Julz & the Grimly Beats
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | SELF
Music
Press
Anyone that can pull off a cover of John Williamson’s Rip Rip Wood Chip that simultaneously appeals to the chin stroking musician type and the garden variety Bogan is a talented musician. Julian De Maria’s spirited performance on Wednesday night at Gilhooley’s was a forty-minute set attuned to the sensibilities of a world that may have disappeared.
He is a deep thinker, whose lyrics contain poetry that belies his twenty-four years. His song writing talents combine a deep connection with the spiritual, personal and environmental values without succumbing to shallow activism or trite personal sentiment. Julian sings about ideals that are localised and centred on civility and respect. In modern life, with its central tenants of individualism, it is refreshing to hear an alternative to flat screen TVs and other forms of rampant consumerism.
The pastoral is evoked in the song Half Moon Bay, set on Stewart Island about two young lovers. The crowd favourite had the captive audience singing to I do, a fitting tribute to his wife Melissa. While in Blue Girl, Julian sings about the joys of parenthood at a young age. In his latest song, I Remember, Julian sings “How do you keep your head from floating above water’s edge? / How is that you feel blowing your life’s windmill?” A poignant reminder of the life of relationships is conjured up in an accessible pop ditty.
Julian De Maria’s is a classically trained guitarist, who started writing/recording his own music in London, 2003. He creates acoustic sub-pop that takes its influence from diverse directions such as the gypsy jazz of Django Reinhart and the emotion of Damien Rice. In his music, there is also the detection of Southern California Punk favourites, Sublime and with a gentle nod to the burgeoning Australian blues and roots scene.
He explores the grand themes of love, loss and contentment with poignant scope. He reaches far inside himself to touch at experiences that hold gravitas and that are intensely spiritual. Julian De Maria’s fan base will soon incorporate people who are on the elusive search for meaning and purpose in their lives.
Justin Matthews 16/01/2009
- Justin Matthews
Discography
Postcard Melodies EP - 2005
Like Watching Radio EP - 2009
Photos
Bio
Sean & Julz have been jamming ever since high school. At the beginning of 2003 Julz left for Europe and came back 9 months later with enough songs to start a band. In 2004 Green Genre was born. Playing sub-popular surf orientated tunes that were quickly learnt by friends and family saw these songs become popular anthems at many a party. For many years Green Genre strummed on at a steady rhythmic pace.
As life moves on so does everybody else. Both members were starting to be consumed by more important areas of their life and before they knew it Green Genre was a pleasant distant memory in the minds of those involved.
2007 to 2009 saw Julz De Maria perused a solo career and released a self produced EP called “Like Watching Radio”. With this ticked off his to-do list it wasn’t until December 2009 he realised something was missing. Sitting on a beach somewhere on the Sunshine coast watching the sunrise Sean and Julz reunited. That morning Julz & the Grimly Beats were born.
Kicking off 2010 Julz & the Grimly Beats hit the ground running. They have played at majority of the major venues in Brisbane such as the Music Café, Lock ‘n’ Load, Hi Fi Bar, the Globe Theatre, Ric’s Café, and X & Y bar. They have played at the annual Fete de la Musique Festival in Brisbane and Sean & Julz are two of three proud organisers of this year’s very successful debut Red Deer Music Festival where they also graced the stage.
Sitting on the beach that morning they made a commitment to each other... to play music for the love and fun that music brings because nothing else matters when you’re smiling!
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