“Music is a universal religion. It has the power to inspire change and unite people. We need to build stronger connections with one another and overcome the hatred that exists between nations. I know that may sound utopian, but I truly believe - and hope - that it's possible.“

Julijan Erič: Blues Rock Experiences

Julijan Erič is one of the most prominent and charismatic representatives of the contemporary Rock and Blues scene in Slovenia, often dubbed the "Slovenian Jimi Hendrix" due to his explosive stage presence and exceptional improvisation skills. Born and raised in Ljubljana, he is an active guitarist, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and guitar teacher. He gained widespread recognition as a founding member, frontman, and guitarist of the successful Slovenian band Prismojeni Profesorji Bluesa (Wacky Blues Professors), formed in 2009. Together, they managed to revive public interest in authentic Blues-Rock, blending it with elements of funk, psychedelia, jazz, and experimental rock through successful albums and countless live performances at major festivals. His musical identity combines the raw energy of classic Blues with the psychedelic sounds of the '60s and '70s, and he frequently honors his influences by organizing the Jimi Hendrix Tribute Show under the name Julijan Erič Experience.

(Julijan Erič / Photo by Strikula)

At the same time, he curates the "Excite!" music program at the well-known alternative venue Prulčekin Ljubljana, strengthening the local jam session culture. In recent years, he has been pursuing a highly dynamic solo career with the project Julijan Eric & Midnight Lightnin', having released his solo album Freshly Squeezed as well as recent singles such as Joy Levitation and Lowdown Ways. Additionally, he maintains a very active educational presence on the Patreon platform, where he delivers specialized guitar lessons, track breakdowns, and gear tips for musicians worldwide. This summer, the phenomenal Slovenian guitarist and singer Julijan Erič is reuniting with his legendary band, the Wacky Blues Professors (Prismojeni Profesorji Bluesa), to shake the stage at the prestigious Thrill Blues Festival (July 24-25) in Trilj, Croatia.

Interview by Michael Limnios                         Special Thanks: Boris Hrepić Hrepa

How has Hendrix, the Rock music influenced your views of the world? What keeps a musician passionate over the years?

Music has always been a refuge from the hardships of everyday life for me. Even in elementary school, before I started playing guitar, metal and punk music helped me get through frustration and gave me a stronger will to live. Rock music - and Hendrix in particular - still gives me that same feeling today. They embody a powerful affirmation of life and an energy that gives meaning to our existence on this planet.

You don't have to play an instrument to feel that energy. I would say that I still have a childlike enthusiasm for music. Whenever I hear a great groove, or an idea for a song suddenly comes into my head, I immediately pick up my guitar and try to create what I'm hearing in my mind.

Why do you think that the Blues Rock music continues to generate such a devoted following in Slovenia?

Slovenia is such a small country, yet it has an incredibly rich cultural and musical scene. We have outstanding folk, jazz, and classical musicians. I wouldn't say, however, that we have much of a blues-rock scene. True rock 'n' roll has been absent here for a long time. You could probably count the blues-rock bands on one hand.

But people do enjoy this kind of music. I'd even go so far as to say that since 2008, when we started playing with Prismojeni Profesorji Bluesa (Wacky Blues Professors), we've helped spark renewed interest in blues-rock in Ljubljana and across Slovenia.

“Music has always been a refuge from the hardships of everyday life for me. Even in elementary school, before I started playing guitar, metal and punk music helped me get through frustration and gave me a stronger will to live. Rock music - and Hendrix in particular - still gives me that same feeling today. They embody a powerful affirmation of life and an energy that gives meaning to our existence on this planet.” (Prismojeni Profesorji Bluesa - Wacky Blues Professors / Photo by Yanni Adame)

What's the balance in Hendrix’s music between technique and soul? What touched you from his music?

With Hendrix, the soul dictates the technique - not the other way around.

What fascinated me about his music back in high school was its honesty, rawness, boldness, and vulnerability - all at once. As both a songwriter and performer, he inspired me through the diversity of his compositions and his constantly evolving sound. Every song and every live performance was a little different, yet you always knew it was Jimi.

I love how he was always willing to play, explore, and improvise. And when you dig deeper into his playing, you can hear everything - from Mississippi blues and Chicago blues all the way to the cosmic elements that he created himself. But above all, feeling always comes first in his music. Technique most likely developed later, through years of playing, as a companion to his constant pursuit of expressing emotion and individuality.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

If I may make a comparison, it seems to me that rock and blues used to contain more vulnerability and a stronger appreciation for the beauty of imperfection.

Today, many - if not most - bands sound too generic for my taste. Everything feels too "correct," too polished, too muscular. Nobody makes mistakes anymore. It feels as though technique has taken precedence over feeling, even though the lyrics and overall expression still belong to the traditions of blues and rock. These days the music often feels too confined by its own genre and too predictable. You hear the beginning of a song and already know exactly where it's going. The old blues musicians were far less predictable and much more vulnerable. Their guitars and voices truly cut straight to your soul.

Nowadays, excessive production tends to remove that sense of vulnerability and imperfection, leaving us with something that's pleasant to listen to and technically flawless - but not necessarily something that moves us emotionally.

What I do find interesting is that much of the experimentation has shifted into pop music, and I think that's great. Music in the 1960s and 1970s was bold, adventurous, experimental, and full of improvisation. That's what I miss most in today's rock music. I'm not worried about the future, though. I believe people will always make music and express themselves. I just hope rock 'n' roll - and its rebellious spirit - will continue to live on rather than fade away.

“Slovenia is such a small country, yet it has an incredibly rich cultural and musical scene. We have outstanding folk, jazz, and classical musicians. I wouldn't say, however, that we have much of a blues-rock scene. True rock 'n' roll has been absent here for a long time. You could probably count the blues-rock bands on one hand.“ (Photo: Julijan Erič, Slovenian Blues Rock guitarist)

What moment changed your music life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

It's hard to say for certain, but it was probably the very first concert my friends, classmates, and I played together while we were in high school. Maybe that concert was the moment I realized I had the confidence to stand on stage and perform in front of an audience.

It's like your first kiss - once you've broken the ice, you want more. I still remember the happiness I felt after we finished that show. It was unforgettable. Even though we got drunk during the concert and, objectively speaking, probably didn't play very well!  It's difficult to say which achievements have been the most important. Personally, every time we record new music feels like an achievement.

This year we released two albums that I'm extremely proud of. One is the debut album by Dear Annie, Freshly Squeezed, and the other is the fourth studio album by Wacky Blues Professors, Walk This Road Alone. The first is a blend of dream pop, indie rock, funk, and rock. The second is a more traditional rock, blues, and soul record with a distinctly old-school sound.

This has also been an important year because I released four solo singles, all entirely self-produced. In many cases I played every instrument myself - from drums, bass, vocals, and guitars to all the additional parts. The latest single, Joy Levitation, released on June 20, means a great deal to me. For the first time, I feel I succeeded in creating a musical and sonic expression that encompasses a broad spectrum of everything I want to communicate through music. That's difficult to achieve within a single song, but this time I think I managed it.

If I were to measure achievements more objectively, there are two other stories worth mentioning. The first is my connection with Billy Cox. Billy watched a few of my YouTube videos and enjoyed them so much that he contacted me because he wanted us to play together. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic prevented those plans from becoming reality, but we've stayed in touch ever since. He's not performing at the moment, but I hope we'll eventually get the chance to meet in person. I even recorded my own guitar parts for several of his songs.

The second story is my friendship with Dave Weyer. As a young man, Dave worked for the West Coast Organ & Amp Company, the company that serviced the equipment of many musicians performing on the American West Coast. In 1969, he happened to be part of the team that repaired and modified Hendrix's amplifiers. Those modifications became the famous amp, fuzz, and wah pedal setups heard during Woodstock and the Band of Gypsys era - giving Hendrix a distinctly different sound from what he had in 1967 and 1968.

A friend from France introduced me to Dave, and for several years now we've been communicating through a small circle of people. During that time Dave sent me a special fuzz pedal, a wah pedal, and most remarkably, an authentic West Coast amplifier built with the very same modifications they originally made for Jimi's amplifiers. My friendships with Billy and Dave are among the greatest honors and joys of my musical journey.

“I believe younger generations can absolutely relate to blues music because it speaks about universal human struggles. The bigger problem is that this music rarely gets played on the radio, so many people simply never get exposed to it. Yet whenever a rock or blues song comes on at a party, people usually start enjoying it almost immediately.” (Julijan Erič / Photo by Miro Majcen)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Music has taught me that it brings people together and gives all of us hope and a love for life. Hope and love are what keep us standing and help us make our way through life.

It has also taught me that if you're kind and genuine toward people, you'll be welcomed wherever you go. Whenever people ask me whether it's different playing for audiences at home compared to abroad, I always say no. If people truly feel the music, they'll always be with you and support you.

Music has also taught me that people need to cooperate and help one another. Through years of traveling, I've seen many fascinating places and met wonderful people because of music. In the end, you realize we're all remarkably similar. We share the same worries, the same struggles, the same joys, and the same capacity for love. That's why music is a universal language - it should unite and connect people.

How did the blues shape Hendrix’s music? How easy or difficult is it for the younger generation to relate to the Rock Blues?

Hendrix's music is deeply rooted in the influence of earlier blues musicians and R&B. In songs like Red House and his other blues pieces, you can clearly hear the influence of B.B. King and Buddy Guy. Hendrix's music is essentially electrified psychedelic blues. Voodoo Child is, in many ways, a self-referential cosmic blues song. What Hoochie Coochie Man or Mannish Boy was to Muddy Waters, Voodoo Child became for Hendrix. His lyrics also frequently deal with classic blues themes and experiences.

I believe younger generations can absolutely relate to blues music because it speaks about universal human struggles. The bigger problem is that this music rarely gets played on the radio, so many people simply never get exposed to it. Yet whenever a rock or blues song comes on at a party, people usually start enjoying it almost immediately.

That said, I've noticed that this music tends to appeal more to older listeners - or at least to younger people who are beginning to appreciate more sophisticated forms of music such as jazz. Once people develop an ear for that kind of music, blues often becomes appealing as well.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

I would make music festivals and concert opportunities much more accessible for younger and lesser-known bands. At least here in Slovenia, it often feels like you can only get certain gigs through personal connections, regardless of how good you actually are. I'd like to see a system where any band has the opportunity to perform anywhere, provided they're good enough. Ideally, I'd also love to see international music events dedicated to peace, friendship, and bringing together people of every nation and race.

Music is a universal religion. It has the power to inspire change and unite people. We need to build stronger connections with one another and overcome the hatred that exists between nations. I know that may sound utopian, but I truly believe - and hope - that it's possible.

(Photo: Slovenian guitarist Julijan Erič;