Julian Apter

Biography

Julian is a guitarist and audio engineer raised in Santa Monica and 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. The thesis was advised by Janet Roitman and explored shifting spatio-temporal dimensions of ritual power within a Haitian Vodou community in Flatbush, Brooklyn. 

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

In May 2024 Julian co-founded the band Orchestre Moto along with lead guitarist and musical director De Kanto Solo. Orchestre Moto is a Congolese music group based in New York with strong roots in Kinshasa, dedicated to showcasing the Congolese sound. Please visit their website www.orchestremoto.com and follow them on social media:  Instagram http://facebook.com/orchestremoto/ https://www.youtube.com/@OrchestreMoto

He also co-founded The Kilo Band, lead by the legendary guitarist Huit Kilos. The Kilo Band brings infectious Congolese music from Kinshasa to Los Angeles. The group also includes Parigo Asuka (former drummer for Afrisa International) and legend Chella Mputu. Follow them @kilo.band.

He founded Shake Bodi in early 2023 as a live Afrobeats group, which has performed with artists like Auggy Luv, Osele, and Geechi. Follow them at @shakebodiband.

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 extensive performance and grant-funded musical research experience.

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

Some professional bands and projects he has played with include:

Congolese music with Nkumu Katalay and the Lifelong Project Band, Loboko Music, Huit Kilos and the Kilo Band, Orchestre Moto, Ngouma Lokito, Titos Sompa, Wawali Bonane, Chella Mputu, Samba Mapangala, Jaja Bashengezi, Charmanto Nkole, Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, Rumba DB and Hussein Kalonji, Jamarach Mulumbu, Teddy Magaspoon, Mis Blandine;

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;

Zimbabwean Chimurenga with Chimurenga Rennaissance (Tendai Maraire and Hussein Kalonji);

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

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, 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.