Meet Julia from the band Echo Rose Rising

We recently connected with Julia from the band Echo Rose Rising and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Julia from the band, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Embarking on the journey of self-employment from the very beginning has been a quest to uncover my true purpose. Over the past decade, I’ve engaged in continuous experimentation, self-reflection, and made countless micro-adjustments to align my passions in a meaningful way. With each project, business plan, and job, I’ve inched closer to my ultimate goal of finding fulfilling and sustainable work driven by passion.

Grateful for a diverse set of passions and skills, I’ve tirelessly explored various combinations over the years. Seeking knowledge through online courses, seeking advice from mentors, and strategic brainstorming have been instrumental in my journey. Despite making significant progress, I acknowledge that there’s still a distance to cover before achieving the desired balance.

The process has involved identifying my strengths, deciding when to outsource or collaborate, and learning to leverage my skills effectively. One of the most meaningful creative ventures I’ve undertaken was also the most collaborative – the creation and organization of an indie music festival and nomadic gathering. This project not only showcased the cohesion of my skills but also provided an inclusive platform for community members to share a reflective space and drive meaningful changes.

Comparing this to my initial entrepreneurial attempt a decade ago, where I sold a random assortment of homemade goods at a craft fair, highlights the growth and evolution in my approach. Despite progress, the constant juggling of priorities remains a challenge. As an artist, my intrinsic motivation lies in creative pursuits, while as an entrepreneur, I must balance this with financially responsible decision-making. The ongoing journey involves maintaining focus on crucial factors to keep everything afloat, embracing both the artistic and entrepreneurial aspects of my endeavors.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Hello, it’s Julia from Echo Rose Rising. I kicked off my musical journey in 2019, gracing stages at restaurants and venues across New York and Vermont. The pinnacle came in 2021 with the release of my debut album, “Time is Now,” celebrated with a concert at the iconic Nectars in Burlington, Vermont. To complement the album, I created a video series documenting my musical escapades, playing the violin in unconventional settings such as skiing, rock climbing, rafting through the Grand Canyon, and ascending 100ft in a tree.

Following the album’s launch, I embraced life on the road, residing in an RV and touring the Four Corner states, Nevada, and California for the past three years. In 2022, I initiated Rose Fest, an Indie Music Festival in Colorado catering to nomadic souls, emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity in outdoor spaces. What started small grew rapidly, featuring twelve bands, four workshops, a discussion panel, riverside camping, an afterparty with DJs, yoga sessions, and diverse vendors.

Being an independent artist since the start, I’ve handled a myriad of tasks—from marketing, graphic design, and promotion to songwriting, show bookings, and live performances. Crafting a unique selection of band merchandise has been a personal touch, including hand-screened T-shirts with custom-patterned pockets, laser-cut bamboo rose earrings, five-panel hats with custom-patterned brims, journals, CDs, stickers, and more.

Currently, my focus revolves around refining the branding for my wedding cover band and establishing connections with wedding vendors, planners, and couples in the Southwest states where I’ve been touring. My goal is to distinguish between my cover band and original music, allowing both to flourish independently. Stay tuned for upcoming tour dates, including a show at an iconic venue in LA that’s in the works—I can’t wait to share the details soon.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’m most grateful for my visionary and optimistic mindset, my effective networking and relationship building and my resilience and perseverance. A visionary outlook has empowered me to envision my full potential and explore creative possibilities. Networking has proven invaluable, serving as both a learning tool and a means to cultivate new opportunities while refining my messaging and systems. Resilience has surfaced through my day by day decision making. I’ve been able to stay motivated through recognizing that redirecting my path now would be less efficient in achieving long-term goals than immersing myself further in the momentum already built within my music career.

For those embarking on their journey, I recommend a gradual transition to financial independence through self-employment rather than a sudden transition. Patience with progress is key, and discovering a workflow that resonates with your unique thought processes is crucial for sustained growth.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My current primary challenge revolves around maintaining a consistent client flow and ensuring that my income aligns with the effort I invest. A significant portion of my time has been dedicated to behind-the-scenes projects that, unfortunately, haven’t yielded the anticipated returns. The additional layer of complexity stems from the combination of networking and my nomadic lifestyle, as I continually introduce myself to new communities during my travels.

Over the past few years, I’ve witnessed substantial changes in the economy. Many employers are now adjusting compensation, sometimes offering double the wages compared to a few years ago. Adapting to these changes, I’ve realized that increasing my rates to reflect the evolving economic landscape requires a complete overhaul of my marketing strategies. The markets I previously relied on not only struggle to increase live music budgets but are, in fact, cutting back on music expenditures in current times.

Acknowledging the disproportionate effort-to-profit ratio in unpaid office work, I’ve narrowed my focus on financial aspects to tackle this challenge. As a strategic decision, I’ve opted to temporarily suspend other projects for a year and concentrate on refining my branding for performances at weddings and private events. This targeted approach aims to navigate the shifting economic landscape and better align my income with the current market dynamics.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Lael Daigle, Maggie Row, Regan Bosnyak

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