Julian Apter

Biography

Julian is a guitarist, bassist, and audio engineer raised in Los Angeles and primarily based in New York City. He graduated from the New School in 2021 with degrees in anthropology from Eugene Lang and jazz performance from the School of Jazz & Contemporary Music. He was a dean's list student and his senior thesis was entitled Vodou in Virtual Spaces: Communicative Syncretism and Logics of Expansion. Advised by Janet Roitman, his thesis explored shifting spatio-temporal dimensions of ritual power within Haitian Vodou in Flatbush, Brooklyn. 

In recorded music and live sound Julian has experience at Akwaaba Music Studios, Funkadelic Studios, Music Makers NY; and mentored with engineers Josh Pleeter, Malik Abdul Rahmaan, Curtis MacDonald and Hank Shocklee. He currently offers recording and mixing services out of his studio in Harlem. He works at Morgan Stanley as an audiovisual technician.

His musical approach and sensibilities are informed by Jazz, the Black Atlantic, and the African Diaspora. He has a dedicated track record of research and fieldwork in Africa and the Caribbean, with performance and grant-funded musical research experience in:

Ghana (with Dela Botri, Victor Dey Jr., Odikro Baako Pe), Senegal (Aliou Ndiaye, Diaw Diop), Nigeria (Prince Eji Oyewole, Duro Ikujenyo, Seun Olota), Cape Verde (Zerui Depina), Egypt (Hiba Elgizouli), Cuba (Alberto Villarreal, Radamés Giró) Haiti (Foula), the Dominican Republic (Jose Duluc), and Colombia (Tribu Baharú, Champesoukous Collective).

In May 2024 Julian co-founded the band Orchestre Moto along with lead guitarist Solo De Kanto. They are a Congolese music group based in Harlem.

Some professional bands and projects he has played with include:

Afrobeats/Afropop with his band Shake Bodi supporting NYC based artists like HOOX, Auggy Luv, Osele, and Geechi;

Congolese music with Nkumu Katalay and the Lifelong Project Band, Loboko Music, The Champesoukous Collective, Tribu Baharú, Ngouma Lokito, Huit Kilos, Wawali Bonane, Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, and Samba Mapangala);

Haitian and Afro-Caribbean music with Paul Austerlitz and the Vodou Horn; Chico Boyer, Sanba Zao, Jean Raymond Giglio, Alegba and Friends, and FOULA,

Progressive Rock with Bryant Jackson and The University in Exile. 

Afro-Cuban (Timba) music with Joaquin Pozo and La Clave Suena Jazz;

Zambian Kalindula with Muriel Mwamba;

Hip Hop and R&B with LA based artists like Natia the God, Andrés Orellana, Lux.Wav, JamesThe3rd, alecbe//, King Oliver Trumpet, Jordan Curls; and

Reggae and Spiritual Jazz with Jamaiel Shabaka.

He has performed at many important venues, some of which include The Apollo, The United Nations, Barclays Center, Webster Hall, SOB's, Drom, Nublu, Bronx Music Heritage Center, The Shrine, Amazura, Bar Lunático, the Triad Theatre, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Jazz in the Valley Festival, Afribembe Festival, Uptown Night Market Festival, Museum Mile Festival, and the House of Blues. 

He is well poised to offer services in a diverse range of musical settings. 

Apt Sound LLC is his production company and was founded in August 2024.