Julie Amici & Dean Mueller make Americana in the old-school sense. Their new LP, I Loved You So, is a thick, low-simmering stew of country, folk and blues peppered with subtle hints of jazz and gospel. In the last few years, this melting-pot of traditional American sounds has taken them from their hometown of Portland, Ore., all the way to Memphis, Tenn., where they’ve been recognized by the Cascade Blues Association not only as recording artists and performers, but also for their nonprofit work—bringing the gift of music to disadvantaged children, people with autism and the elderly through the Mudd Nick Foundation, United By Music and their own organization, Fly Me to the Moon, operated in partnership with the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.
For their new album, I Loved You So, Julie & Dean once again partnered with producer Alan Jones (Esperanza Spalding, Kelly Joe Phelps), who was also at the helm for their 2017 debut EP, Yellow Roses. For the sessions, Jones was on drums and percussion, and Amici handled the bulk of the lead vocals, with Mueller also singing a few songs and playing rhythm guitar, as well as electric and upright bass.
Vents recently caught up with Julie & Dean to discuss the new album, recent single “Frame It on the Wall,” their songwriting influences, the Portland, Ore., music scene, and the pandemic’s effect on touring. READ MORE…