The latest single released by Julia Powell hits an alternative pop soundscape that brings with it a vivacious and sort of spirited atmosphere and attitude by way of reeling in so much rich personality and sense of empowerment that you can feel it in your bones a bit.
"Lazarus" is a banger of a single. This track has so much massive Sonic drive in terms of its production and so much swagger with the vocal performance that it has a way of wrapping itself around you and keeping you right where it wants to.
You can tell that there was a lot of attention to detail during the creation of this track, but it never loses that character or personality throughout the entire thing, and this may be the most important aspect of it all.
The song boasts an incredible energy that has this tonal edginess to it and in a way, it hits like a sucker punch to the gut. I mean that in the best possible sense of course as the track is amazing but again, it's got this empowering aesthetic that you can feed into while you're listening to it so the fire that the song brings is something that adds a lot of drive to it.
All in all, it's beautifully done and performed by all elements including the vocals of course. The vocal approach does bring a lot of that edginess to the table and puts it in the forefront of the already bountiful and textually alluring soundscape.
Anyone can feed into this. This is the kind of try to listen to when you're getting revved up or pumped up for something. It makes you feel unstoppable in a strange way, and I love that aspect about it because I think that's the vibe it's supposed to be giving off.
It was meant for you to feel a kind of uprising and the way it comes across is brilliant.
You can tell this comes from someplace authentic and that it was a long time coming.
The musical approach to this track utilizes amazing synths and keys along with a heavy-handed and hard-hitting beat that all bring on this robust atmosphere along with a vastness and its undertone that feels almost cinematic in a sense.
This was a badass single. Straight up. The song just hits hard but still manages to be so dynamically balanced and gives you these layers of sound and textures, tones, and attitudes that all managed to become one.
I love the entire aesthetic of this track from the vocal standpoint, the lyrics, the musical tonalities, and everything.
Along with this array of electronic digital instrumentation, you also have a piano which is the real rhythm and main instrument of the track. This is part of the groove of the song.
A lot of other instruments and elements swirl around those pianos and it is definitely something that showcases Julia's ability to create a song that you can get engulfed in.
You can tell this is created by someone with a real love for her craft and with its release we absolutely had to have a talk with Julia about this song and how it came to be.
Here's what happened.
Buzz Slayers: Thank you for taking some time, Julia! I'd love to start with the Lazarus single! This was an edgy but vast pop track! Where did this song come from?
Lazarus is about coming back to music. After my last EP, Ephyra, I burned out a little and had to focus on life for a minute. That was two years ago, and my life is so different now. So I decided it was time to finally come back. I wrote Lazarus as an apology to my fans who hadn't heard from me for a while, and an announcement that I am back - for good.
Buzz Slayers: I am hearing some great approaches here. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I feel like my influences are more cinematic than musical. Horror movies have always been an inspiring force for me. I've never heard a song and been like "I want to sound like that," but I'll see a dramatic scene in a movie and be inspired to write a song that sounds like it could be the soundtrack. Every time I see a really good movie I write a song haha.
If I had to choose though, I would say that I love French dark pop more than words can describe. Stromae, Grand Blanc, La Femme and Odezenne are staples of my playlists.
Buzz Slayers: Do you record at a home studio?
I do! I was lucky enough to be able to buy my own house last year. She's a fixer upper, but the first thing I did was turn the biggest bedroom into a studio. I write, record, take photos and program stage lighting in there. It's my cave.
Buzz Slayers: Now that this single is released,. what is coming next?
This is one of many! I am working on an album - It's called Hadal and it is a follow up to my last EP. Most of the songs are already written, so it's all just finishing touches now. I'm releasing it over time, aiming for one song a month for the entirety of 2025. I wrote these songs when I was in my 2 year burn out, angry, unsatisfied, and trying to figure out what to do with my life. I poured a lot of myself into them, it's a very raw album for me. So, I'm giving them all space to breathe on their own as singles before the album comes out in full.
Buzz Slayers: Are you performing live?
I do! Right now, I'm in creator mode, but I'm planning more shows and some live videos for later this year. Playing live is my favorite part of what I do, I have a light show that I programmed to my set, and being on stage with the lights makes me feel like I'm in my own little world that I created. I don't have to think about anything else; and I get to just run around a stage to strobe lights for an hour. I can't wait to get back at it.
Buzz Slayers: Who is in your headphones right now?
So many. There's a Goodbye Horses cover by Grand Blanc that's been on repeat. Also "Goodnight Socialite" by brokebecks.... also "Starburster" by Fontaines D.C... Squabble Up by Kendrick Lamar is a masterpiece... I recently got back into Lana Del Rey too. I'm genre agnostic. I love it all.
Buzz Slayers: Can we expect any music videos from you soon?
So uhh, probably not music videos - but I have this thing that I call "Bullshit Live" where I make a video for each song in a really dumb place. The last one I did was inside of my dryer. Lazarus is going to be from my bathtub. I have one planned out for every song that will be coming out this year, and what bullshit position I'm going to be putting myself in for these dumb YouTube videos I make.
Buzz Slayers: What are you doing when you're not making music?
I'm really into fish tanks, so I spend a good amount of time working on those. I have three cats who get constant attention. I also love film so I'm always trying to find cool movies I haven't seen yet. Recently I've been doing a lot of DIY home improvement, and I used to raise moths; I've been meaning to get back into that again.
Sometimes I'll decide to be a person and go to a party or something - that's not very often though.
Buzz Slayers: Did you produce this song as well? Did you work with anyone on it?
I did! Start to finish. Writing, recording, every instrument, mixing and mastering. I also took the cover photo.
Buzz Slayers: When you write a song like this, is it lyrics that come first?
Usually, it's the title. I'll get a single word stuck in my head and decide that it will make a cool song title, and everything else comes after. What comes after the title is never the same - sometimes it's the vocals, and sometimes a bassline, sometimes it's a drumbeat, or a synth hook. But the title is always first. Once I sit down to write it all just comes out on its own.
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music?
I'm back.
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