Julia Sound - midlife

JULIA SOUND - MIDLIFE

Julia Sound, a rising Canadian artist, released her latest album midlife, through Boomsmack Records. The album is a personal musical project that is equal parts reflection as it is a bold statement. The key of the album is that it sounds oh so human in a time when much of music is looking to be hyper polished. In fact, midlife stands out immediately for its seemingly zero use of autotune, which alone gives the album a raw, live quality that is becoming rare.

From the first few seconds of the first track, “One Love”, a collaboration that was completed with fellow artists Dolly De Guerre and Yo Megasonic, the tone of the album can be more or less predicted. The hook goes “I’ll be singing one love (singing one love),” which is simple, straightforward, and has this 90s sound that makes it all the more powerful. The mix of the voices come together in a way that makes the song sound truly alive, mixing perfectly over the synths and light, yet pulsing, beats. It’s nostalgic in a way, bringing to mind almost the good vibe energy of the early Black Eyed Peas.

One of the standout aspects of the album is its collaboration with Yo Megasonic. An example of this collab can be found on “i’m feeling so,” which can best be described as a trip-hop song. It also has this unique experimental vibe with the vocal performance as there is an obvious desire to explore rhythm in this new, exciting way that sounds more exploratory.

In a bit of a different sound, “Cars Crush” (with Kinnie Starr) features a more hazy, almost stoner-pop sound. It’s one of the more traditionally commercial songs on the album, sounding a bit more pop, yet still with the unique organic edge.

Some other highlights in the album include tracks like “Shelter” (featuring Keely Halward). This song has a more comforting tone, while the song “Finally I’m Free” shows a more sharper sound, which can be attributed to the guitar playing from Cat Hiltz. These moments show Julia Sound’s range—not just sonically, but emotionally. She’s not confined to one mood; instead, she moves between introspection and release with ease.

It’s impossible not to dive deeper into the political edge of midlife. For example, the song “fck leaders who won’t lead” has already gained a good amount of streams. It is very easy to see why it’s building a fan base, especially being released by a Canadian artist. The message is blunt, direct, and unapologetic - no more playing polite perhaps. There’s no metaphor to hide behind the title, just that theme of frustration coming through loud and clear. Furthermore, the album closes with the track “make empathy great again”, and this might be the most important track on the whole album. In a time of division, Julia Sound makes it loud and clear that she wants to use her artistry, and this album to bring focus back on empathy.

All in all, what truly makes midlife a standout album is its authenticity. While some artists look for polished and perfection, Julia Sound showcases that people love music for its art - and sometimes it’s better just to keep it real. Through each track, listeners can expect to hear the intention behind each release. And perhaps, in many ways, this is exactly the kind of record needed right now: thoughtful, genuine, and demonstrating that music requires freedom of speech—whether about love, relationships, or the politics impacting everyone in the world.