Julian Velard

• Singer/Songwriter

Julian Velard is a classic entertainer – a rare combination of Nilsson-meets-Newman, piano-driven singer-songwriter sensibility and razor-sharp comedic timing. His versatile stage presence makes him equally comfortable in the spotlight or as a sidekick – a modern-day Paul Shaffer. He’s become a cult sensation in America and Europe, and an in-demand performer in his homebase of Los Angeles. All those facets are on display on his newest album In the Middle of Something, an introspective song cycle about the pitfalls and promises of middle age.

Velard’s quick wit and musicality have made him a fixture in the comedy world. He’s been a regular guest on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show and NPR’s Ask Me Another, and shared stages with a host of talented comedians including Will Ferrell, Reggie Watts, Drew Carey, and Jack Black. In 2023, he served as musical director and on-stage foil for a star-studded cast in the Give Back-ular Spectacular, produced by Paul Scheer and Marta Kaufman, a live fundraiser for film and TV crews affected by the WGA and SAG strikes.

A native New Yorker, Velard scored a major label record deal in the ‘00s that took him to the U.K., where he toured alongside Jamie Cullum, Paul Carrack, and Goldfrapp, and garnered praise from The Guardian, Time Out London, and The Sunday Times. He served as an artist-in-residence at the prestigious Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater in New York City, and his one-man show Please Don’t Make Me Play Piano Man was named one of the best of 2020 by Broadway World.

In addition to a body of work that includes seven studio albums, Velard has also written music and lyrics for UK sensation Olly Murs, Wix, New York Knicks, Buzzfeed, Audible, Google, Aldi Supermarkets, and The New Republic. For these unique projects, he’s been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vice and Mashable.