With a name like Antonio Lulic, it’s no surprise when asked about his heritage, he explains that his Great-grandfather was Croatian, and his Father and Grandfather are Chilean.
So, where did Antonio grow up? Well, Sunderland to be precise. Until he was 10 anyway. He then moved to Chester-Le-Street, before later Wakefield and London.
Not that he sees much of London of course, or of any fixed abode for a long period of time – as he tours relentlessly around the world, including with his long term friend – Ed Sheeran.
“My favourite place has been Thailand. I ended up jamming with a local band on my last night, and they invited me back to do it, paid,” he remembers.
“That was so good, but hard work. It was 28 degrees, strings were snapping every five minutes and the sea was at my ankles. Sometimes I would literally just play to the sea, however sometimes there were big groups of tourists.”
So, how does a guy from Sunderland end up supporting Ed on a South American tour?
“I just text him.” He says casually.
“I asked who was supporting him out there, and he text back saying, ‘you’re South American, you could do it!’”
It was lovely to be back, he says, to visit family still living in Chile, his granddad, uncles etc.
Antonio remembers his first visit to Chile with his dad, where he had the realisation he could get citizenship. “I thought cool yeah! I want two passports like James Bond!”
From the huge auditoriums of South America building up a loyal fan base, Antonio came home (just for a while!) – supporting English alternative folk band Nizlopi. He was touring the North of England, and managed to fit in a visit to perform an intimate private gig at Darlington College, where his opening words were; “The last gig I played was in front of 14,000 people. This is brilliant. A lot more scary, but a lot less scary in some ways.”
For a funny guy who openly admits he pieces together fragments of songs until it’s done, sometimes while cooking his tea, and thinks of song writing like ‘having a poo’ it showed a soft, humble side. That no audience is too big or too small.
He talked about writing “The City of Austin Texas” when he was, literally, in Austin, Texas, travelling 28 hours across the desert after a break up with his then girlfriend. A trip, which the two of them were meant to take together. He draws inspiration from various things.
And although starting guitar relatively late, at the age of 17, (he was drummer in a band with his friends, and was sick of carrying the most equipment round), Antonio just won’t stop.
“Ideally, what I want, is to have a tour where my name is the headline act.
“That’s hard work. As a musician it’s easy to get lazy, but you just have to work, work, and work.”
When questioned who he would custard pie in the face, the answer is maybe not what you would expect.
“For the sake of being controversial, Simon Cowell for inventing those talent shows. I think they are made for entertainment, and can be a Red Herring for musicians. However, I do know people who have entered them, and it has really helped them.”
Antonio defines himself as a singer-songwriter – despite openly admitting that it changes all the time, from folk to folk rock amongst others, but notes that he is constantly changing.
With his gravelly voice, and his animated stage presence, it’s clear to see why he is building up a loyal army of fans in all corners of the world.
He’s warm, he’s welcoming, and he’s funny.
Filling the gaps between songs with funny stories and anecdotes from his time on the road and his life. His performances just draw you in, and you feel as if you are almost there, in Austin Texas, with him.
So, what’s next for him?
“I’m touring the North this week. Then I’m going to America, and back to Brazil later in the year.” It just never stops. “However, one of my aims for this year is to brush up on my Spanish!”
With all the time spent on various modes of transport, where, in his words, ‘you can’t do anything’ (unlike his passport inspiration, 007) let’s hope Antonio can fulfil this and is fluent by the time he returns to South America.
His latest EP SON is available to download on iTunes now.
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