Julia Wolf

Photos by Georgia Lingerfelt

Julia Wolf is a singer-songwriter originally from Queens, New York. Her multifaceted sound and prolific lyricism quickly earned her viral success. Her early work was heavily influenced by hip-hop, featuring rhythmic delivery of her lyrics and trap 808s. In late 2019, she began releasing short freestyles and music snippets on social media, catching the attention of early adopting fans and industry professionals. In 2021, Julia Wolf was selected as one of the first independent artists to be featured in Spotify’s Fresh Finds, earning her a billboard spot in Times Square. With her radically authentic approach and unique connection to fans, Wolf continues to make waves in the music scene. Recently, she has begun shifting toward a more alternative sound, using live drums and gain-saturated guitars. This new sound is just what she needed to light the fuse to a rapidly growing career. Orange Peel Magazine had the opportunity to talk to Julia before her show in Tampa on April 16th. 

Julia, you're currently three dates into the Sunday Confessions tour. How's that going so far?

It's been incredible. These are cities that I've never done shows in before, so it's been great to see everyone coming out and coming to the merch table and saying hello. It's just been really great to see how many people care, even in these smaller cities that I've never been to.

Speaking of the merch table, I saw on your social media that you've been selling a limited number of CD demos. That's such a wonderful idea; how did that come about?

So that was actually my manager's idea and it's been awesome because we have so many songs that probably won't make it out because I just have too many in the vault. So we figured it'd be cool to throw some on a CD and still make it like a special experience for people who want to hear some of that.

What's keeping you going on tour? What's on your tour playlist?

There's a lot of stuff we've been listening to. We love this band called Money right now. That's probably our favorite. And then I'm always listening to Phoebe Bridgers and the Story So Far.

On this tour you're having, fans submit confessions and you're reading them during the set. Does that give you a sense of mutual vulnerability; you're getting up on stage and singing these really intimate songs and now the fans can share that experience?

Yeah, that's definitely why I started doing it every Sunday on Instagram. I do this thing called Sunday Confessions, which is why we named the tour that and every Sunday people will DM me their confessions and I pick through a few just for that sense of vulnerability and people knowing they're not the only ones going through things, so I thought it would be fun to bring it into the live setting. This is our second tour doing it now and it's just a great part of the night. It helps everyone feel like they're not alone.

You have such a strong visual brand and kind of identity. It's like grungy, 90s meets Twilight. Can you talk about where that inspiration came from?

Well, it's funny you bring up Twilight. That has been my world since 8th grade. I just haven't been able to let it go and so I've always gravitated towards that kind of gloomy, grungy look. And I think I aesthetically now it suits my music so well and everything just feels very hand in hand and it's just what I've always loved. I was a kid listening to Avril [Lavigne] and Panic! [At The Disco].

Talking more about how you got into all this, you've said that you were very shy growing up and turned to music to express yourself. As you become more confident, has your relationship with music or the writing process changed at all?

Oh yeah, especially since I moved to LA only two months ago, and truly, I have never been more collaborative, more open to co-writing and co-producing and all that stuff. It's something that I was closed off to because I was so timid in those rooms with other people, but I just forced myself because I feel like that is more conducive to making the best art you possibly can. It really has been awesome though, definitely no going back.

Is there anybody on your radar that you're dying to collaborate with?

Ethel Cain would be insane,that's like a dream collab right there or Phoebe of course. They’re both so effortlessly cool and incredible.

“Gothic Babe Tendencies” is a really standout track in your discography. After hearing you say you can only write about what you’ve lived through, is any part of that sort of self-sabotaging in relationships coming from maybe you as an artist? Having the fear of ‘if I'm in a healthy, happy relationship, what will I write about?’

That is so funny you bring that up because I know a lot of people say that they need the turmoil to write about things. But honestly. I don't think I self-sabotage for the purpose of the art. I think that's more me since I was a kid. Struggling with self-harm and self-doubt and all that stuff. So it was always the byproduct of thinking you're not good enough for someone. But honestly, being in a healthy relationship that is so wonderful has just been a new side of material to write on and things that I've still never experienced and get to talk about.

In your recent single “In My Room,” you talk about stalking yourself on the internet just to see what you'll find. Do you ever struggle with the nature of being a musician and a public figure, feeling like you have to constantly put out content and then going through something rough and just wanting to close off?

I used to think that I had to post all the time but then I really started digging into like my favorite artists and asking myself how much do I actually know about their personal lives vs what they're showing on social media and time and time again would find that less is more for them. They really are very true and very particular about when they choose to post. And so I've been trying to adopt that mentality instead. I try to show up on social media, how I want to and where it feels authentic. And just like when the time is right. That’s when something will show up on the feed, you know. But I'm kind of over the whole forcing it just for the sake of putting content out.

You released “In My Room” as a single in March and it feels like the start of something big. Can you tell us a little bit about what's coming, and what that looks like?

Yeah, “In My Room” has by far been the biggest response to a song I've ever had. Like, just in terms of the most pre-saves, the most love on social media, the most streams in a week. It has been crazy. And so validating that it's happening with this new genre. It's just kind of turned into me going into more sessions with more incredibly talented people and making more music in that vein. It’s the most honest and topically fitting for me. So yeah, definitely staying true to the alternative rock and. Don't think I'll ever be going back to the pop sound.

Is there anything that you would like people to know about you or your tour as a closing remark?

If you can get out to a show, this is our best live band by a far. We have a lot of unreleased songs on the set. We're also revamping a lot of the old songs into this new genre, so it's definitely a new experience. Both older fans that have already seen the show and new fans, who are just getting to know me should come through to get that demo CD because it's going to be the only time that you will get a chance to hear those songs. 

Julia Wolf's evolution as a musician and dedication to authenticity shine brightly through her performance on the Sunday Confessions tour. Wolf and her band reimagined the first song she ever released, “Captions,” by bringing a more pop-punk feel to the performance. Live drums suit her older songs well and seamlessly blend them into the newer releases.

Her audience engagement feels natural and authentic. During the confessions segment of the show, one fan revealed she is in her 20s and has yet to have a boyfriend. Julia assured the fan that this was perfectly normal and that she herself took a while to have her first boyfriend. This was a perfect segue to the song “Falling in Love,” where she professes that she’s “way past it” and “[love] doesn’t even matter for someone like me.” Clearly, a sentiment that no longer applies to the artist, but the song remains relatable to fans nonetheless. The Demo CDs brought one fan all the way from Tallahassee on a Tuesday night to hear songs he may never have the chance to hear again. 

From her beginnings as a shy girl in Queens to now headlining her own tour, Julia Wolf continues to captivate audiences with her multifaceted sound and genuine connection to her fans. As she embraces a new alternative rock direction, her music remains deeply personal and relatable. With each performance, Wolf proves that vulnerability is not only empowering but also unifying. Her willingness to share intimate moments and experiences, both on stage and through her music, creates a space where fans feel seen and understood. Through her demos and reimagined performances, she invites her audience to join her on this journey of self-discovery and growth. Julia Wolf's current trajectory shows she is one to watch in the alternative space this coming year.