Indie-pop sensation Julia Wolf is making waves with her debut album “Good Thing We Stayed.” The standout track, “Dracula” pays homage to Julia’s love for all things horror, also serves as a commentary on the two-faced nature of some individuals who hide behind closed doors or social media. With her premier headline tour, the Gothic Babe Tendencies Tour, kicking off on February 10th, 2023, Julia is poised to take the music world by storm.

The young Italian-American artist, who hails from Long Island, has always been a bit of a wallflower, but her music serves as a brave voice for a generation that understands that you don’t have to be the loudest in the room to be heard. With over 50 million streams across her discography and a DIY approach that includes writing all her own music and creating her own artwork, including the cover art for “Dracula,” Julia has proven that hard work and determination pay off.

Head below to find out more from the upcoming artist…

Hey Julia, how are you? Where are we speaking to you from?
I’m currently in LA for rehearsals! Flying back to Queens in a few days.

Can you give us the inside scoop on your new album, Good Thing We Stayed? What’s it all about?
This album is a storytelling of the days of eating lunch alone, too afraid to admit music was my passion, to years of dead ends and trying to get noticed, to finally gaining some traction and making music a full-time career. It goes through the obstacles you face when being a shyer person and going after big dreams and why it’s so important to push past your self-doubt and keep going.

We heard that you almost gave up on your music career a few years ago, how has that experience influenced the themes on Good Thing We Stayed?
For starters, it’s the reason behind the album title. All the years of input with no outcome led me to a point where I was ready to throw in the towel. But when my family pushed me to continue, that effort finally started paying off. The whole album reflects this theme of betting on yourself because if you know there’s no alternative, then you have to keep taking that risk and putting yourself out there. The struggle to keep going is something I understand fully and I needed it to be a point across the record.

Congrats on being named one of Tidal’s “Pop Artists to Watch in 2023”! How does that make you feel?
It makes me feel like we’re reaching people. All I’ve ever wanted was the words to resonate enough that it would help someone else and getting something like this means we’re on the right track! I appreciate it so much and am so grateful for their support!

Tell us about your process of writing and recording Good Thing We Stayed. Was there anything that surprised you during the process?
I wasn’t anticipating the span of years that would exist on this album. Some songs we’ve had for a few years because, in our guts, me and Jackson [Foote, producer] knew they were meant for a larger body of work. “Virginity” is probably 7 years old having written that in college! But the process of writing hasn’t changed much—some were written in my bedroom and some were written in the studio. It’s always been a simple manner in how we work because that produces the most authentic outcome I think.

How was your TV debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden?
Oh man, what a full-circle moment that was for me. I can tell you I was beyond nervous all day and ended up taking a shot on camera. Everyone was incredibly kind and understanding that it was my first time doing TV. James and I talked about Jack Harlow until I felt a little less nervous and I went out there hoping to make my team Slytherins proud! I couldn’t have asked for a better TV experience truly.

Being raised in an Italian-American family on the North Shore of New York, how does your cultural background and upbringing play into Good Thing We Stayed?
My family is as Italian as they come. Growing up, there were no secrets and if you tried to keep even one, the guilt trips alone would make you confess. But that closeness meant my family always had my back. They were always there for me, especially having kept to myself so much when I was younger— I really owe them. That’s why I reference them a bunch all over different tracks and will continue to do so.

We heard you collaborated with the Women’s Reproductive Rights Associate Project for your track “Get Off My”, can you tell us more about that collaboration and the message behind the track?
The collaboration was awesome! Basically, I had made a visual for the song out of videos I asked fans to send in lip-synching the lyrics. Then, for every view the video got, we donated to WRRAP. So just by watching on your phone you were contributing, it was so cool. The song itself references a time I was stood up by a label in a meeting and felt so absolutely crushed. We ended up turning down future offers to reschedule because when someone isn’t respecting your time and feels they can walk all over you, you have to stand up and bet on yourself always remembering how you deserve to be treated.

We know you’re a horror fan, how did your love for the genre influence the aesthetic and themes of Good Thing We Stayed?
I got into horror at a super young age and we can thank my mom for that. I fell in love with the aesthetic immediately starting off with Tim Burton and as I got older I was getting into novels more as the ultimate escape from reality. That’s kind of how I see it on Good Thing We Stayed. It feels more nostalgic like it’s sort of always been a part of me, instead of just a visual aspect. Lyrically, I always like to throw in little imagery to help hone in on that mood.

How does Good Thing We Stayed mark your personal journey of strength, perseverance, and resilience?
It captures so much of what this journey has been like. The 4 AM wake-up calls, playing open mics after work every night, and almost giving up to move to a different country. So much of it is about why it’s good we stayed and how hard work pays off if you give it the time. We still have a long road ahead of us but we’ve also come so far since that first song I wrote back in high school. It can be insanely discouraging to chase and chase for years with not a single soul caring, so the songs are meant to motivate you on why persevering is the only option.

How do you want listeners to connect with and feel when they listen to Good Thing We Stayed?
I want them to feel seen and related to, especially when it comes to going after their passions. I’m hoping the album is the push to continue and understand that if I can do it anyone can! Everything is written through the lens of someone with pretty bad anxiety and that will hopefully be another reason for people to see there are no excuses when it comes to your biggest dreams.

How do you see yourself as a voice for a generation that understands the power of not always being the loudest in the room?
I’ve spent my whole life knowing what it feels like to be underestimated because I’m on the quieter side. People assume things about my character like I’d be too “sweet” to cut toxic people off or that I’ll hand out favors and expect nothing in return. But my way of setting the record straight has always been through my music. That’s what gets people to hear me and understand that shy people don’t automatically put the rest of the world on a pedestal, they simply have a different way of going about things.

Can you share a standout moment or experience from the making of Good Thing We Stayed that really stands out to you?
It would have to be getting to collab with blackbear!! As someone who spent her whole life afraid of her own shadow, getting to work, let alone be noticed, by someone who’s accomplished so much in this field was unreal. He was so inspired and enthusiastic, I couldn’t have been more grateful for the opportunity. I definitely cried when he sent over his first voice memo of the verse.

With the music industry constantly changing, how do you stay true to yourself as an artist?
I always stay connected to the people supporting me and follow my gut. If something feels off you’ll know it, you just have to keep choosing to listen to yourself despite the other opinions in the room. I think it’s fun to experiment with different sounds and explore what versions of you exist sonically, but I’ll always trust that being myself is the core base of everything I do.

What’s next for you? Any exciting projects or collaborations in the works?
TOUR!! It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this and it’s finally around the corner. I’m getting messages daily of people buying plane tickets or coming to multiple shows!!! It’s a dream to be face-to-face with the people that make all of this possible and I can’t wait to give them a show to remember!