Today we’d like to introduce you to Aira Juliet.
Hi Aira, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a middle child who loves attention, so I think I was probably always destined to be creative. I’ve always had a lot of interests, and I’ve never really been someone who could stick to just one thing. I’ve wanted to write, perform, make music, make films, and throw events for as long as I can remember.
Over the years, I’ve figured out how to turn those interests into actual work. I’ve built a career in Austin that spans entertainment, comedy, film, theater, and live events. A lot of that has come from creating my own opportunities instead of waiting for someone else to hand them to me. If I had an idea for a show or a project I wanted to make, I’d figure out what it would take to get it off the ground.
That approach has led me to some pretty cool places. I’ve created shows, written for a Spotify podcast, made my own film, written theater, and built events and spaces for queer artists. I’ve learned a lot by doing things myself, including plenty of things that have nothing to do with the actual creative work, like producing, promoting, budgeting, and figuring out logistics.
I’m still evolving, and lately I’ve been putting more energy into music and working on my upcoming EP. It’s exciting to keep exploring that side of myself while continuing to do the other things I love.
I don’t have a particularly linear career, but I’ve come to appreciate that. I’ve gotten to try a lot of things, build projects from scratch, and create work that people actually show up for. I’m proud of the life I’ve built in Austin, and I’m excited about what’s next.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. One of the biggest challenges has been figuring out how to build a creative career while also making a living. I’ve always had a lot of interests, and for a long time I wondered if I was doing too much or if I needed to pick one thing and stick with it. Eventually, I realized that being multidisciplinary is one of my strengths.
Another challenge has been creating opportunities for myself instead of waiting for someone else to give me permission. A lot of the projects I’m known for in Austin started because I had an idea and decided to figure out how to make it happen. That meant learning how to produce, promote, collaborate, manage logistics, and sometimes fund things myself.
I’ve also had experiences with people underestimating me, downplaying my contributions, or not valuing the work I bring to a project. When you’re passionate about what you do and willing to put in the work, you can sometimes give a lot without getting the same respect, credit, or compensation in return. I’ve had to learn to set boundaries, advocate for myself, and be more intentional about who I work with.
Looking at what I’ve built, I know those different creative pursuits aren’t random. I’ve made films, written for Spotify, produced shows for stage and screen, created award-winning shows, and built spaces for queer artists in Austin. Now I’m developing my music, too. I’m still figuring things out as I go, but I’m much more confident in what I bring to the table and what my work is worth.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a writer, filmmaker, musician, performer, and producer. A lot of my work is in entertainment and live events, especially comedy and programming centered on queer culture.
One project I’m especially proud of is The Summer Sauron Turned Pretty, the Christmas theatrical production I wrote for the Museum of Human Achievement. It brought in more than 1,000 audience members and sold out all eight performances. I’m also proud of my trivia show, which my friend Justin and I write and produce ourselves. We’ve won Best of Austin for both trivia host and trivia event three years in a row.
I created Black and Queer as Fuck, an award-winning show highlighting Black and queer artists, and co-created Tongue in Cheek, Austin’s first queer comedy open mic. I’ve also written for the Spotify podcast Fear of Going Outside (FOGO) and wrote, starred in, and directed Side Quests, my short film, which won multiple awards, including recognition for my comedic acting.
Now I’m working on my upcoming EP and figuring out what I want this next chapter of my music career to look like. I’ve started performing the songs live, including at Austin Pride at Swan Dive, and I’m excited to keep building on that.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m comfortable being both the person with the idea and the person who has to figure out how to make it happen. I can write the material, help shape the creative direction, produce the show, and work out the details that get it in front of an audience. I like trying new things, but I’m also proud that I’ve been able to turn so many of those ideas into actual projects.
I’m also eternally curious. I love being an Aquarius because I think that curiosity is a huge part of who I am. I’m always learning something new, trying a different medium, or wondering what would happen if I tried something completely different. I’m bored if I’m not doing multiple things at once.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is going to Disney World for the first time with my mom and my brother. My mom was a single mom, and she saved up to take us from Texas to Florida on a train, so the whole trip was already a really big deal.
Then, of course, we got to Disney and found out someone had sold my mom fake tickets. This was back in the 90s, when you bought stuff like that through a travel agent, so there wasn’t exactly an app or customer service chat to fix it. My mom was really upset because I knew how hard she had worked to get us there.
The person at the front office saw what happened and ended up giving us tickets and letting us stay at a Disney hotel, so we actually got to have the full Disney experience. We got to see all the exhibits and stuff around the park, and I remember loving the 101 Dalmatians exhibit because they had Cruella de Vil’s car and some of her clothes.
probably most the memorable part was the parade. Cinderella’s Prince literally picked me out of the crowd and danced with me in the middle of the parade. ensuring my belief that I’m the main character wherever I go.
I also just remember how much I got to see with my mom growing up. She worked really hard to give my brother and me experiences like that, and I think that’s probably a big part of why I still love traveling, exploring, and experiencing new things now.
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