Videos by American Songwriter
“Mercy”
Written By Julie Odnoralov (julie on the internet), Ruslan Odnoralov, Jeremy Claudio
Interview by American Songwriter
julie on the internet is the American Songwriter Lights, Camera, Talent Live Performance Promotion winner with her song “Mercy.” American Songwriter caught up with her to get the story behind the song.
How long have you been songwriting and performing?
I’ve been writing songs and performing since elementary school, although it took me until about last year to finally release my own music! I’ve written a lot with/for other artists since moving to Nashville a little over a decade ago. I’ve done a lot of performing as well, mostly in the context of playing guitar and bass as a hired gun for other artists. It’s very likely that I’ll be performing more of my own music in the near future, so keep an eye out!
Why did you enter American Songwriter’s Lights, Camera, Talent Promotion?
I’m an independent artist and opportunities like these are extremely valuable. There’s so much music being released every day and it’s only increasing. I believe in the music I’m making and put in so much time and effort in crafting it, so I want to do my due diligence in making sure it gets heard. My co-writers Ruslan Odnoralov and Jeremy Claudio also deserve their flowers for this song, so I’m excited to share these kind of opportunities with them, too. Ruslan was also co-producer on “Mercy”. American Songwriter is a respected and notable media outlet in the music industry, so it was a no-brainer for me to at least give it a shot.
What was the inspiration behind your song, “Mercy”?
Simply put, this song was inspired by the goodness of God. It came from a place of immense gratitude and joy. Ruslan and I started writing this song a couple of years ago in this really cool Airbnb overlooking the Hollywood Hills. The views definitely helped inspire the good vibes in the music, but you don’t have to have the best views to experience mercy. Like the chorus says, His mercy is enough for me.
Who are your all-time favorite songwriters and why?
There are way too many great songwriters to name, so let me shout out just a few. I’ll start with co-writers on this song, Ruslan and Jeremy. Jon Bellion is a favorite because he has a way of saying things in a clever and emotionally stimulating way while never sacrificing the pocket and the swag of the music. Kacey Musgraves knows how to pair a perfectly simple lyric and melody in a way that no one else can. Catie Turner can take an incredibly complex concept or feeling and somehow make it digestable to the masses. Elina Tafoya is an incredible pop writer who could easily write Dua Lipa’s next number 1 hit if she got the chance.
Are you planning to release any new music this year?
Yes! “Mercy” is actually releasing this month. I’ve got more lined up for the near future as well. Stay tuned!
What would you tell other artists who are considering entering the contest?
Do it! If you believe in your music, the entry fee is a worthy investment. Best case, you’ll win the contest. Worst case, your song will still be heard by a panel of respected songwriters who may not have heard your music otherwise. Plus, you might just get entered into bonus promotional contests without realizing it, which is what happened to me 🙂
Check out the winning live performance video below:
ENTER THE ROAD READY Talent CONTEST
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