You Had to Be There

Julia Gomberg
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Semimonthly

You Had to Be There is a music industry podcast hosted by Julia Gomberg, featuring in-depth conversations with artists, executives, writers, producers, and creatives shaping the business. Through thoughtful interviews, each episode explores career paths, creative process, industry insight, and the behind-the-scenes moments that define a life in music. Designed for music fans, aspiring industry professionals, and anyone curious about how the business really works, You Had to Be There gives guests a platform to share their journey, expertise, and advice — one conversation at a time. You had to be there, but if you weren't, don't worry – we've got you covered.

  1. Bre Kennedy on Writing 'The Alchemist' and the Stories We Tell Ourselves

    3d ago

    Bre Kennedy on Writing 'The Alchemist' and the Stories We Tell Ourselves

    Welcome to You Had to Be There, the podcast where we take a deep dive into the world of the music industry. I'm your host, Julia Gomberg. This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Bre Kennedy. Bre kicked off 2026 with the release of The Alchemist, an introspective and beautifully crafted album centered on collaboration, self-love, and personal growth. Throughout both her music and our conversation, Bre offers a thoughtful perspective on navigating life's complexities, capturing the highs, the lows, and everything in between with remarkable honesty. In our conversation, Bre shares an honest look at her creative process, offering insight into the vulnerability, intention, and collaboration behind her songwriting. Be sure to check out The Alchemist and Bre’s journey through the links shared below, and follow along with the podcast @uhadtobetherepod on IG, TikTok and, Substack. Thanks so much for listening; I’ll catch you next time. Listen to The Alchemist Follow Bre on IG Follow You Had to Be There

    46 min
  2. Temples on BLISS, Nostalgia, and Twelve Years of Musical Evolution

    Jun 18

    Temples on BLISS, Nostalgia, and Twelve Years of Musical Evolution

    This week, I'm honored to be joined by all four members of one of my favorite bands of the past decade, Temples. The English rock band blends influences from the '60s and '70s with a modern psychedelic sound that's made them a standout act in today's music landscape. Ahead of the release of their fifth studio album, BLISS, out June 26, we took a trip down memory lane to discuss the band's origins as a project between friends in 2012, their creative evolution over the last decade, and the journey that's brought them to this next chapter. If you enjoy this conversation, be sure to check out Temples and pre-save BLISS using the link below. Thanks so much for listening. Don't forget to follow along on Instagram and TikTok @uhadtobetherepod, and I'll catch you next time. Pre-save BLISS Follow Temples IG

    48 min
  3. Cola’s Evan Cartwright on Post-Punk, Minimalism, and the Band’s New Release

    May 21

    Cola’s Evan Cartwright on Post-Punk, Minimalism, and the Band’s New Release

    Welcome to You Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the world of the music industry. I’m your host, Julia Gomberg. This week, I’m thrilled to welcome Evan Cartwright, drummer of the post-punk band Cola from Montreal. We chat about the band’s new release, Cost of Living Adjustment, out now, and Evan takes us behind the scenes of how the band’s separate musical lives came together to form a sound that blends post-punk edge, minimalism, and intelligence. Be sure to check out Cola’s music and upcoming tour dates below, and follow the pod on Instagram at @uhadtobetherepod. Thanks for listening, and I’ll catch you next time. Cola on IG: https://www.instagram.com/band_cola/ Listen to 'Cost of Living Adjustment': https://found.ee/colaband

    33 min
  4. Musician Jonathan Plevyak on Vintage Soul, Nashville, and the Human Connection

    May 7

    Musician Jonathan Plevyak on Vintage Soul, Nashville, and the Human Connection

    Welcome back to You Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the world of the music industry. I’m your host, Julia Gomberg. This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nashville-based soul artist Jonathan Plevyak. With vocals and a style that feel pulled straight from a vintage jukebox, Jonathan blends classic soul influences with timeless themes of love, belonging, and self-discovery. We talked about his evolving sound, the nostalgia woven throughout his music, and his upcoming releases, including his newest single, “Turn Me On.” Be sure to check out the curated playlist Jonathan made to accompany this episode below, along with his socials and where you can find his music. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll catch you next time. Jonathan’s Playlist Jonathan’s IG Follow @uhadtobetherepod

    39 min
  5. JVK’s Jo Krieger on Songwriting, Performing, and Breaking Genre Rules

    Apr 23

    JVK’s Jo Krieger on Songwriting, Performing, and Breaking Genre Rules

    Welcome to You Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the world of the music industry. I’m your host, Julia Gomberg. I’m so excited to share my interview with Jo, the frontwoman of the band JVK. They describe their sound as “pushing the boundaries of the rock genre through their empowering, retro glam-rock/dark-pop sound”, and their new album release, Pop Culture Affair, proves that to be true. It’s a super fun record that feels both nostalgic and futuristic, and it was so fun getting to talk to Jo about her songwriting process, what it’s like getting on stage, and all of the incredible things in store for JVK this year. Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to check out JVK’s album Pop Culture Affair out now, everywhere. Jo has also curated a playlist alongside the episode, which you can find in the show notes. Catch you next time. Stream Pop Culture Affair Jo’s Playlist JVK’s Instagram Catch up on all YHTBT episodes

    48 min
  6. Caroline Romano on Turning Cinematic Alt-Pop Music into her Legacy

    Apr 9

    Caroline Romano on Turning Cinematic Alt-Pop Music into her Legacy

    Welcome back to You Had to Be There! While I'm frolicking in Coachella Valley this coming weekend, I'm happy to kick off this week's episode featuring Nashville-based singer-songwriter, Caroline Romano. Caroline started writing emotionally driven songs at just 13 years old, even performing at a college bar open mic with her parents’ support. Since then, she’s grown into a versatile artist who moves seamlessly between misty-eyed ballads and fiery alt-rock anthems. If you’re drawn to the cinematic storytelling of artists like Gracie Abrams or Holly Humberstone, her new EP, It Took Me Falling, captures that same feeling: the vulnerability, the intensity, and those fleeting butterfly moments of meeting someone new. Make sure to check out Caroline’s EP, which is out now everywhere, along with the playlist she curated to go with our conversation. Thanks so much for listening and I’ll catch you next time. Stream It Took Me Falling Caroline’s Playlist Follow YHTBT on IG

    37 min
  7. How Book More Women Is Changing Festival Lineups featuring Abbey Carbonneau

    Mar 26

    How Book More Women Is Changing Festival Lineups featuring Abbey Carbonneau

    Imagine your favorite music festival just dropped its lineup. You pull up the poster, scanning the names, planning your weekend. Now imagine that same lineup, filtered by gender. Suddenly, whole sections start to disappear. Headliners shrink. Entire days feel emptier than they should. That’s not hypothetical; it’s the reality Book More Women is working to change. This week, I spoke with Abbey Carbonneau, the founder and executive director of Book More Women, an organization that holds music festivals accountable and drives real progress toward gender-balanced lineups. Book More Women is in the final stretch of their crowdfunding campaign, raising funds to move from tracking the issues to actually building solutions through festival partnerships, data-driven research, and new initiatives that create real accountability across the industry. You can learn more about Book More Women and learn how to support the incredible work they do, and check out Abbey’s curated playlist below. Support Book More Women Book More Women IG Abbey's Playlist Follow the Pod Outro music:

    47 min
  8. MT Jones on Building a Soul Music Career From the Ground Up

    Mar 12

    MT Jones on Building a Soul Music Career From the Ground Up

    Welcome back to another episode of You Had to Be There! This week, I’m so thrilled to share my interview with rising British soul musician, MT Jones. His sound pulls inspiration from the warmth of 60s and 70s classics with the texture of modern R&B and jazz. MT's sound is grounded in timeless songwriting, live instrumentation, and a voice that carries both vulnerability and power. We talk about how his career started, who inspires him, and what he’s learned along the way. His debut album, Joy, will be released March 20, and you won’t want to miss it. In addition to his own music, be sure to check out MT’s curated playlist alongside this episode, as well as all of his music links, which you can find below. Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll catch you next time. Presave Joy MT Jones’ IG MT Jones’ Playlist Follow: @uhadtobetherepod

    38 min
See All (41)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

You Had to Be There is a music industry podcast hosted by Julia Gomberg, featuring in-depth conversations with artists, executives, writers, producers, and creatives shaping the business. Through thoughtful interviews, each episode explores career paths, creative process, industry insight, and the behind-the-scenes moments that define a life in music. Designed for music fans, aspiring industry professionals, and anyone curious about how the business really works, You Had to Be There gives guests a platform to share their journey, expertise, and advice — one conversation at a time. You had to be there, but if you weren't, don't worry – we've got you covered.

Information

  • Creator
    Julia Gomberg
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Julia Gomberg 2026
  • Show Website
    You Had to Be There

You Might Also Like