By: Staff
Juliet Ayres recently released “Perfect”, a track that lives up to its title from the very first piano notes. The delicate opening instantly sets a tone that feels both intimate and profound, capturing the listener's attention with ease. However, what truly elevates this song is Ayres' captivating vocal delivery, which radiates with raw, expressive emotion, making each word resonate.
This release highlights Ayres as a multifaceted indie talent, seamlessly blending rich instrumentation, heartfelt lyrics, and a vocal style that feels both timeless and fresh. Their unique artistry combines the best of contemporary pop while maintaining a distinct, authentic sound that deserves to be heard by a wider audience.
We encourage you to explore this extraordinary artist and dive into Perfect. And to gain even deeper insight into Ayres’ creative journey, be sure to check out our recent interview, where we uncover the passion and inspiration that drive their remarkable work.
Stream it now on your favorite platform, add it to your playlists, and share it with friends to spread the word about this incredible indie talent. Let’s get Perfect the attention it deserves on every major platform, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and beyond!
Here is our exclusive interview in "The Cage" Music Blog with Juliet Ayres.
BEGIN INTERVIEW:
Hello Juliet Ayres, we’re thrilled to have you for this interview! We’ve had a blast diving into your music and exploring your work, and now we’re even more excited to learn more about you, both as an artist, and as a person.
Thank you for having me!
We loved “Perfect”. Your vocals are so unique and beautiful. You have such an authentic delivery and your styling is captivating. When did you realize you had a voice that could make heads turn?
Thank you so much! I’ve been singing since I was a little girl, it was always one of my favorite things but I was so shy about it since I’m naturally pretty shy. It was one of those things where I knew I had to push past the discomfort of that shyness because I loved music so much. I would write songs for school projects, sing for my mom on her birthday, and I sang at talent shows. The kids at my elementary and middle school always knew I loved to sing. Then I went to a performing arts high school because I knew this was something I wanted to focus on, and I’ve been serious about it ever since. Singing and songwriting have been the paths I’ve always wanted to pursue, and the more positive responses I’ve gotten from people by putting myself out there have really kept me inspired.
We were floored by this: “ How are you so sweet and so kind, an alarm could go off and you would still make more time”. This is something that would be in a book of historic passages and yet endearing enough to be in a love story. This writing style is part storytelling and part broadway magic. Has this always been your style? Do you plan to explore other vocal presentations?
I love that comparison and I totally understand it. I'm really inspired by dramatic love stories and poetry or romance movies. The lyrics in this song in particular were slightly hyperbolic, but my writing style has always been heartfelt and vulnerably honest. Even though sometimes my lyrics can sound super dramatic, they’re accurate to an emotion I had at a point in time. I wish I could sing like a broadway singer but that takes an insane amount of talent - though I actually was classically trained and sang opera throughout high school, so I learned a lot about that style of singing and sometimes miss it (but not that much).
"Perfect" has such a raw, intimate vibe. Can you tell us about the emotions or experiences that drove you to write this song?
The story with “Perfect” was with someone I was seeing who stood out as one of the best people I had ever met. I was so out of touch with my own sense of self, though, that I idolized their traits and viewed them as this flawless human being. They literally were perfect in my eyes, and the lyrics come from an honest place of seeing every little thing they did as holy. When you feel lost or insecure in your identity, it’s easy to latch on to others and admire their confidence. I’m lucky that I’ve worked on myself to change for the better. While I’ve always had that sense of individuality, I wasn’t always as secure and confident in it.
You’ve described your music as dark pop with a focus on piano. How do you think this genre helps to express your storytelling style, especially in "Perfect"?
This song definitely falls under the dark pop genre because of its minor key and the theme of the song. I think that piano ballads always come across as very emotive and heartfelt which is accurate for the emotions in my music, which adds to the messages I put out.
We saw the still shots from your music video for “Maybe” on Instagram, and your connection with fans is incredible! It’s clear that your music resonates deeply and is on track to make a big impact. You once mentioned, “I write songs because I’m not too eloquent otherwise… but this is a song I think everyone can relate to - hope you love it, and I can’t wait to put out more music, create, and share.” It’s so refreshing to see an artist dedicated to creating music that truly connects with people. How does it feel when you release a song, and your fans respond with so much excitement? And how does that energy influence the direction you want to take with your music going forward?
As a small artist, I’m lucky that I can read everything people have to say about me. It means so much to me when someone tells me they listen to my music or my songs bring out deep feelings for them. Though this is something I would be doing even if no one was listening, that’s literally the best feeling in the world. In day to day conversations you don’t mention feelings of heartbreak or bad habits with someone you’re not super close with, but when people listen to my songs about these types of things and tell me they relate, I feel connected to them on a deep level and really appreciate that.
You mentioned idolizing someone to the point of obsession while creating this song. How did you channel those intense feelings into the lyrics and sound?
The songwriting process for me is such a flow-state type of creation. I get inspiration from real things that happen to me, and once I have an initial idea or lyric it just is a matter of sitting down at a piano and letting the rest come to me. The very first line came to me as I was sitting down at my piano and I wrote the rest from there just playing with the metaphors and storytelling.
Artists like Adele, Radiohead, and Mitski influenced this track. Is there a song or album from these artists that particularly resonates with you or shaped your work on "Perfect"?
Listening through my music library, I realized “All I Need” by Radiohead is one of the biggest influences for this song. Even though sonically it isn’t super similar, the agonizing feeling of loving someone to the point of desperation is there. Adele and Mitski will always be some of my biggest inspirations, and songs like “I Bet On Losing Dogs” by Mitski and “All I Ask” by Adele subconsciously inspired this track and its songwriting for sure.
Recording at Valve Studios in Dallas must have felt like a full-circle moment, especially being in your hometown. How did that atmosphere shape the track?
Though I feel super at home in Los Angeles, being back in Dallas and recording this track was pretty special. It was a super calm setting and recording process and I’m really grateful for the experience.
Did the iconic musicians who recorded there before you add any sense of inspiration or pressure?
Even seeing the iconic records recorded there on the walls of the studio added such a great sense of inspiration. Recording at professional studios is a euphoric feeling for me. I used to intern at a pretty famous recording studio here in LA, and as much as I loved just working around artists and being there, I always had the itch to record in a space like that myself which was a great motivator and still is.
From your perspective, what was the most unexpected part of the recording process?
Something that shook me in the best way was hearing this song finished in comparison to the original recording with just me and the piano. Every time I hear a fully produced song of mine, it is the most satisfying thing having the sounds in my head become a reality. This song really builds up and becomes the powerful ballad I envisioned.
In "Perfect," you use strings to create an epic, almost cinematic feel. What was your vision behind using live instruments to enhance this dramatic effect?
When I write, I start from such an intimate and simple place alone playing my piano. This song and its lyrics are so personal so that was important for me to keep the aspect of intimacy while still building up the rest of the instrumentation. I want my songs to be a complete tell-all of my emotions, and for listeners to be able to feel like they know me through the song, and I think the arrangement of this song was able to convey the deeply personal obsessive thoughts I had. The strings added that dramatic cinematic feel to encompass those overwhelming feelings of love and idolization.
Are live instruments a fundamental part of your sound, or do you see yourself experimenting with more digital production in the future?
Live instruments come naturally to me just because of the music I grew up listening to, but I am moving towards more digital production and experimentation in terms of genre and sound which gives a totally different vibe to my music.
Your lyrics touch on obsession, idolization, and infatuation. What message or feeling do you hope listeners will take away from this song?
This song took a while for me to put out, so the amount of personal change that occured from writing and then recording the song to actually releasing it was immense, similar to the last song I put out. With all of the songs I write, there’s a theme or message and ultimately writing them helps me learn something about my patterns and emotions. The bridge to this song kind of acts as the moment where I realize that maybe this person isn’t so perfect, which can serve as a wake up call for myself as well as listeners. Overall though, I want people listening to feel heard and less alone in their emotions, and allow themselves to feel all of their feelings no matter how crazy they may seem.
Do you see this theme of obsession as a recurring motif in your music, or was it specific to "Perfect"?
Believe it or not I’m a pretty calm person in relationships and most every other area of my life, which is why songwriting is so important to me because it acts as the space where instead of having to be stoic, I can just allow all of my deepest inner thoughts and emotions to pour out. I don’t think obsession specifically is a recurring motif in my music, but I spend a lot of time in my own head wondering about people I love so I definitely think the love and admiration aspect is a theme.
You’re immersed in LA's music scene now but started recording in Dallas. How has each location influenced your journey as a singer-songwriter?
Dallas influenced me in a lot of ways because that’s where my love of music began, with my parents taking me to concerts from a young age or listening to the records my dad would play. I am grateful for my experience in Dallas being surrounded by the creative community, but I think the push to get to LA where I’ve been for the past four years has been so influential. Every other person I meet works in the creative field in some capacity, so I don’t feel weird or embarrassed to pursue this here, instead I feel super motivated to work hard so that I can achieve what I’ve always wanted to.
We saw you on stage performing at El CID! What is the importance of performing live in your career and can you tell us a little about the show and who was in your band?
The show at El Cid was such an amazing time, I’ve been playing more shows recently and it’s one of the most important ways I can reach people. I organized that show at El Cid which had a few other great female musicians on the lineup, and that space is one of my favorites for smaller shows in LA. I don’t have a consistent band at the moment, but I usually play with some great musicians I met at USC. I used to perform just me and a piano or keyboard which is great for intimate settings, but ever since I started playing with a full band there’s been no turning back, there’s nothing like it.
As someone who is early in their music career, what’s one quote or piece of advice that has kept you motivated to keep pursuing this path?
My sophomore year of college, I went to a meeting for the songwriters club at USC where Alec Benjamin was guest speaking. A lot of students were asking for his advice on getting started or putting out music for the first time, and his response was basically, “just start”. I think that struck a chord with me because I have always known my dream is to be a musician, but I let comparison and judgment stop me. It took me about a year and a half after that to just start putting out songs, but I’m so glad I did. I’ve been lucky enough to hear a lot of advice from accomplished artists I admire, but ultimately the push to literally just go for it and begin the journey has been something I’m forever grateful for. Thanks Alec.
So, what’s next? Can you share the full details on your future projects and what fans should be excited about? We’re hearing about more releases, and we’d love to be the first to announce it!
The sound for my next few songs is going to be a little different since they aren’t recorded in the same way as the last three. I have a few singles coming out and I’m working towards an album next year that showcases a lot of music I have in the vault, so I’m very excited.
Juliet Ayres, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
Thank you so much!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Juliet Ayres’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Juliet Ayres on Spotify & YouTube.
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