Juliana Riccardi Talks About Songwriting, Bonnie Raitt, And New Single ‘Right On Time’

She’s back and better than ever!

Singer-Songwriter Juliana Riccardi is known for creating music that deserves to be replayed. On the heels of her ‘Full Cup’ album, today she released a new single ‘Right On Time’.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Juliana about performing live, her connection to music, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

J: “I don’t think I ever had a single moment where I said, ‘this is what I am pursuing.’ It happened organically because I couldn’t be happy or natural without music. I connected singing and my imagination as far back as I can remember, so I always was singing to someone or a crowd in my mind. I started sharing my voice more publicly in high school – getting involved with lessons, auditions at school, and connecting with peers to record. From there, I was committed to learning as much as I could about singing and growing into myself as a songwriter and singer. As an adult, hitting real world hurdles in my 20s, I definitely began looking deeper at strategies and approaches that would be effective in my journey and progress as a musician, which led me to go back to school and study, lead hundreds of gigs, and began songwriting in a more honest way once I left home and came out West.”

Tell us more about your new single ‘Right On Time.’

J: “Right On Time” celebrates the actual steps of our journey. I was feeling my own anxieties around age, time and life passing. And one day on my balcony, thinking back, I really found gratitude around my own unique path. I stepped into it and embraced it, instead of picking at what it might be lacking. The song celebrates the twists and turns of living and reminds us to trust the process and to trust our power to change and move forward. We recorded this song and another upcoming single on the same day in Nashville this past September and it was a magical experience.”

What is your songwriting process usually like?

J: “Usually, a lyric and melody come to me simultaneously while driving, walking, showering, or
strumming my guitar. It’s like a voice that gets a clearing to speak, and it certainly is a culmination of feelings and experiences in and around me at the time. Then, I get out the recorder and let things come out without force and capture the idea. Once the message is there, I will go back a few times and flesh out the arrangements and complete the song’s story. Everything is acoustic and I do not think much about production at all, just the melody and lyrics. Once it’s done, it goes to the band, and we start playing it live.”

If you could collab with any music artist on a new single, who would it be and why?

J: “Bonnie Raitt! She’s my queen. I admire her spirit, her voice, her stamina. She’s effortless and honest. Her voice has always moved me in my soul. Also, Susan Tedeschi is another amazing woman I’d love to work with. I respect her musicianship and her songs are beautiful. She speaks to me. I also think me and Amos Lee would do something pretty damn cool. There is something similar to how we blend styles together with folks, soul, Americana. He’s great.”

You do a lot of in-person performances. What is your favorite part of performing live?

J: “Gosh, live is everything! It’s an energy exchange with the band and audience. It’s spontaneous. We’re truly connecting via vibrations and it’s a high for sure. It keeps me alive, on my toes, and vulnerable. It’s a place to share my heart in a way conversation doesn’t lend. We can embellish our expression sonically on stage, in the spotlight, with those who want to listen and that is healing.”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

J: “I’m sharing so much on my socials with you, from the songwriting to the studio session, and a music video is coming soon that ties it all together. You can find me @JulianaRiccardiSongs on IG and TikTok. You can find my live shows on Youtube.com/julianariccardi. And please dig into my songs wherever you stream (Spotify, Apple, Amazon).”

Stream ‘Right On Time’ available on all music platforms!

Photographer Credit: Anna Azarov

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.