Julia Roome

Interview by Orlando Callegari Jr.

Orlando Callegari Jr.: Thank you for joining me today. My first question is how did you feel when you learned you were going to be on “The Voice”?

Julia Roome: So ecstatic. I felt so happy. I knew that I was probably going to be one of the youngest ever on “The Voice” because I just turned 13 so it was a dream come true. I’d been wishing it ever since I was two years old. I was like “I’m going to be on the Voice one day” so I just felt so happy.

O: Tell me about Bob Marks. He helped to coach you to get on “The Voice”, correct?

J: Yes, but I would give the credit to, Jessica Ford. Bob Marks trained me when I was like 10. Ever since I was like 10, 9, I was working with Jessica Ford. She’s just been helping me throughout the whole process.

O: What did she do, do you think, that got you to “The Voice”? 

J: I mean I just think she helped me learn how to use my vocal ability and learn how to train and not stop my momentum. Training every week is something you gotta do and that helps you have your power and strength through your vocal cords because you don’t want to slack in this competition.

O: What was it like battling someone who you would then also practice with?

J: Luckily, you guys grow friends very quickly in this competition. By the time you get your battle ready you’re just so excited to show the coaches what you’ve worked on. The mini masterpiece or, this big masterpiece, that you’ve made with, now, your friend. You really do grow to love them and know them for who they are.

O: Do you ever keep in touch with anyone? Any of the other contestants? 

J: Yeah. Yeah, I keep in touch with a lot of them actually, especially, the minors because there’s a bunch of minors this season. We have like our own little group chat and we’ll text once in a while.

O: You grew up during the pandemic. And that’s a unique experience. Tell me about that. You were in fourth grade, right?

J: Yes, fourth grade. I don’t think I processed it really. I think it was more like “Oh, school’s off!” So, for me it was amazing because it gave me time to, you know, practice, train, do all of the things I needed to do to like learn (from) it. I think it definitely changed the way I see the world a little bit because sometimes it does make me a little shy now. I’m scared to go up to people but I’m a pretty, what is it extroverted? 

O: Yeah.

J: Or in... I think extroverted person so it doesn’t really matter anyways for me.

O: I also wanted to ask you about the song “Childhood”. I listened to it, I saw the lyrics, and I thought it was very touching, a very personal song. Tell me about the process to write it and what you want to say to people your age through the song.

J: Well, actually Covid, it kind of, revolves around that time is kind of why I wrote it. You know, seeing a bunch of people on social media all the time because you’re on Covid lockdown, you’re gonna go on your phone. And that was part of it. I always compared myself to people. And, you know, I still do. It’s part of human nature and part of being a girl, as well. I always felt like I was never enough or just never felt good enough or the size that people wanted me to be. And, you know, writing songs is like my personal journal. 

O: Yeah, it’s a great job. I’m curious, what other songs that you’ve written would you say are some of your best or your most personal?

J: Songs that I do have out right now that I really love (I would re-record this one because I sound very, very itty bitty young in this) but “I’m Gunna” is one that I love. I kind of I wrote that when I was, I recorded it, when I was ten so my voice is more mature now and also now kind of knowing myself as an artist I kind of change it when I perform it live. Then I also just released “I’d Rather”. And that song is amazing. I love it as well. It took me, like, about a year to write it because originally with that song I wrote someone else’s song, recorded it, and then had no idea that I wrote someone else’s song and I was like, “Oh great! Now what do I do?” So, I went back to the studio, rewrote it, and then made it into “I’d Rather”. I was so happy with how it came out and how I was able to learn from that experience, as well. 

O: Yeah, I mean, as you probably know even the biggest artists in the world make that same mistake.

J: Yes, it’s very common. Quickly, I forgot “Reflection” is another one that I love that I wrote. I think that’s probably one of my most undiscovered songs. That song has a similar storyline to “Childhood” but also its completely different in the sense that you don’t want to tell everyone all your thoughts and all your feelings because you don’t want them to think “Oh, she’s not living a great life”. You are but you still have all these feeling(s) and emotions that you don’t know how to deal with yet. I love that one as well.

O: What about Amateur Night at the Apollo? As you know, I’m sure, it’s a very tough crowd there. What was it like?

J: Tough crowd, yeah, haha. I went to semi-finals. I didn’t go to the finals but it was so, I won two, three rounds? It was amazing. I do have a little bit of a story. I was singing “Blackbird” and you’re not supposed to boo the minors. You’re not supposed to boo any of the kids but there was this kid, it was like this teenage kid in the crowd with his friends, and he booed me. I turned and I looked right at him and he, like, sunk into his chair. It was really cool and the announcer, as well, he was like, “You know my favorite thing about her was you’re not supposed to boo someone but someone out there in the crowd did. And she looked right at them and she shut them up.” And I thought that was really cool and I’m really, again, I’m happy I got to do it.

O: My last question is just how are you preparing and looking forward to playing at the Williams Center?

J: I’m practicing with my band every Wednesday. I’m practicing all the time; every chance I can get. I’m making sure I’m playing songs that represent my artistry and I’m making sure that all the songs are (ones) people know them, as well. I’m excited to do (songs) through the decades and just being able to perform at the Williams Center.

As we wrap up this enlightening interview with Julia Roome, we're left with a deeper appreciation for her talent, dedication, and the profound impact of her music. Join us in celebrating Julia's journey by attending her performance at historic Rivoli Theater at the Williams Center on May 10th, with special guests Jackie Romeo & The Counterfeiters in The Rivoli Theater at the Williams Center in Rutherford, New jersey. Take a glimpse into what awaits you at the historic Rivoli Theater on May 10th with this video:

Find more information and purchase tickets for Julia's show here.