#06 Julian Lage Podcast Interview

What is a mistake? Do mistakes even exist? I pondered this before speaking with jazz guitarist Julian Lage for the podcast series Sixty Scales and the Truth. Two days before the conversation, a remarkable moment occurred on stage at the beautiful venue De Roma in Antwerp: together with bandmates Jorge Roeder (double bass) and Dave King (drums), guitarist Lage had already been on a roll for about three-quarters of an hour. Occasionally, Lage would take a mini-pause. He would briefly take his hands off his instrument and seem to sense which note should follow once he touched his Telecaster again. At this particular moment, Lage decided to make a large arm swing that was supposed to result in a loud, sharp, high note. But Lage missed. It doesn't happen to him often. The crackling sound of half-muted strings filled the hall. It didn't faze Lage. On the contrary: Roeder and King laughed, as did Lage himself, who seemed to embrace the miss and casually turn it to his advantage. Typically one of those moments where, precisely through imperfection, perfection is approached in the guitarist's playing. Anyone who has ever seen Lage play knows how special he is. He has an incredible amount of theoretical knowledge but plays completely by feel. "It's about communicating, about the moment," Lage said in our conversation. In this, a missed note can say more than something that is played perfectly. Speaking with Lage was a joy. The American spoke openly about how he overcame obstacles and thus allowed his true voice to emerge. Julian discusses the significance of authenticity in his guitar playing, highlighting his unique voice and the balance between being reserved offstage and taking risks onstage. He emphasizes the holistic nature of music and the importance of expressing one's true self. Julian shares insights on communication through music, the role of vulnerability, and the nuances of stage performance. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to "Sixty Scales and the Truth" 00:27 Welcoming Julian Lage and his latest album Speak to Me 01:05 Reflecting on a quote from Rhett about Julian’s playing 02:08 Finding and revealing your musical voice 03:47 The balance between humility and taking risks in music 05:16 The relational aspect of music and communication 06:35 Integrating into musical spaces and being present 07:34 Presence in jazz and improvisation 08:47 Julian’s unique approach to guitar lessons and tone 09:48 Connecting physically with the guitar’s resonance 11:05 Playing with risk and embracing mistakes 12:16 The joy of missing a note and the beauty of live performance 13:35 Confidence, trust, and letting go in performance 15:03 Learning from mentors: Gary Burton’s advice 16:42 The importance of having something to say through music 17:13 Influential mentors: Jim Hall and others 18:53 Teaching as a way of learning and growing together 20:04 The power of learning from peers 21:03 Growing up with a musical family and early guitar lessons 22:12 The value of boredom and creative focus 23:08 Reflecting on the absence of social media during his early years 24:20 Managing a healthy relationship with social media 25:00 Key figures in Julian’s growth as a musician 26:39 Learning from his wife Margaret and her influence on storytelling 28:14 The privilege of collaborating with a partner in music 29:18 Margaret as a producer and the role of trust 30:25 The importance of honesty and trust in creative partnerships 30:41 Nili Brosh’s question: How Julian finds the courage to be himself 32:27 Finding his musical path and following his cravings 33:53 The process of refining his sound and creative choices 35:05 Questioning assumptions and challenging himself 36:47 Confidence versus openness: The value of staying curious 37:56 The importance of being present in performance spaces 39:41 Using pauses to reflect and listen while playing 41:12 Balancing playing and stillness during live performances 42:14 Julian’s advice for guitarists: “Sometimes, don’t touch the guitar” 42:19 Wrapping up the interview with Julian Lage @JulianLageofficial