For Singer/songwriter Julie Mintz, her musical roots can be traced to a small Texas town and a couple of iconic influences from her parents' coveted record collection. “I’m not sure if Mozart and Patsy Cline were the only two albums my parents owned or just the only ones they liked,” she wonders. The odd pairing of classical and country music set the stage for a childhood chock full of piano recitals, choir singing, and eventually a love for picking on the guitar. Though her calling lay in music, innate perfectionism and familial expectations led her down a path of pre-med studies and a degree in neuroscience. So for a while, she shelved her childhood daydreams and pursued the day job. The good news here, however, is that Julie Mintz never stopped listening to her muse.

She gave up the medical gear and rolled the dice. A bit unsure of her next move and barely clinging to her nearly-extinguished creative spark, she headed out west with nothing but her songs as tailwind. “I had no idea how to begin living the life of an artist, but I moved to California and somehow lucked into a decidedly lackluster career as an actress."

While Julie found work as an actress, she struggled to find artistic fulfillment. Nightly bouts of insomnia became the catalyst for a return to the dream of being a songwriter. And then one night, she turned to her guitar and turned on the tape recorder. “I had this little tape machine that I would sing and play guitar into to pass the time. I never really imagined anyone would hear my made-up songs, but somehow I had the forethought to meticulously




  

catalogue every idea that I poured onto those cassette tapes.” She slowly began sharing her songs with friends and performing around town when asked. Each new music gig inevitably led to more requests for her to play live.

Ultimately, it was a feature film role that crystallized Julie’s decision to leave acting behind for good and become a full-time musician. She explains, “I got a call from the writer/director of an indie film that was set to shoot in Marfa, TX. He had seen me play the night before and said I reminded him of a character in Robert Altman’s Nashville. He asked if I might consider auditioning for his film.” Julie wanted to say “no” to another acting gig, but the allure of the high Texas desert and a respite from Los Angeles was too tempting to pass up. After filming wrapped, she pushed on to Austin and played a handful of shows at South by Southwest. As luck would have it, there was serendipity to spare in West Texas.

Intimate performances with a Texas backdrop proved to be the perfect showcase for Julie’s original tunes. Since South by Southwest, Julie has collaborated with musicians and producers in Los Angeles and London. Julie’s first and foremost priority in any studio, or on any stage, is authenticity. Her most recent recordings (Live from Holywell Lane, London) favor a one-take, live recording process that embraces the beauty of imperfection. Generations of American singer/songwriters have captured imaginations with this honest and time-tested approach. Add Julie Mintz to that list.