Thanks to Olivia Rodrigo, the world is currently re-discovering its obsession with the grungey sounds and clashing aesthetics synonymous with the pop-punk genre. And, whilst she refuses to be defined by a genre, DIY artist and producer Julia Wolf is situating herself amongst the likes of Olivia with her new track “Resting B*tch Face: Part 2”. Possessing captivatingly unique vocals and pulsating production, the track is a masterful balance between sickly-sweet and angsty, meaning that it appeases the needs of the modern-day listener. Serving up introspection with an edge, the track also stands as a deep reflection of the artist’s past experiences and a not-so-subtle middle finger to those that encouraged her to change.
“I’m constantly being told that a ‘resting bitch face’ is the reason it’s hard for me to meet new people, make friends, or just be approachable. But what people don’t understand is that for many girls, looking standoffish actually stems from being shy,” explains Julia when speaking on the meaning behind her new single. “It’s hard enough as it is dealing with anxiety, so I won’t be changing myself for the sake of someone else’s ego. I just wanted to be a voice for people out there who have to deal with the same thing, and explain my side of the story.”
Upon the release of her new single, the artist and producer sat down with Wonderland to discuss the challenges of the pandemic, her musical inspirations and looking towards live performances. Head below to read the interview and to listen to “Resting B*tch Face: Part 2”…
Julia, How has this year been for you so far?
This year, amidst a global pandemic, has honestly been the busiest I have ever been. Because of quarantine, I was able to do my music full-time for the first time in my life, finally bringing to life the career I’ve been dreaming of for countless years.
With everything that happened last year, was your creativity affected?
I’m the type of person who tends to do things on her own. My entire songwriting career has existed within the walls of my bedroom. It’s where I write, make my cover art, film my green screen videos, and occasionally record vocals too. So when the quarantine began, not too much changed for me. Of course, there was a lack of experiences to write about, but it forced me to face the ncorners of my brain that I’d neglected, memories I wanted to bury and move past. It forced me to be more self-reflective than ever and dig for the inspiration rather than wait for it.
How did you first get into music, what sparked the interest?
I grew up an extremely shy kid, the classic “loner” who always ate lunch alone in the music room. Communicating with people was a real struggle, I can’t stress enough how much time I’d put into figuring out the best ways to avoid being seen by others. But singing was the one thing I always felt most myself when doing. So when it came to senior year in high school, my music teacher said that the only way I could participate was if the song was an original. I was already mortified at the thought of sharing my thoughts with an audience, but when I went home to write, the song practically wrote itself. It was the biggest weight off my shoulders to find a new form of communication, while still keeping my distance from others.
You’re from Long Island, NY, do you think growing up here impacted your sound?
It certainly gave me a lot of room to want more. The town I’m from is a small one, a ten-minute walk to the beach, and so I have lots of experiences within that lifestyle that I write about. It’s what brings out the nostalgic side of my music. There’s a lot of beauty there, but to that point, there was also a lot of routine and it kept me motivated to move past the constant laps around the mall every weekend.
Talk us through your new single “Resting B*tch Face: Part 2,” what was the production process like?
This was a song Jackson Foote (my producer and also incredible songwriter) and I had done during one of my trips out to LA. It was a topic I’d written about in the past but shelved because it had never felt totally solid; I’m grateful that I waited. The way this turned out is an absolute reflection of who I am as a person. As with all my songs, we did lyrics first, really wanting to make sure every line was as relatable as possible.
