly excited about life. So that was a good sign. Then, the first time we got into the studio she sat at the piano and suddenly opened up this deep, beautiful world with her lyrics, voice, and music. She would sing about these small, seemingly unrelated moments, and connect them through their shared emotion. It was really unlike anyone I had heard before. I was immediately hooked, and working together after that progressed very naturally.

We also started dating not long after so that didn’t hurt either. (smiles)
Juletta, Ishan – Airborne (Official Music Video)

Diandra: What is a Story you have where your “gut feeling” turned out to be right? How did it inspire you to follow your instincts more?

Juletta: This is a tough one for me (she laughs) because I actually have a difficult relationship with my instincts. I essentially overthink everything I do. But that’s also why those moments, where I’m operating off my gut feeling only, are the best because I’m free from the overthinking for a minute. That happens sometimes when I’m writing or creating something.

Diandra: Written in the beginning of the quarantine, if you could imagine a sequel album … what do you feel it would cover or embody about the second half of the quarantine?

Ishan: I’d like to explore discontent. I’ve been feeling it, and I know a lot of others I know and see have been too. Perhaps to explore the entire spectrum of it, fulfillment as well.

Diandra: If you could turn a movie into a concept album, which would it be and why? If you could turn an album into a film>

Ishan: ‘2001: A Space Odyssey” through the lens of pop music. What would current pop music sound if it was truly psychedelic, and dealing with some of the deepest questions that humanity has yet to answer?

For the reverse, I’d turn ‘ANTI’ by Rihanna into a movie. That album is absolutely badass, and I’d love to see what it turns into.

Juletta: For me, I’d like to turn “Call me By Your Name” into an album, although the soundtrack for it is already one of my favorites, and then an album I’d like to see made into a movie is probably Blonde.
Juletta – Across the World (feat Ishan)

Diandra:Often, you are described as very visual artists. If you were the King and Queen of the world, what does your album say it looks like, acts like, and feels like? What would be 3 rules for living in it?

Ishan: 1. Treat thy neighbor as thyself
2. Focus when you can
3. Be open with yourself

Juletta: I would compare If I Never Hit Land to a person who woke up with no memories, just little glimpses of a past life. It’s confused, and working to place itself in the world.

Diandra: What is your favorite childhood memory with music?

Ishan: The one that comes to mind for me was my parents blasting “Staying Alive” by The Bee Gees as we drove around Florida when we were visiting Disney world. I must have been 7 or so. Does it get any better than that?

Juletta: Mine is singing Helen Reddy songs with Grammy, Mom and sister; and going to concerts with my Dad.

Diandra: Your songs are about igniting closeness between people. What are the qualities in a person that make you feel closer to them, and has music helped you find these qualities?

Ishan: For me, I think the quality that makes me feel most comfortable with a person is their genuineness. If you are really you, and not trying to be someone else, then the doors to getting along open. I think the same is reflected in music. If it’s genuine, then I have a chance to enjoy.

Juletta: I agree with Ishan. I feel closest to people who are open
Juletta, Ishan – Gut Feeling (Official Audio)

Diandra: Your music captures moments like pictures. With that in mind, what is your picture of New York? A photo in your head that makes you say, “That is NYC for me!”

Juletta: Thank you 🙂 My picture of New York is the subway– everyone is coming from somewhere different and is on their way to someplace else, but, for a tiny moment, everyone is linked just by being in the same packed car.

Diandra: You have said your new album is a balancing act of your spirits. If you could describe each other’s spirit in 4 words how would you do it. Moreover, what song do you feel, off the record, most embodies the other’s personality?

Ishan: Juletta is: Caring, curious, open, and more perceptive than anyone I know. “Magdalene I” really illustrates that to me — I think that’s why in the production we decided to strip so much of the bells and whistles away and leave it just her and the piano. If you listen and understand Magdalene, I think you understand Juletta.

Juletta: Ishan is Solstice to me. That song is his baby, first of all, and it is driving and introspective just like he is.

Diandra: The album is about 30 women you met across the city. What did you find they all had in common? How did that fascinate you?

Juletta: After spending the summer interviewing women across New York City, I found it fascinating that a ton of people talked about their dogs. That’s pretty cool. Dogs are awesome.It was also interesting to me that so many people were willing to sit down for an hour and talk. I didn’t expect that.
Juletta, Ishan – Solstice (Official Audio)

Diandra: What is one song off the record that brought you clarity about a situation? How so?

Ishan: For me it’s “Gut Feeling,” and funnily enough I think it has helped me understand situations with Juletta. A lot of the times in my life, I push emotions to the side in favor of rationality — even when it’s not the best thing to do. I think that can come at odds with Juletta sometimes, but hearing Juletta’s perspective in that song made me realize that it’s okay for her and others to act differently than me — in fact, they probably know something valuable I don’t.

Juletta: Airborne! I didn’t even fully understand it until after we filmed the music video, but Airborne really illustrates my obsession with trying to control outcomes that are out of my control. I needed to make peace with the fact that I can only dictate what I put into something, and that there are much larger forces at play. I know that deeply somewhere, but often my ego takes over.