On the show with me today, Drummer Jules Stewart!

What's up, everybody! Welcome in to Episode #19 of The Up and Coming Drummer Podcast! This week we are trying something new. For the first time ever on the show, I have enlisted the help of a Co-Host! Joining Jules Stewart and I will be a former guest. Ladies and Gentleman Mr. Buck August!

When doing my prep for the interview with Jules, I realized not only did Buck and Jules both live in California, but they had also developed a really special friendship through Instagram. It just goes to show how awesome and supportive the drum community really is! I figured why not ask Buck if he would like to join in on the conversation and help me ask Jules some questions!

Going through Jules Instagram page led me to become extremely inspired. There is just something about her content, and desire to share her drumming with the world. I felt a quick connection and couldn't wait to get to know her. We start off the show discussing her childhood growing up in Seattle. Jules went through various moves throughout her life before ending up in California. Somewhere along the way, she discovered the drums, and I wanted to hear all about it! It's a little tricky trying to do a timeline of the show being that it was very much just a few drummers chatting about drums. But I will try my best to guide you through it.

After getting to know a little about Jules, we learn about the two bands that Jules currently plays with around town. The original band "Sweet Deal" and party cover band "Soundwave". We talk a bit about the music scene in the area and how to balance a full-time job and two bands. We also find out about her feature in the  "New Blood" column in an issue of Drum Magazine. I can remember seeing this feature months ago, way before I ever knew of Jules. And long before I even had a thought about creating a podcast!

Jules is only the second female guest to be on the show. With the surge of female drummers coming to the forefront of drumming, I thought it would be a great opportunity to explore this topic. We know that female drummers have been there all along, but Jules, Buck, and I discuss why female drummers are just beginning to receive recognition. With the help of drummers like Anika Niles, the doors have literally been blown open for female drummers. And we all couldn't be happier!

Our next hot topic is on education. Jules has been kicking around the idea of getting into teaching. She has been testing the waters and we all chime in on what it's like to be on the delivering end of this information. Jules studies with well-known drummer Dave Elitch. You may know him from his time with The Mars Volta, among many other amazing bands. Dave is an incredible teacher and highly in demand. I was very curious to hear what a session with Dave is like. Jules shares some of the best tips she's learned from him and lets us in on some of their inside jokes!

After a roundtable chat about gear and the companies that make the gear, we finish up the interview talking about social media. Jules recently posted a video that hit home with a lot of content creators.  It's the feeling of inadequacy in filming ourselves playing. It's can be daunting trying to create content for social media. We do it because we want to promote ourselves but in the process, we become obsessed with perfection. Is it possible to ever truly be comfortable with the camera? It's a tough call which yielded an incredible discussion between us all. Jules takes us on a journey through social media thus far. While it still may be trial and error, there is one thing that has become more important than the content. That is the friendships made!

We leave the interview with one final question which asks Jules where she hopes to be in one year from today. We will be keeping an eye out and cheering her on the whole way.