Fourteen-year-old Juliana Cable is one of the youngest touring musicians you’ll ever see. She has two shows in Concord this week. We caught up with her for a quick Q&A session.
How long have you been performing?
I started performing at open mic nights last winter. My mom works for a motorcycle magazine (Iron & Air) and their offices are in the same building as The Draft. My brother and sister and I spend a lot of time at her office and when I found myself there late on one Wednesday night, I decided to perform at their open mic. That’s basically where everything started. Since then, I’ve played all over the state, in Boston, and in New York.
What made you want to be a musician?
I was exposed to music from a very young age, because my dad plays guitar and my mom sings. My dad and I would often perform together at family parties and bonfires, and because of that I always saw myself becoming a singer someday. Then, when I was 11, I had the extraordinary experience of seeing the Pixies live, and I bought the same bass as Kim Deal the next week. Since then, I’ve started playing the guitar, keyboard, and the ukulele. Honestly, I’ve just always known that music is what I want to do.
Fill in the blank: If not for ________, you would not be where you are today.
There are so many people that have given me opportunities during the past year, and I am incredibly grateful for all of them. My mom helps me book all my gigs, and manage my social media. She is extremely supportive, and puts forth so much time and energy to help me with my music. None of the stuff I do would be possible without her, and she is my absolute best friend in the world.
Also, Go-Local Music is an amazing organization based out of Concord that has provided me with infinite opportunities in the Concord music scene, and has truly made me feel like a part of the family that is the Concord music community.
Who is your favorite ukulele player of all time? Least favorite?
I am extraordinarily lucky to be friends with my favorite fellow ukulele lover, Matt Rosenberg. He plays the uke with Captain Chet Lawson’s Snake Oil Revue, and we bonded over a mutual adoration for the instrument at Camp-n-Jam IV last summer, and can’t wait to jam with him at Camp-n-Jam V on June 28-30 in Davisville. I admire him because he is extremely entertaining and enthusiastic on stage, and super nice off stage. It’s hard to have a least favorite ukulele player. As a general rule, if someone dedicates their time to such a cheerful instrument they are pretty swell.
If you could share the stage with one musician or band, who would it be?
There are a huge variety of musicians and bands that come to mind, and there’s no way I can stick with one. Kim Deal is one of my biggest inspirations musically, because her work with the Pixies and the Breeders is incredible, and the bassline on the song ‘Hey’ from Doolittle is what made me pick up a bass for the first time. I also gather a lot of inspiration from Regina Spektor. Her creativity, song-writing ability, natural talent, and general classiness on and off stage make her one of my biggest role models. Also, if I had a time machine, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Oh, and Janis Joplin too.
What is your ultimate goal, musically/career-wise?
I don’t have one definite goal. Musically, I would just like to continue growing as a musician and a performer. As long as I never stop making the best music I can, and sharing that music with people, I’ll have accomplished enough. Career-wise, I hope to continue developing an audience with which to share my music, and using my music to create a voice for myself with which to spread a positive message.
What will people have in store for them if they come to your show(s) this week?
My first show this week is at J Dubs Coffee on Elm St. in Manchester on April 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. I play outside on the courtyard, and there are tables and umbrellas for those watching. Their coffee and snacks are absolutely delicious, and I look forward to getting a latte there for weeks before I perform. It’s a really fun laid-back show, where I often pull up my mom and sister to perform with me. I will also be selling some lovely mustache-themed merch, including stickers, bracelets, and magnets. Friday night (April 26), I will be performing at The Purple Pit Jazz Club. It’s an incredible all-ages BYOB venue, and it’s fabulously purple-y inside. I’ll be playing from 7:30 to 8 p.m. On April 27, I’ll be playing at True Brew Barista in Concord at 2 p.m. It’s an all-ages show, and only my second time there. True Brew is filled with yummy drinks and good vibes. I can’t wait to go back!
Any last words for the Insider audience?
Two things. One, there’s a lot of people (including some of my own family members) that told me that the idea of becoming a working musician at the age of 14 was absolutely ridiculous. If I had listened to them I wouldn’t have had some of the most amazing experiences of my life, so far, in the past year. That being said, if you want to do something, do it. Don’t listen to the naysayers.
Two, if you want to start off your summer right, than go to Camp-N-Jam Five, June 28-30 in Davisville (ticket info: campnjamv.brownpapertickets.com) The event is run by Concord musicians and the line up is chock full of Concord musicians. I will be playing Saturday and Sunday.
