You know who it is! In this episode of Face to Fame, we're hanging out with your favourite Filipina girlie, Denise Julia!
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00:00I love the fact that, you know, I could be writing about a totally different, like, experience.
00:05This song could be about, um, like, moving on, but then other people would take it as,
00:10like, like a relapse moment. Like, I want to go back. So it's like, you know.
00:21Hi, everybody. So today, in Face the Fame, I have another guest with me today, and she is...
00:28Hi, everyone. I'm Denise Julia. Oh my god. I am so excited to have you here on Shock.
00:36We want to start by, you know, introducing yourself to our viewers, and also share
00:43one fun fact about you that you feel like your fans might not already know.
00:50Hi, everyone. I'm Denise Julia, and I am a Filipina singer, songwriter, producer,
00:56everything in one. Um, fun fact? Probably that. Okay, okay. Yeah.
01:04So we want to talk about your album, Sweet Nothing Chapter 2, right?
01:09Um, if you had to describe Sweet Nothing using just three emojis, how, which ones would they be?
01:16First one would be the, you know, the emoji with the, and then there's, like, three hearts.
01:22Okay, okay, okay, okay. That's cute. That one, because I feel like it talks about a lot about
01:28being in love. Like, the theme is love, so I feel like emoji is very, you know, like,
01:35ah, I'm in love, and all that. And then the second one would probably be this smiling emoji,
01:42but, like, there's tears. Oh, okay. I love that one. I was like, yeah. Not a smiling, but there's,
01:49like, a tear here. Because I feel like that represents the emotion of, like,
01:56yeah, I put myself through all of that, but it's fine. We're good.
02:02And then one would probably be a candy, like a candy. The lollipop emoji,
02:11because it's sweet nothings. Like, it represents the sweet. Ah, okay. I get it. I get it. I see.
02:18So, sweet nothing. Chapter two is, like, a cute, exciting follow-up to, you know,
02:24chapter one. What's the story you wanted to tell in this one? So, chapter two is more about
02:36kind of just sharing more really transparent experiences. I feel like I'm just a bit more
02:43honest in here in this chapter, because the previous chapter was just, you know, it's a
02:49little bit of, like, a taste of what I went through. It's, like, a little easing into the
02:54story. This one, it's a lot more of culture in terms of, like, creative direction, all of that
03:01fashion, aesthetic. But also, it's more like a diary for me. So, yeah. I listened to it recently,
03:11so it features, you know, collaboration, sweet nothings with JR, and then Twin Flames with Twee.
03:19How, you know, this collaboration came about, and what was it like working with them?
03:27So, I collaborated with three artists on this EP. First one is actually, her name's Denny.
03:35She's a Filipino R&B singer here in my country, and that track that we did, we made it for, like,
03:43three years. It was three years ago when we started that track, and I was a big,
03:47big, big fan of her. I mean, until now, I am. So, having her on that track, it's, like,
03:54two, like, the twos, like, it's like SZA and Summer Walker. It was that kind of moment for us.
04:02I mean, we're not, like, you know, on that level, but, like, it kind of felt like that for us. It
04:06was, like, a really big, like, collaboration moment for the two of us. And then, second one
04:14that came in was Twee with Twin Flames, and I have been a long-time fan of Twee ever since 2018,
04:23when she wasn't Twee yet. So, she had reached out to me, which is crazy, because she reached out to
04:31me, like, I'm the fan. She reached out to me, wanted to collaborate on a track, and then I made Twin
04:40Flames, and then I just thought that, you know, a girl feature would be perfect on this, and then
04:45send it to her, and then, like, the next day or two, she sent me a whole verse back. Oh. It was that fast.
04:52Oh, wow. Yeah, hands down. I also flew her in here, my country, for our music video, actually.
05:00So, she spent, like, a day or two here in the Philippines. Oh, that must be so much fun. Yeah, I had
05:06so much fun with her. She's the best. And then, the third one is JR. He's the king of R&B here
05:13in my country. He's, like, a legend. So, I grew up listening to him. I was, like, 10, 7 years old,
05:22like, that age when he was, like, popping off. So, like, right now, see, like, hearing the two of our
05:30voices in one track, it's, like, two different generations of, like, music, and it's, like, an R&B
05:38explosion. So, yeah. Okay, so, you mentioned that in this chapter, you were more reckless and
05:47more free in your writing. So, how has, you know, your journey of self-discovery and coming out
05:53shaped your creative process? I think when it comes to the creative process, I don't really
06:02care much about the consequences anymore, like, if that makes sense. Like, some of these songs, like,
06:10the people that I wrote them about, I feel like they know that it's about them. So, it's, like,
06:15it's that, you know, it's that straightforward, and it's, I just want to express what I feel. I
06:20want to express it through music, and, like, yeah, at the end of the day, you know, when, like, emotion
06:27and, like, the art comes together, it's, like, such a masterpiece. I feel like songs are at, like,
06:32their best when it's very raw, like, straight out of emotion. So, yeah. So, usually, people,
06:40a lot of artists that I've interviewed have said that when they write a song, it's their song,
06:47it's theirs. So, once it's out to the world, it's no longer theirs, right? It's now however people
06:55want to interpret it, and how do you feel now that some people, like, feel like, oh, I own this
07:02because, you know, I can relate, but it's all in different, according to their lives. So, how do you
07:09feel? I love it. I love the fact that, you know, I could be writing about a totally different,
07:16like, experience. It could be, like, this song could be about, like, moving on, but then other
07:23people would take it as, like, like a relapse moment, like, I want to go back. So, it's, like,
07:29you know, it's interesting to hear their stories and, like, how they take it. I think me as an
07:34artist, my, I feel like my difference, I would say, like, what sets me apart from others is that
07:41I really take my fans through, like, my whole creative process, like, from the songwriting,
07:46like, the sometimes I would freestyle over beats, I would share it to them. So, right from that
07:52moment, like, when I'm sharing the lyrics, sharing the story, it's already open to, like, their own
07:57interpretation, and they already have their own emotions that's, like, attached to it. So, it's
08:03crazy, you know, when it blows up, it's like, oh, it could be this for you, and it could be this for
08:08you, but it's, you know, different for me. Okay, so, you mentioned your fans. So, let's talk about your
08:13fans a little. So, if your fans could pick a song to describe you, right, not one of your own, which
08:20one do you think they'd choose? Oh, gosh. One song? Yeah. I feel like it would be Aaliyah's
08:33At Your Best, You Are Love. Okay. Ever since I was in my cover era, I had a whole, like, covering
08:42songs era. That's, like, the song that I would always sing. I think I have, like, five covers of,
08:49five different covers of that song on, like, every stage of life I'm in. Oh, wow. That's cute.
08:56Okay, so, what's one thing you think your fans don't know about the making of this album?
09:01Some of them might know it, but I'm involved in every single step. So, production,
09:09vocal layering, writing, everything's, like, busy with this one. I'm involved in every single
09:17stage, every single song. It's like my baby. With your music now skyrocketing in popularity,
09:24fans, you know, must be excited to see you perform live. What's your favorite part about
09:30connecting with them on stage? Oh, if I'm gonna be very specific, I have this song called Butterflies
09:39that's my favorite song that I perform, like, so far. It's, like, my favorite because it's one of
09:47my slower, like, R&B songs where I can just, you know, sit down, pick a fan, like, pick a really
09:56cute fan, and then just sing to them. So, like, that's my favorite part. It's, like, I'm serenading
10:02the crowd and, like, you know, like, there's this Filipino term called kilig. Okay. Butterflies in
10:08the stomach, like, they call it. So, they get kilig. I get it, I get it. Okay. So, whenever you
10:17meet your fan, is there any, you know, fan stories or experiences that inspire you in writing your
10:23songs? Even, like, if I'm not meeting them in person, like, every day, I would wake up to
10:31hundreds of messages of them ranting. Like, I feel like I'm their therapist sometimes. Like,
10:37they would, like, not even a hi, not a hello, they would go. Like, girl, I have a story to tell you.
10:44Be like, mother, this guy cheated on me. And then, be like, what do I do?
10:51That's funny. That's cute. Okay. So, when, you know, touring and also writing, producing, and all that,
10:57how do you, you know, balance your busy schedule, you know, and staying creative? Because it must be
11:03a challenge, right? How do I take care of myself? Do I even take care of myself? You should. You
11:09must, in some way. Maybe, I'm just hibernating for, like, 14 hours. Like, you know what I'm saying?
11:18I sleep, like, crazy. So, yeah. That's the best way, I feel like. Yeah. Okay, let's go to, like, some fun
11:28question now. So, we want to know, if you could trade lives with another artist for one day,
11:35who would it be and why? Wait. You can only pick one. Either Mariah Carey or Beyoncé. I cannot
11:47pick between the two. That's an interesting choice. Why? Mariah, just because I want to know how she
11:55does it, like. Yeah. Probably wake up, do a whistle note, and then I'll be like, oh, that's how she does it, you know?
12:03I sound like that? And then, Beyoncé, wake up, probably go on a treadmill and sing the way she
12:11does. Like, how does she do it? How does she keep her stamina in while, like, performing?
12:16Waking up as Beyoncé is crazy. I would probably never want to go back. I don't want to go back.
12:23So, you've achieved so much as, you know, as a Filipino artist. What advice would you want to
12:29give to young aspiring musicians who want to follow in your footsteps? Just don't hold back,
12:38you know? Whatever they say, like, do it. Go, like, do you. Do what you want to do, and honestly, like,
12:46people are gonna know, like, what true talent is at the end of the day. Like, they're gonna see you
12:52for your efforts and everything. So, no matter what life throws in your way, you know your dream,
12:57you know what you came to be and who you came to be. You should go for it. It's sad that you have to go,
13:03but is there a message for your Malaysian fans watching this interview right now? And, you know,
13:10any special words for them before we wrap up? And, you know, are you coming to see them anytime
13:17soon here in KL, in Malaysia? I don't know, just tease a little. Hello everyone. Hello to my Malaysian
13:25fans. This is Denise. I love you guys so, so much. I really hope I can have a show there pretty soon,
13:32hopefully. But if not, for the meantime, don't forget to stream my music everywhere.