Known these days for her antics with experimental ensemble Sexbruise?, musician Julie Slonecki has a solo discography dating back to 2012. She just released “Something to Love,” a quarantine-era introspection that has resonated with her recently as she grapples with the possibility of another music industry shut down due to the COVID spike.
“Whether or not we are still going to have gigs, and the uncertainty that goes along with that — I found myself being a little down about the prospects of all that again,” Slonecki said. “The new tune is me coming to a reckoning with being OK with feeling down and longing for something positive to grasp onto. More than anything it was kind of a frustration that influenced the sound and the vibe of it — it’s a protest song.”
The lyrics delve into what “should” be despite the fact that “the world is in a fist fight” — should we be happy or should we let it burn? The song encapsulates the back and forth society can’t seem to stop. Slonecki’s vocals, bass and guitar are accompanied by her Sexbruise? bandmates, John Pope on the drums and a shredding guitar solo by Will Evans.
“I’m protesting the general state of the world,” she said. “The news and media, the negativity, is amplified all the time around me. It’s so easy to get dragged down by that.”
Slonecki’s solo work springs from an internal review of what’s going on in her head. It’s more personal and more meaningful than the humorous improvisation behind Sexbruise? songwriting.
“It’s a strange time to be a songwriter. I think everyone is feeling down, and it’s hard to tell if people want to hear songs about that. Sexbruise? doesn’t have anything to do with our personal lives, especially in this timeline that we’re living in. It’s easy to forget to be jovial with all the stuff that’s going on. Trying not to take it as seriously— that’s what we give to audiences.”
For her, staying creative isn’t quite as poetic as it seems. She likes having projects with deadlines, and setting aside time consistently. “If you just wait for the lightning bolt of inspiration, I feel like you will be waiting a long time. Allot yourself a specific time to sit with an instrument or sit with whatever recording program you like and try to write something.”
As far as what’s on the horizon for Slonecki, besides another Sexbruise? single Sept. 15, the band also just started a cult.
“The sky’s the limit. That’s been my whole career — genre-fluid and all over the place.”
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