Julia Wolf (musician)

Last updated
Julia Wolf
Julia Wolf @ The Roxy 03 02 2023 (52756448930).jpg
Julia Wolf performing at The Roxy in 2023
Background information
Born
Julia Capello

Long Island, New York, U.S.
Genres
  • Indie pop
  • Alternative pop
  • Alt-rock
  • Electropop
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Producer
Years active2019–present
Labels
  • Independent
  • AWAL
  • Republic Records
Website girlsinpurgatory.com

Julia Capello, known professionally as Julia Wolf, is an American singer-songwriter from Long Island, New York. Known for her ethereal vocals and self-produced alt-pop sound, she blends elements of indie pop, alternative rock, and R&B. Capello gained early attention on TikTok before releasing her debut EP Girls in Purgatory (2021) and her studio albums Good Thing We Stayed (2023) and Pressure (2025). [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Capello was raised on Long Island’s North Shore and began writing poetry and song lyrics while in high school. She later studied English literature before pursuing music full-time. [3] Her stage name "Julia Wolf" originated as a childhood nickname used by her younger sister, symbolising strength and protection. [4]

Career

2019–2021: Early singles and Girls in Purgatory

Capello began independently releasing singles in 2019 through AWAL distribution, gaining traction on TikTok and Spotify playlists for her minimal, confessional pop production. [5] Her debut extended play, Girls in Purgatory, was released in 2021 and explored themes of femininity, vulnerability, and self-image. [6] The EP’s lead track “Falling in Love” received blog and college-radio attention, helping establish her presence within the New York indie-pop scene. [1]

2022–2023: Good Thing We Stayed

In early 2023, Capello released her first studio album, Good Thing We Stayed, which she described as a reflection on commitment, growth, and creative resilience. [7] The project combined introspective lyricism with layered electronic and guitar-driven production, earning coverage from The Line of Best Fit, which noted her “slow-burn rise built on storytelling and control.” [8]

2024–present: Pressure and evolving sound

Her 2025 album Pressure marked a shift toward darker, alt-rock textures influenced by heavy metal and grunge motifs. [9] In interviews with Rolling Stone and Atwood Magazine, Wolf described the record as an examination of creative anxiety and empowerment, stating she “no longer wanted to sound palatable but powerful.” [10] The album received positive critical response for its cohesion and experimentation, with Paste calling it “a confident fusion of pop melodicism and emotional volatility.” [9]

Capello has toured internationally, performing headline shows in North America, the UK and Australia, including appearances at Melbourne’s Untitled Group and coverage in Blunt Magazine during her 2025 Australian tour. [11] [12]

Musical style and influences

Capello's sound merges indie pop and electronic elements with introspective, diaristic lyrics. Critics have compared her aesthetic to Caroline Polachek and Lorde, while noting a heavier edge reminiscent of alt-rock and shoegaze acts. [1] [2] [9] She has cited early-2000s pop, R&B vocalists, and the cinematic mood of Twilight as key inspirations for her music and visual style. [1]

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleLabel
2023Good Thing We StayedBMG / girls in purgatory
2025PressureAWAL / girls in purgatory

Extended plays

YearTitleLabel
2021Girls in PurgatoryIndependent / AWAL

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Who Is Julia Wolf, the Twilight-Obsessed Indie Pop Girly with Heavy-Metal Caroline Polachek Vibes?". Vice. September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Julia Wolf on Drake, New Single and Creative Control". Rolling Stone. May 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  3. "Julia Wolf". Brick & Mortar Music. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  4. "Interview: Introducing Julia Wolf". Audiofemme. July 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  5. "How They Made It: Julia Wolf "Girls in Purgatory"". Spotify for Artists. December 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  6. "Julia Wolf talks Girls in Purgatory and vulnerability". Headliner Hub. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  7. "Julia Wolf Reflects on Her Journey So Far with Debut Album Good Thing We Stayed". Sweety High. January 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  8. "Julia Wolf: The Slow Burn Rise". The Line of Best Fit. February 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 "Julia Wolf Finds Patience in Pressure". Paste Magazine. May 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  10. "Interview: Julia Wolf on Defying Expectations and Turning Pressure into Motivation". Atwood Magazine. May 29, 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  11. "Julia Wolf Australian Tour". Untitled Group. 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  12. "Julia Wolf on Vulnerability and Her Australian Tour". Blunt Magazine. 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2025.