Julia Wolf guides us through her latest release, ‘Pressure’, which is out now via AWAL.

Kill You Off

“Kill You Off is about the loss of innocence and the anger that comes with feeling betrayed as a child. It reflects how feelings from your youth can carry over into adulthood where, now, travelling “3000 miles” to murder the person to blame is the only option. On the way, it questions faith, passing billboards that remind us how Jesus ‘heals, he saves,’ yet also leaves us wondering why that salvation couldn’t reach us as back then, or even now.”

Pearl

“Pearl goes through the frustrations of someone so obviously copying everything you do while at the same time showing support because they admire your work. It’s a blunt track, expressing how laughable the charade is, ultimately pointing out how someone can try all they want the way I can see through their actions makes it all feel like a joke.” 

FYP

“This track flips between moments of self-doubt and confidence. It’s a combination of pride, introspection, and self-acceptance, tracing the journey that’s shaped my career up to this point. It turns jealousy into empowerment, realising you are good enough to be in this industry!” 

Loser

“Loser feels like the agonising sequel to In My Room. It’s probably one of the most honest songs I’ve ever written. It’s about how dark someone’s brain can go when they love someone, especially when they feel they can’t measure up to them. It mentions things like “chugging Nyquil” to portray how low self-worth can get. It is the pure struggle of obsession, devotion, begging for connection, and being in constant fear of losing someone due to one wrong move.”

Fingernails

“Fingernails opens up about the fear and vulnerability that comes with loving someone so much. I wanted the imagery throughout this song to show how painful it is not knowing how the other person feels. It’s about wanting to give a person everything, even if it means sacrificing parts of yourself, but also worrying it won’t be enough. There is a push and pull of devotion, insecurity, and longing – aching to be seen, but being unsure what that means.”

LimeWire

“LimeWire is about the fear of being truly seen by someone and the bigger fear of being invisible to them. It’s about how the anxiety of opening up can end up leaving us saying nothing at all. The song captures the worry of growing apart, the nostalgia for simpler times, and the quiet panic of realising how important it is to say what you feel before it’s too late. Risk is better than the regret of wishing you’d done more.”

Girls

“Girls explores the inner struggle of supporting other women you admire while battling with your own inner critic and self-doubt. It’s about the struggle to love ourselves while also wanting to root for others, especially as we get older and societal pressures mount.” 

Jennifer’s Body

“The referencing of the cult classic film Jennifer’s Body is to paint the feeling invisible next to someone who just effortlessly captivates everyone in the room. I have this issue where it doesn’t matter how much love someone is giving me, I’ll see someone beautiful and think “that’s who they should be with”. There is an ultimate feeling of loss knowing you can’t compete against someone who is perfect, even while your significant other is telling you the opposite.” 

In My Room

“In My Room is about the ache of missing someone who’s already moved on. I wanted to capture the obsessive pull of memories, the desperation of wanting to hold onto pieces of someone, and the painful contrast between their ease to leave and your struggle. Suddenly you’re stalking yourself on the internet trying to interpret how they might view you, and what you can change about yourself to keep them around.”

Sunshine State

“Sunshine State is a love song about finding someone who understands the impact of your past because they have dealt with loss and hardship too. Set in the rural areas of Florida, the imagery of this song conveys how impossible it can sometimes feel to chase your dreams in a town where most people never leave. The lyrics hold so much love, admiration, and understanding for this person having to choose between leaving their family and seeing what the world has to offer. It’s about feeling destined for each other long before we met because we both know what it feels like to make that choice.”  

You’ve Lost a Lot of Blood

“This song is about betrayal and the refusal to forgive. I’m talking about childhood memories and the inability to defend yourself when you’re young, with lines like “tiny sword, tiny hands, tiny, bed” and “prayed for death” with a stuffed animal in your lap. I’m trying to paint a picture of someone who has been shaped by their wounds from youth and can’t let go, forever carrying the weight of hurt into their adult years.”