Julian Apter

Biography

Julian is a guitarist and audio engineer, raised in Santa Monica and now based in New York City. He graduated from The New School in 2021 with degrees in both Anthropology and Jazz Performance. A dean's list student, his senior thesis, Vodou in Virtual Spaces: Communicative Syncretism and Logics of Expansion, was advised by Janet Roitman and examined evolving spatial and temporal dimensions of ritual power within a Haitian Vodou community in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

In both recorded music and live sound, Julian has worked at Akwaaba Music Studios, Funkadelic Studios, and Music Makers NY, and studied under engineers Josh Pleeter, Malik Abdul Rahmaan, Curtis MacDonald, and Hank Shocklee. He currently offers tracking services from his studio in Harlem and works as a multimedia technician and audio engineer at Morgan Stanley. He holds certifications in Biamp, Dante, and Extron.

In May 2024, Julian co-founded the band Orchestre Moto along with lead guitarist and musical director Solo De Kanto. Orchestre Moto is a Congolese music group based in New York with strong roots in Kinshasa, dedicated to showcasing the Congolese sound. Learn more at www.orchestremoto.com and follow the band on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. 

Julian is also a co-founder of The Kilo Band, lead by the legendary Congolese guitarist Huit Kilos. The Kilo Band brings infectious Congolese music from Kinshasa to Los Angeles. The lineup also features Parigo Asuka (former drummer for Afrisa International) and the iconic Chella Mputu. Follow the band on Instagram.

In early 2023, Julian founded Shake Bodi, a live Afrobeats band that has performed with artists such as Auggy Luv, Osele, and Geechi. Follow them on Instagram.

Julian's musical approach and sensibilities are informed by jazz, the Black Atlantic, and the broader African Diaspora. He brings a strong foundation of research and fieldwork in Africa and the Caribbean, with extensive experience in performance and grant-funded musical study. 

Julian’s work as a performer and researcher has taken him across the African diaspora, with fieldwork and musical collaborations 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 and Mai Elgizouli), Cuba (Alberto Villarreal, Radamés Giró), Haiti (Foula), the Dominican Republic (Jose Duluc), and Colombia (Tribu Baharú, Champesoukous Collective, Louis Towers, Eka Gordom, Chongotronics). 

He has performed with artists and ensembles across a wide range of genres, including: 

• Congolese Music: Nkumu Katalay & the Lifelong Project Band, Loboko Music, Huit Kilos & the Kilo Band, Orchestre Moto, Ngouma Lokito, Titos Sompa, Wawali Bonane, Mis Blandine, Chella Mputu, Samba Mapangala, Jaja Bashengezi, Charmanto Nkole, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, Rumba DB, Hussein Kalonji, Jamarachi Mulumbu 

• Haitian & Afro-Caribbean: Paul Austerlitz & the Vodou Horn, Chico Boyer, Sanba Zao, Jean Raymond Giglio, Alegba and Friends, FOULA 

• Afro-Cuban / Timba / Jazz: Joaquin Pozo & La Clave Suena Jazz, Jamaiel Shabaka (Spiritual Jazz) Progressive Rock: Bryant Jackson & The University in Exile 

• Southern African Music: Muriel Mwamba (Zambian Kalindula), Chimurenga Renaissance (Zimbabwean Chimurenga) 

• Sudanese Music: Hiba and Mai Elgizouli

• Hip Hop & R&B: Natia the God, Andrés Orellana, Lux.Wav, JamesThe3rd, alecbe//, King Oliver Trumpet, Jordan Curls, Berkley Warwick

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

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

Julian is well poised to offer various artistic services in a diverse range of musical settings.