Jules shows expertise as musician, UCLA student

By Ruvin Spivak
Daily Bruin Contributor

There’s this scruffy guy sitting in the front row of your
class, asking eloquent questions of your professors. His name is
Gary Jules and he is a musician you should know about.

Music drove Jules to UCLA back in 1987.

“When you’re a musician and you grew up in San
Diego, you move to L.A.,” he says, starting to laugh.
“I came to UCLA in 1987 and flunked out after three quarters.
I was on double secret probation.”

By 1988, Jules had moved out of Westwood and into Venice Beach
to concentrate on his music. Eventually, Los Angeles’ lurking
materialism drove him to San Francisco but he returned in 1998
because he finally struck a record deal.

A & M Records sought out Jules, signed him to a deal and
paid for his debut album. By that time, A & M was home to stars
like Sting, Blues Traveler and Sheryl Crow. It seemed like Jules
would soon join their ranks, but he got lost in piles of contracts
and mergers when the label was sold.

“I thought the end of the road was getting a record deal,
coming in, and becoming a star,” Jules said. “I
didn’t realize how that was just the beginning. I
didn’t know you had to go into the record companies and use
guerrilla tactics to get any kind of attention.”

Jules’ major label experience was not a successful one.
His debut, “Greetings From the Side,” got great reviews
but the record label had no promotions to back up the album.

“It’s all about the buzz you create,” said
Jules. “And A & M couldn’t create any buzz for me.
On top of that, I was only getting 98 cents for every album sold. I
had to sell 200,000 records before I even made a cent. Can you
believe that?”

Today though, Jules laughs at his first shot at the big time.
Jules is still making his own music but as an independent artist.
He knows that the money is at the major labels, but a major
contract is only meaningful when an artist has a following.

So Jules is winning over fans independently. Thus far he’s
had incredible success. From recording on the “Donnie
Darko” motion picture soundtrack to performing with slam
poet, Saul Williams, Jules is doing things right this time.

Since Jules knows he has to attack the business with
“guerrilla tactics” he’s preparing for the
future. Really though, he’s no different from most
Bruins.

Jules graduates this quarter with a B.A. in English Literature,
but unlike most graduates, Jules knows exactly what he’s
doing next.

Starting January, Gary Jules goes on tour to promote his new
album, “Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets.”

The new album is an extension of his love-hate relationship with
Los Angeles, in which the city is often portrayed as a jaded lover
or homeless beggar. He finds his style where Michael Stipe would
meet Simon and Garfunkel on Route 66.

The upcoming tour looks to be successful. Jules has formed a
band that’s very harmonic.

“The only thing were missing is a killer bass
player,” he said.

Jules’ goal is to move crowds and win over new fans.

Already, Jules has teamed up with slam poets and Brit rockers.
In Santa Barbara, he’ll be given a lift from contemporary
blues sensation Jack Johnson.

In many ways, Jules is more prepared for the future than
most.

He’s had the benefit of both formal and experiential
education. He proves that there are many paths and, for Jules,
every experience has brought him closer to the goal. That includes
a B.A. that took over a decade to complete.

“For me, coming back to school has made me fascinated by
everything. The professors I’ve had and the experience
I’ve had is a luxury above all luxuries.”

Jules leaves UCLA as a talent to watch for. He’s taken the
road less traveled and it’s working. The message he leaves
for every Bruin is to pay attention.

“We all have to realize that every aspect of life is about
what you bring to the table,” Jules said. “The central
issue in any field is “˜the human condition.’ Everything
you do is art.”

Gary Jules will be performing at Kerckhoff Coffee House at 7 and
8:30 tonight, Largo (432 N. Fairfax) on Tuesday Nov. 27 at 8:30,
and the Temple Bar on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. For future tour dates and
local shows, go to www.garyjules.com.