01Profile
A Julia Bardo Photo
Julia Bardo
Musician — Manchester
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
My name is Julia and I am from Italy but I’ve been living in Manchester for three years now.
Describe your style in three words?
Homme, '90s Normcore, Leather.
What's the best gig you've ever been to?
Patti Smith, the first gig I’ve been by myself. I absorbed every word she sang and every emotion ran through myself and I just loved every second of it.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
PJ Harvey and The Velvet Underground.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
1970s New York, Andy Warhol’s Factory, Piper Club, Northern Soul and Mods, Hip Hop, French New Wave, Cowboys, mid-'60s Yves Saint Laurent's androgyny, revolution and feminism.
Which music defines the teenage you?
My teenage years have been a total mix of phases and songs. I’ve taken dance lessons for eight years, both classical and hip hop, so R&B music has always been part of me and has always made me feel empowered and sexy and made me wanted to dance to it! My favourites ever were and are Destiny’s Child 'Independent Women Pt. I', Mary J Blidge 'Family Affair', TLC 'No Scrubs'. Alongside that period, there was hip hop. The first CD I bought was Tupac’s 'Loyal To The Game' and one of the first vinyl I loved was 'Illmatic' by Nas. Among my favourite hip hop tunes, there are 'Big Momma Thang' by Lil’ Kim, 'Love Rain' by Jill Scott, Salt-N-Pepa 'None of Your Business'.
When I was 17 my soul and '60s girls groups phase started. I used to sing Etta James all the time, especially 'I’d Rather Go Blind'. I loved The Ronettes, Martha and The Vandellas, Rita and the Tiaras 'Gone With The Wind', Sarah Vaughan, Barbara Lynn and hers 'You’ll Lose a Good Thing' and 'Love is a Hurting Thing' by Gloria Ann Taylor.
At the end of my teenage years, when I was 19-20 I started to sing in my first shoegazey-psychedelic, krautrock band. Our idols were The Velvet Underground (my favourite song is 'I Found a Reason' and 'All Tomorrow’s Party'), Brian Jonestown Massacre (we covered 'Anemone' at our gigs), The Beatles, TOY and we also used to listen to a lot of '60s Indian psychedelic music.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Peggy Guggenheim and Sylvia Plath because if I was reborn I want to be either of them.
Of all the venues you've been to, which is your favourite?
Gorilla in Manchester because it's where I drink Prosecco with my friends pretending I am a socialite writer or some kind of bohemian artist.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Patty Pravo. She used to hang out and dance at the Piper Club in the 60s. One day she was noticed by the owner, Alberigo Crocetta, that asked her if “she could sing the same way she could dance”. She started doing both at the club and she became the “Piper Girl”; later on her songs were in Italian and International charts. She is one of my biggest inspirations and one of my style icons. The Piper gave people the opportunity to discover new international music and it became a place of reference, a space that unearthed so many talents and launched the careers of symbolic figures onto the Italian music scene.
Julia Bardo's journey began in Brescia, in Northern Italy. Moving to Manchester, Bardo joined post-punk band Working Men's Club before pursuing a solo career. Her first solo EP 'Phase' will be released on 6th March, preceded by the tracks "I Wanna Feel Love' and 'Desire'.
You can also catch Julia Bardo on tour in the UK throughout March. Find out more at instagram.com/iamjuliabardo
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Lucio Battisti - 'Amarsi Un Po' and Mina - 'Se Telefonando'
I used to sing them with my parents, amongst other many Italian artists, when I was a kid. Growing up, these songs remained inside me and today they’re still two of my favourite songs to listen to and the ones that make me feel so many emotions.
One record you would keep forever?
Wendy and Bonnie - 'Genesis'
My favourite song of the album is called 'I Realized You' because it came in a special, transitioning moment of my life when I needed warmth and change. This song is so gentle and beautiful and I connect it to an important moment of my life.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"I’m going where the sun keeps shining, through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone"
Harry Nilsson - 'Everybody’s Talking'
I think it’s one of the best songs in this universe. The lyrics resonate a lot with me because I’ve never felt part of anything, I’ve never felt that I came from the place I was born and I’ve always searched for a place I could call home.
A song you wished you had written?
Nico - 'These Days'
It’s such an emotional song. I think it describes the way I feel in the most perfect way and I can also relate musically, the chord pattern is heart-breaking and every time I listen to it it’s like I can find my true self again. In my opinion guitar and strings are a winning pair.
St. Vincent - 'Cruel'
It’s a banger. The strings part and the guitar riff are amazing together, it is so pop but so edgy at the same time!
Best song to turn up loud?
Sonic Youth's 'Kool Thing', Le Tigre’s 'Deceptacon', Bjork’s 'Big Time Sensuality', because when I drive in my car they make me feel empowered and when I sing them out loud it makes me feel so good.
A song people wouldn't expect you to like?
'Somebody to Love Tonight' - Patrick Cowley
I love to dance and meeting up with friends but I’m not a party girl and I don’t go to clubs so I don’t really get the chance to experience dance or electronic music but I love this song anyway.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'I Feel Love' and 'Bad Girls' by Donna Summer, 'Dance' by ESG, 'Rapture' by Blondie and also 'Genius of Love' by Tom Tom Club.
They wake up the ballerina inside me.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
'This Must Be the Place' by Talking Heads
It’s one of the first songs I’ve danced to with my boyfriend at the beginning of our relationship. The first time we danced together, we danced for hours and this was the last song of the evening and it made me feel so emotional and I don’t think I’ve ever been more happy in my life.
Any new music you are into at the moment?
Sinead O’ Brien - 'Taking On Time'
Joviale - 'Taste Of The Heavens'
Alice Boman - 'Be Mine'
Porridge Radio - 'Give/Take'
Dry Cleaning - 'Magic of Meghan'
Happyness - 'Vegetable'
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
My name is Julia and I am from Italy but I’ve been living in Manchester for three years now.
Describe your style in three words?
Homme, '90s Normcore, Leather.
What's the best gig you've ever been to?
Patti Smith, the first gig I’ve been by myself. I absorbed every word she sang and every emotion ran through myself and I just loved every second of it.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
PJ Harvey and The Velvet Underground.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
1970s New York, Andy Warhol’s Factory, Piper Club, Northern Soul and Mods, Hip Hop, French New Wave, Cowboys, mid-'60s Yves Saint Laurent's androgyny, revolution and feminism.
Which music defines the teenage you?
My teenage years have been a total mix of phases and songs. I’ve taken dance lessons for eight years, both classical and hip hop, so R&B music has always been part of me and has always made me feel empowered and sexy and made me wanted to dance to it! My favourites ever were and are Destiny’s Child 'Independent Women Pt. I', Mary J Blidge 'Family Affair', TLC 'No Scrubs'. Alongside that period, there was hip hop. The first CD I bought was Tupac’s 'Loyal To The Game' and one of the first vinyl I loved was 'Illmatic' by Nas. Among my favourite hip hop tunes, there are 'Big Momma Thang' by Lil’ Kim, 'Love Rain' by Jill Scott, Salt-N-Pepa 'None of Your Business'.
When I was 17 my soul and '60s girls groups phase started. I used to sing Etta James all the time, especially 'I’d Rather Go Blind'. I loved The Ronettes, Martha and The Vandellas, Rita and the Tiaras 'Gone With The Wind', Sarah Vaughan, Barbara Lynn and hers 'You’ll Lose a Good Thing' and 'Love is a Hurting Thing' by Gloria Ann Taylor.
At the end of my teenage years, when I was 19-20 I started to sing in my first shoegazey-psychedelic, krautrock band. Our idols were The Velvet Underground (my favourite song is 'I Found a Reason' and 'All Tomorrow’s Party'), Brian Jonestown Massacre (we covered 'Anemone' at our gigs), The Beatles, TOY and we also used to listen to a lot of '60s Indian psychedelic music.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Peggy Guggenheim and Sylvia Plath because if I was reborn I want to be either of them.
Of all the venues you've been to, which is your favourite?
Gorilla in Manchester because it's where I drink Prosecco with my friends pretending I am a socialite writer or some kind of bohemian artist.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Patty Pravo. She used to hang out and dance at the Piper Club in the 60s. One day she was noticed by the owner, Alberigo Crocetta, that asked her if “she could sing the same way she could dance”. She started doing both at the club and she became the “Piper Girl”; later on her songs were in Italian and International charts. She is one of my biggest inspirations and one of my style icons. The Piper gave people the opportunity to discover new international music and it became a place of reference, a space that unearthed so many talents and launched the careers of symbolic figures onto the Italian music scene.
Julia Bardo's journey began in Brescia, in Northern Italy. Moving to Manchester, Bardo joined post-punk band Working Men's Club before pursuing a solo career. Her first solo EP 'Phase' will be released on 6th March, preceded by the tracks "I Wanna Feel Love' and 'Desire'.
You can also catch Julia Bardo on tour in the UK throughout March. Find out more at instagram.com/iamjuliabardo
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Lucio Battisti - 'Amarsi Un Po' and Mina - 'Se Telefonando'
I used to sing them with my parents, amongst other many Italian artists, when I was a kid. Growing up, these songs remained inside me and today they’re still two of my favourite songs to listen to and the ones that make me feel so many emotions.
One record you would keep forever?
Wendy and Bonnie - 'Genesis'
My favourite song of the album is called 'I Realized You' because it came in a special, transitioning moment of my life when I needed warmth and change. This song is so gentle and beautiful and I connect it to an important moment of my life.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"I’m going where the sun keeps shining, through the pouring rain
Going where the weather suits my clothes
Banking off of the northeast winds
Sailing on a summer breeze
And skipping over the ocean like a stone"
Harry Nilsson - 'Everybody’s Talking'
I think it’s one of the best songs in this universe. The lyrics resonate a lot with me because I’ve never felt part of anything, I’ve never felt that I came from the place I was born and I’ve always searched for a place I could call home.
A song you wished you had written?
Nico - 'These Days'
It’s such an emotional song. I think it describes the way I feel in the most perfect way and I can also relate musically, the chord pattern is heart-breaking and every time I listen to it it’s like I can find my true self again. In my opinion guitar and strings are a winning pair.
St. Vincent - 'Cruel'
It’s a banger. The strings part and the guitar riff are amazing together, it is so pop but so edgy at the same time!
Best song to turn up loud?
Sonic Youth's 'Kool Thing', Le Tigre’s 'Deceptacon', Bjork’s 'Big Time Sensuality', because when I drive in my car they make me feel empowered and when I sing them out loud it makes me feel so good.
A song people wouldn't expect you to like?
'Somebody to Love Tonight' - Patrick Cowley
I love to dance and meeting up with friends but I’m not a party girl and I don’t go to clubs so I don’t really get the chance to experience dance or electronic music but I love this song anyway.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
'I Feel Love' and 'Bad Girls' by Donna Summer, 'Dance' by ESG, 'Rapture' by Blondie and also 'Genius of Love' by Tom Tom Club.
They wake up the ballerina inside me.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
'This Must Be the Place' by Talking Heads
It’s one of the first songs I’ve danced to with my boyfriend at the beginning of our relationship. The first time we danced together, we danced for hours and this was the last song of the evening and it made me feel so emotional and I don’t think I’ve ever been more happy in my life.
Any new music you are into at the moment?
Sinead O’ Brien - 'Taking On Time'
Joviale - 'Taste Of The Heavens'
Alice Boman - 'Be Mine'
Porridge Radio - 'Give/Take'
Dry Cleaning - 'Magic of Meghan'
Happyness - 'Vegetable'