Julia Haltigan is a sensitive badass who rides vintage Triumph motorcycles and sings primal rock n’ roll
Interview conduct on Sept. 27, 2019
by Dan Locke
Acclaimed bombshell songstress Julia Haltigan embodies New York. She grew up on NYC’s Lower East Side when it oozed a heady mix of danger, possibility, and art. Julia emerged from it all a sensitive badass who rides vintage Triumph motorcycles and sings primal rock n’ roll with smoldering expressivity.
There is hollowness and grit that epitomizes New York rock n’ roll. The music is lean, soulful, jittery, and overflowing with vulnerability and juicy tales told with literate flair. Julia’s to-be-released collection of songs captures this vibe with an artist-in-her-natural-habitat panache. The songs were tracked in true New York fashion, during freewheeling sessions that featured a host of old friends with accomplished careers. Producer Andrew Raposo is a high school-era buddy of Julia, and he is a former member of hip-hop-influenced acts Automato and Gaijin. Currently, he is a member of dark indie-disco act Midnight Magic. TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek produced Julia when she worked with Scarlett Johansson & Kendra Morris in the band Sugar for Sugar, and, here, he makes a cameo to produce the single “Bad Habits.”
Julia has toured extensively through the US, and throughout the UK and Ireland. She has performed as a part of the Varvatos Music Series, filling the store over capacity leaving a line around the block, and live on tastemaking radio personality Vin Scelsa’s show Idiot’s Delight. She also shared the stage with such venerated names as Judy Collins, Shannon Shaw, Steve Earle, Cory Chisel, Norah Jones, Montgomery Gentry, Rhett Miller, Nicole Atkins & Mike Scott of the Waterboys (whom she co-wrote her song How To Make A Broken heart with) among others. These days, she is part of the Jameson Whisky artist roster alongside Shannon Shaw (of the Clams), Robert Ellis, Katie Schecter, Ayron Jones, Twelve’Len, Kami, Cedrice, and Wes Watkins.
Dan Locke: You ride vintage Triumph motorcycles. Your website talks about the 1970 Triumph Bonneville. Is this one your favorite? What color is it?
Julia Haltigan: Yes, I love to ride and my favorite bike is my ’70 Triumph Bonneville! I love the classic lines and style of the design and the smell of the engine and motor oil. It’s black with an awesome aged patina.
Why Triumph not Harley Davidson?
Everyone has their own taste but in my opinion, vintage triumphs just look and sound better. I also love the way they ride and the classic upright position the seat and handlebars give you. It’s comfy. Vintage British bikes like Triumph and BSA have a different engine design than Harleys and they shift on the right side instead of the left. They’re just cool and unique compared to modern motorcycles. You can fix them yourself (and ask your dad to help)!
How was it growing up on the Lower East Side of NYC?
Well, I’m not sure what it was like to NOT grow up on the Lower East Side, but it was pretty fun! The LES had strong neighborhood vibes when I was a kid. Everyone knew each other and you had a sense of community. People used to look out for each other. I grew up on Ludlow Street in the 90s and there was a lot of cool art happening right outside my window. You could hear music coming up from the cellar rehearsal spaces that lined the block, there was a lot of performance art happening and people seemed free to be creative in their every day lives. You also felt a lot of cultural overlap with international communities building their homes and families in the original melting pot of New York City. It was really beautiful to be a part of that proof that we could not only co-exist but appreciate and inspire one another.
What got you interested in music?
My dad was in bands when I was a kid and there were always guitars and instruments laying around. I got to watch him rehearse with his friends and we’d listen to all kinds of music in the car on summer road trips, from Tom Waits to the Ramones. Music was always around me growing up. I also used to figure skate when I was a kid and my coach would pick out fun music for me like Henry Mancini’s Baby Elephant Walk and The Avengers theme song from the 60s TV show. That stuff definitely influenced my musical interests as well.
What was your first guitar (make, model and how did you get it)? Do you still have it?
Once I started playing guitar I slowly took over my dad’s sweet collection as he switched to mandolin. One of my favorites is a Gibson L50 hollow body. I also got a really cool Fender D’Aquisto from him.
Presently what is your favorite guitar (year, make, and model) do you have a special name for it?
My latest guitar that I’m super in love with is a Gretsch G6112TCB-JR Center Block 2-Tone Limited Edition. I saw it sitting in Matt Umanov’s shop on Bleecker Street knowing that they only made 250 of them, I didn’t have the money to buy it at the time and I’d probably never see one again. But it stayed on my mind and then I saw one for sale again at Brigg’s Music in Huntington NY. I couldn’t pass up a second chance to own one and snagged it! I’ve got my eyes on a classic telecaster next. Oddly I’ve never named a guitar or a motorcycle… But I named myself Crystal Heart Diamond when I was 5 and my dog’s name is Thunderbird so clearly I’m really good at it.
What was the first and last band you saw in concert?
The first concert I went to was Neil Diamond with my mom when I was 3 at Madison Square Garden. It was amazing. The last concert I went to was Hunx and is Punx at Elsewhere, BK and it was also amazing.
How was it to work with Scarlett Johansson, Kendra Morris and Holly Miranda?
It was great! Those girls are all super rad and we had the giggles the entire time. It’s amazing that we were able to sing at all, that’s how much time we spent laughing!
Tell me about the time you shared the stage with Judy Collins?
Opening for Judy Collins was such an honor. She’s a legend and being in her presence, you can see why. Her shocking blue eyes, stunning voice and classic grace is even more apparent when you meet her in person.
Did you learn anything from her?
I learned that music is forever and that you can choose to stick with anything that brings you and others joy for your entire life if it pleases you.
Do you believe you were a jazz crooner in another life?
I believe I’m a jazz crooner in THIS life hahaha! I get to sing standards in an off-broadway show called Sleep No More and it thrills me every time I hit the stage. I can’t tell you how fun it is to dress up in those glorious sequin gowns and sing jazz standards in a 1930s setting.
What do you think about with each of these songs dealing with the Lower East Side of NYC?
Subway Train- New York Dolls This song is great because it paints a picture of gritty NYC with it’s lyrics and classic NY rock and roll riffs while the chorus gives a nod to those old country train songs.
Marquee Moon- Television One of my favorites… I love how it gives you the sense of the random things that happen or cross your mind as you make your way through a night in the city. When you’re out in this town, anything can happen, there’s always something to see that get’s your mind thinking. We just pass in and out of different scenes.
I Wanna Be Sedated- The Ramones This was my favorite Ramones song when I was a kid, this and Beat On The Brat. I thought they were both hilarious.
High on Rebellion- Patti Smith Patti Smith always embodies that edgy, “I don’t give a fuck” New York attitude to me. She’s a punk. One time I saw her spit on the stage of Carnegie Hall and it warmed my heart.
Atomic – Blondie One of my all-time favorite Blondie songs! This song is all vibe… there’s not much to the lyrics which makes it a perfect soundtrack to a night out on the town dancing, from the gritty LES to the dance clubs (in the 70s).
Take the A Train- Duke Ellington This tune isn’t really an LES anthem but it is totally a classic NYC anthem… One of the originals! I wonder if the New York Dolls were inspired by this track when they wrote Subway Train hahaha
I love all of these songs! Good picks!
Do you wish you had the chance to play CBGBs?
I got to play the John Varvatos music series that he and my friend Clay put together once they took over the old CBGBs space. It was really special to get to play music in that legendary room! I do wish I got to play it when it was still covered in posters, grit, blood, and beer. Actually, the first apartment we lived in before moving to Ludlow was on Bond st between Lafayette and Bowery just across the street! I got to see people leaving CBGBs every morning when my parents took me to school hahaha!
Tell me about your new CD?
Trouble is the first album I’ve done where I really focused on my NYC roots and talked about the city as I experienced it throughout my life. And it was especially fun to work on this record with my buddy Andrew Raposo who I’ve known since high school and who also grew up in NYC! He produced the tracks and really honed in on that iconic NYC sound we were going for.
Who would you like to open up for and why
I’d love to open for Tom Waits even though my music has recently turned in a very different direction. If I got to open for Tom Waits that would mean he’s touring again and I’d get to watch him perform every single night of it 🙂 If Lou Reed was still with us I’d also love to open for him for the exact same reasons. But those are just two of many who inspire me.
How do you see yourself in five years?
I hope that I’m doing more of the same in five years! I’m really grateful that this is what I get to spend my time doing and I hope I keep having opportunities to write, record and play songs I love with my buddies. There are so many fun projects and cool people swirling around and it really lights me up to contribute and collaborate.
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