Sarah Julia seem to be sweeping all before them. The Amsterdam duo’s sound is both classic and refreshing, anchored in some pivotal heroines – Joni, Carole, Vashti – while also adding a distinctive twist on this folk-pop elixir.
The world is ready to listen, too. Sarah Julia are already amassing an online army, and were recently named Gibson’s Spotlight Artist Of The Month.
New EP ‘Only Making It Worse’ simply could not have come at a better time – refulgent, heart-wrenching musicality, it was laid down in London alongside lauded producer Catherine Marks.
The band say: “It delves into the struggle of feeling trapped in situations that weren’t your choice and the journey of finding ways to cope. When we wrote the songs, that was mainly by sharing all our frustration, hoping it would lessen. And in some ways, it did.”
Released on Friday (May 9th), the duo played a headline show at Hoxton Hall to celebrate.
Clash caught up with Sarah Julia to discuss their cultural pursuits – the way film, TV, books, and more interweave around their creative practise.
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Book
Sarah: I recently read The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa, a story I’ll definitely remember. It takes place on an island where objects begin to disappear, not just from everyday life, but from people’s memories as well. It’s a dystopia with unsettling similarities to the world we live in today, where culture, history, and identity are systematically erased. The book is currently being adapted into a film starring Lily Gladstone, with a script by one of our favorite screenwriters, Charlie Kaufman. I’m really looking forward to seeing it!
Music
We grew up listening to the same music, so our tastes are, luckily, very similar. Folk is a genre we never seem to tire of, and we always find ourselves returning to the classics from the ’70s: Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill, Linda Perhacs and lately, Vashti Bunyan has become our new obsession. Some of her songs almost feel like stepping into an otherworldly forest. We tend to go through phases with certain artists or songs, listening to them nonstop until we can’t anymore. But hopefully, this Vashti Bunyan phase will last a long while.
Films
We’re huge film fans. We both have very active Letterboxd accounts and love going to the cinema, we even have subscriptions to our local theaters. We haven’t seen many new releases recently because we’ve been traveling, but one that really stuck with us is I Saw the TV Glow.
It follows Owen and Maddy, two teenagers who become obsessed with The Pink Opaque, a surreal TV show about two girls with a telepathic connection. It explores themes of escapism, identity, queer self-discovery, and the blurry line between fiction and reality – a genre we really love.
TV
Julia: When we were recording the EP in London last November, we’d watch one episode of The Last of Us together after a day of recording, so we were both excited to finally watch the second season. Sarah couldn’t wait for the second episode, so she ended up watching it without me. When she came to my room afterward, she was sobbing, and I immediately guessed what had happened (she’s not great at keeping spoilers to herself). I’m still preparing myself to watch it.
Gadget
Julia: Last year for my birthday, our bassist Juliette gave me an instant print camera made for kids, and it’s become one of my favorite things to bring on the road and on tour. I remember that as a kid, I saved up all my money to buy a bright pink VTech camera, so this feels very nostalgic in the best way. You just insert a roll of printing paper and take as many pictures as you want. There’s way less pressure than with a Polaroid or analog camera, it’s just easy and fun.
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Photo Credit: Cal McIntyre
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Culture Clash: Sarah Julia | Features | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews – clashmusic.com
