By: MICHAEL FUCHS-GAMBOCK

Even though the band's name and the title of their debut album ("Es ist Juli") might have promised something else, the record wasn't released until September 20th 2004.
This fact, however, didn't affect the band's huge success at all.

Since September 20th 2004 life has changed completely for Andreas Herde, Jonas Pfetzing, Simon Triebel, Marcel Römer and Eva Briegel. Until then JULI, who started of in the late 90's as "Sunnyglade" and were back then working with English lyrics, were only known as a brand new sleeper.

In the beginning of their career the quintet received several awards, such as the „Hessischer Rockpreis“ 2000 by the DRMV or the second place at the "German Pop Awards" also by the DRMV.

2001 Sunnyglade became JULI, and they decided to go with German lyrics.
"Because we know the German language better than English, we can express ourselves much easier in our native language", says singer Eva. "Because our lyrics are very important for us, I decided to sing in German. I don't want the emotions to be only musically evoked."
There is no need to state how much these emotions are evoked by JULI – textually and musically!

Evidence for this assumption are provided by the following facts:
About seven months after the release of "Es ist Juli", the album had already been in the German charts for 30 weeks (to be continued), 600.000 copies had been sold, the album's triple platinum status is just a step away. Moreover, "Es is Juli" has been distinguished with platinum in Austria and Switzerland, as well.
The first single "Perfekte Welle", which was released on June 28th 2004 and was herald for the album, stayed 34 weeks in the German hit parade, the best position being number 2 (like the album).
Their second single "Geile Zeit", released November 15th 2004, has been in the charts for 22 weeks.

Furthermore, JULI was nominated for 3 "Echo-Awards" in the categories „Group National Rock/Pop“, „Young Talent Award of the German Phono Academy“ and „Most Successful Download“. On February 12th 2005, JULI also won the "Bundes Vision Song Contest" promoted by television anchorman and producer Stefan Raab.
Besides that, they did their first tour in the German club scene last year, went on tour with "Rosenstolz" as a support act, and eventually did a completely sold out tour on a larger scale themselves in the spring of 2005.

Their new video for the third single "Regen und Meer", starring German actor Oliver Korittke, is broadcast on music television on a high frequency, even before the release of the single.
An unbelievable career of an amazing band – in 7 months!
Most important is, however, that it's the career of 5 young adults (between 23 and 26 years old) that proves that one can become a superstar without participating in lame casting shows in public, but with sophisticated music, intelligent lyrics, much passion and even greater talent!

Nevertheless, JULI had to struggle with a lot of reproaches, as being not very different than casting bands. It seems, as if the greater the success the more envy is evoked.
Singer Eva complains: "How many times had I to explain during interviews, that we are not a casting band, but only friends who have fun playing music. How many times had I to dispute that our record company didn't sign us because of the current trend of German Pop. We have been using German lyrics for 4 years! And, how many times had I to read in so-called "respectable" papers, that we are opportunists and freeloaders. Sometimes I feel like the new one in school: On the one hand I meet a lot of new people at the new school, and they are interested in me, but on the other hand I have to justify myself very often and I encounter much distrust. I have not known that feeling before. Whew, success is not always easy!"

But of course, the good aspects of their new lifestyle prevail, as Eva Briegel admits:
"We do exactly the kind of music that suits us. We never had to and never will bend ourselves – and we're still popular! After the success of our first single, we were sure to accomplish to be in the top 30. But we never would have dreamed of a breakthrough as we had with "Es ist Juli". Most of all, it proved our vision to be understood as an album band, not as a single band!"

Talking of "album":
Since the end of March, the "fabulous five" are being trapped at the "Mohrmann"-Studio in Bochum, where "Es ist Juli" had been produced before, and they are working on new songs for their new album.

She can't tell much about the results of the current process, says Eva. "It would be too early", she explains. "We don't know yet whether the record is going to be released before the end of this year or within the next year. We don't work on this with an intention, and we aren't under any pressure – and that's why the next record is going to sound a little different than the first. The only pressure which we allow to be involved is the scale of quality. We want to do our best. We don't waste one thought on sales figures, and fortunately our record company doesn't interfere neither. They have trust in us."

What else is to be expected from JULI in the future? "We concentrate on recording our new CD really sedately", emphasises Eva, "and besides we play some festivals in the summer. Nothing special – the normal day life of a normal musician!

We decided for this kind of life, now we want to make the best out of it, without feigning. The only worry I have right now is my phone bill. I would rather meet my old friends and my family, than being on the phone with them all the time. But otherwise:
It's going alright! JULI is ready to perform new tasks!"