LOCALS ONLY (Boulder Daily Camera, October 8th, 2004)
By Matt Sebastian

Growing up in Idaho, Chris Juhlin caught the writing bug, and studied journalism in college. It wasn't until he was working as a reporter at the Idaho Statesman that the fledgling guitarist realized he was better suited to a different kind of writing - songwriting. Since then, Juhlin's worked in Alaska and backpacked through Thailand; he wound up, last year, in Boulder.

The 27-year-old singer-songwriter - who does the folk reggae thing, a la Jack Johnson - performs with bassist Spencer Shannon and ex-Porcelain drummer Todd Schroeder during a free set from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Boulder County Farmers' Market, on 13th Street between Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue.

The Camera recently caught up with Juhlin:

On your Web site, you write that songs aren't possessions; they're something that artists uncover.
“Yeah, basically, I think some people in music today - songwriters in particular -will look at a song as their possession. You know, 'I wrote this, it's mine.' And I think that can be counterproductive.

…it's basically just about coming up with something original, catching something that's floating through the air. I (like to) let time tell the story of what the song's going to be.”

So they gestate a while, until they're ready?
“Some people are really prolific songwriters, and they just pump songs out. Usually, it takes me a little bit longer. I'll have an idea that'll start formulating and gradually change until it's been uncovered. I've probably written 30 or 40 songs, but there are only (some) that I keep sticking with and working on with other musicians.”

You also said that music's not fully satisfying until it's been shared.
“...I'm really starting to get more into studio recording because you can do a lot in the studio that you can't do live, in terms of presenting a song. (But) the joy of music is bred through live performance. That's why I love folk music so much, because it's the kind of thing where the song's not (right) until you play it for people. It's not as rewarding just doing it for yourself.

You spent a couple of months in 2002 bumming around Thailand with an acoustic guitar. Was it a musically rewarding trip?
“…It came at a time in my life when I was really free, and I had a lot of ideas for songs that I hadn't written yet. So I just started traveling and they really started coming out. That's where a lot of the songs that I play today came to be. I was just traveling with my guitar and a little back pack, playing with guys from England and Germany, just jamming on the beach.

How's Boulder been treating you?
Boulder seems like a supportive place for someone that's a serious musician or artist. Usually, there's always that catch: Getting in the door's so difficult and nobody pays attention to you until you're in the door, but once you're in, you get the support you needed before…Boulder seems different.