Today we’d like to introduce you to Julien Nolan.
Julien, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Nice, France. The French Riviera is a region of endless inspiration. It has always been a crossroads of people, cultures and flavors. I’ve always been passionate about music. While I was in business school, I started to DJ in a club in Nice, and very quickly I attracted some attention from people. In 2006 I became the Music Director of Sea Lounge in Monaco, one the most prestigious lounge/bar in the world. I was fortunate to work there for two years, I’ve met so many people from celebrities to high profile clients. I also became Music Supervisor for luxury brands such as Christian Louboutin and Cerruti 1881.
In 2007, I moved to Los Angeles, where I began DJing and producing music around the US. In 2009, I met the founder of the hospitality group FIG & OLIVE. They had three high-end restaurants at that time and had plans to open more restaurants in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Chicago, Washington DC, and Houston. They wanted to develop the overall atmosphere and have me as their Music Director for all their restaurants and new projects. I accepted the offer, and now after ten years with FIG & OLIVE, I am both the Music Director and National Brand Ambassador.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Life is a journey. Nothing is simple and smooth. It took me a lot of time to get to where I am today. When I moved to Los Angeles, it was a challenge finding gigs in a city where the competition is ferocious. Nobody is waiting for you there, people from around the world come to LA to try and make something out of themselves. I’ve always believed in myself and my capacity for networking with people. The immigration process was quite lengthy. Coming from France, I had to go through a long and stressful process, but in 2014 I became an American citizen.
Please tell us about your work.
I’m the Music Director & Brand Ambassador for FIG & OLIVE group. We have 9 restaurants across the US: New York (4), Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Newport Beach and Houston. I’m probably most known for my creativity to curate/design music and also my ability to network and represent a brand in prestigious events worldwide, including art exhibitions, fashion shows, sports events, and cultural events, creating a strong network of loyal high-end clients. My experience in Monaco and Los Angeles, working under some of the most elite professionals in the industry, sets me apart.
I work closely with management, marketing, and our PR team to complete specific operational tasks, providing outstanding customer service, building and maintaining a loyal client base for all of the FIG & OLIVE locations.
Schedule line-up for each unit and advance all confirmed artists. Act as a liaison between departments such as Public relations, Marketing, and Events. In our Houston location, we have live jazz every Thursday night from 6.30 to 10 pm. We feature some of the most talented jazz artists in town. We also do Frosé Friday every Friday on our Rosé terrace from 6 to 10 pm, with live DJ playing the finest sounds of the French Riviera to create a unique ambiance around fashion and music.
I’m most proud of the success of FIG & OLIVE, which started a few years ago with one restaurant in New York to now nine amazing restaurants in the most prestigious addresses around the US including some like LA Melrose Place, New York 5th Avenue and our newest location in Houston Galleria.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least about our city?
Houston is a great city as one of the largest diverse cities in the country. It’s a great landing spot for anyone. I really like how nice and friendly the people are here compared to LA, where I used to live for many years. H-Town is one of the most vibrant cities in the US. The city has every possible modern amenity while also being very affordable. The two biggest downsides are probably traffic and climate. Public transportation is an ongoing issue also.
Future Plans: In May, we’re taking FIG & OLIVE to the most prestigious film festival in the world. The Cannes Film Festival. We will be doing an incredible pop-up activation in partnership with some of the most exclusive Hollywood media.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5115 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77056 - Website: figandolive.com
- Phone: (832) 632-6632
- Email: info@figandolive.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/figandolive
- Facebook: facebook.com/FIGandOLIVEUSA
- Yelp: yelp.com/biz/fig-and-olive-tasting-kitchen-and-bar-houston
- Other: instagram.com/juliennolan3
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
