Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Babie

Rising singer-songwriter Julia Affinito didn’t have the easiest time growing up; she was severely bullied throughout high school, but found solace in her craft. Now, she’s channeling those experiences into her art and hopes her music will be an outlet for those who are facing similar struggles. Releasing music under the project name Babie, Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Julia about her career and her latest single!

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Julia: I always sang. I actually started out as an actress. I was signed to a talent agency and went to auditions all the time. Eventually, I started doing theater. My mom and dad would hear me singing upstairs in my room when I was younger, and they were like, “Oh, wait. She can kind of sing,” so they put me in theater.

They put me in voice lessons, but I didn’t start writing until I got to high school, because I never really thought about it. I was like, “Theater is what I want to do. I want to be on Broadway.” I never really thought about it until high school hit.

I went through a really rough time: the kids weren’t very nice to me. I didn’t know how to deal with it because I felt there was nobody on my side. I had my family, of course, but I’m the youngest, so I felt like, “Nobody understands me.” [laughs] You know how that is. I would go up to my room after school every day, and I would start tapping away at my piano. I would sing how I was feeling. That’s how it started. Looking back now, I want my music to be what it was for me, for someone else.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Julia: I think it would be what I went through in high school. That’s when I started writing. I didn’t deserve what happened to me, no one does, but I’m grateful for it in a sense. If that hadn’t happened to me, I’m not sure I would have written the songs that I’ve written. I’m still learning from those experiences, even now, four years later. I feel like that was one of the biggest things.

As far as people, I would say my biggest inspiration is my nana. She was such a free spirit. She always lived her life the way she wanted. I looked up to her for that, because we all have this fear of people judging us and living for other people because we want approval from everyone else. When I was going through that rough time in my life, because I was getting bullied. I was constantly seeking approval. I was like, “Why don’t these people like me?”

Then suddenly it clicked in my head. I was like, “I don’t really care if they like me, because they’re not very nice.” Now I’m still learning from her, even now. Unfortunately, she passed away my sophomore year. But I wrote a song about her. She always would make me sing for her friends and always say to me and encourage me to keep singing and block out any negativity, and just live my life for me. I still, even now, will say to my mom, “Well, nana would probably do it this way.”

PC: That’s a great answer. You’ve got a new single out now. Can you tell us about “I’m Ready, Are You?” and the inspiration behind it?
Julia: It’s a funny story. I literally wrote this song about a kid in my school that I only spoke to once. I thought he was the cutest thing. You know, that whole thing. I had the biggest crush on him, but God forbid, I would never say anything. I would never make the first move. He probably didn’t even know my name. I would go home and be like, “Why isn’t he noticing that I exist?,” even though I never talked to him. [laughs] But we all like to think in the back of our heads, “They just noticed us! They’ll come to me.” But really, at the end of the day, if you don’t open your mouth and say something, nothing’s going to happen.

So that was me being like, “Okay, I’m ready. What about you? Do you look at me the way that I see you?” It’s really all about the very beginnings of having a crush, seeing somebody and being like, “I don’t know too much about this person, but they’re kind of cute. They’re kind of nice.” But it’s this cat and mouse game of who is going to say something? Like a game of chicken. Who is going to be the one to say something or make the first move? That’s all I wanted to portray, even in the music video. I wanted it to be the first song on the album because it’s actually my favorite. It’s very playful and sweet. I love that song.

PC: You recently released your debut album. If you had to pick one song off of it that best encompasses who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Julia: Oh, wow. That’s a really good question. I feel like a lot of these songs are some of the most impactful songs I’ve ever written. I feel like “Tell Me How” is a good one because a lot of my songs are emotionally heavy, because it was an emotionally heavy time in my life. But that song in particular, I just remember writing it and how much time I dedicated to that song. I sat on it for a really long time, and I changed it a few times, and I reworked it. I put my whole heart in it because it’s just about love and wanting to give love and receive it back.

I am a very passionate person, and I want to be able to love someone and have people love me. With that song, I’m asking, “How can I get you to let me love you and get your love back?” I poured my heart out into that song. I know that at the end of the day, it’s really all about love. If you can tell, I’m a Cancer. But at the end of the day, it’s really about love for me and that’s what I want people to take away from my music. I love you and you’re loved. You don’t have to do anything to receive my love, just take it. Every time I sing that song, I lose myself in it.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Julia: That’s a good question. I don’t know if people would be surprised, but one of my favorite bands is Nothing But Thieves. I’ve loved them since my freshman year. I also love The Cure as well. Things like that. I know my album is very singer-songwriter, but I’m in love with alternative indie genre, that’s what I’m striving for. I take a lot of inspiration from bands like Nothing But Thieves, The Cure, and The 1975.

PC: First album you bought?
Julia: Oh my gosh. I think it was Move Along by All-American Rejects. I love that album still to this day, though. I had a little boom box in my room when I was younger. I would circle through Move Along. Then I had Norah Jones album, too. The four albums I would circle through was Norah Jones, Move Along, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jack Johnson. Those were the first things I knew that I liked, and they’re all so different.

PC: First concert you attended?
Julia: I’m going to be really honest. I think it was Camp Rock. But I’m not sure. I think I was really young and I saw the Jonas Brothers on the Camp Rock tour.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Julia: That’s such a good question. You really got me stumped. I really like This Old Dog by Mac DeMarco. I remember listening and it brought me a lot of comfort. I started listening to him in high school. I hate that I have to bring everything back to that time in my life, but had I not found the music…it’s what got me through it. I would listen to it on the bus on the way to school. I would always be nervous going in because of what I was dealing with, and that brought me a lot of comfort.

Also, Come Away with Me by Norah Jones. That’s another good one that I enjoy very much, still to this day. My mom would play it when I was a baby. It’s one of the most impactful albums that I’ve ever listened to.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Julia: I’m a fan of smaller venues, because they’re more intimate. I would say something like Bowery Ballroom or Rough Trade or Stone Pony. Something small like that, where you can connect with people in the audience.

There’s also a venue in Queens, New York. It’s called Blackthorn 51. That was fun. It’s more of R&B scene, but I had a good time when I performed there.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Julia: Coffee and tea.

Follow Julia on Twitter and Instagram.