Utrecht, Netherlands-based alternative rock act Julia Sole first hit my radar at the beginning of the year thanks to her single Youth. The track features on First Floor : Inhale, her intriguingly-titled debut EP, which I just had to give a listen.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Wout van Heck
First Floor : Inhale is a portrait of the world inside Julia’s head, as envisioned as a house. Expect more instalments on the same theme but for now Inhale is based around inner-conflict and a mind that Julia describes as a “battleground”.
The EP opens with the dreamy Heavy Moon. Piano-led there’s a touch of the classic about it, and Julia’s vocals take centre stage during a stripped-back opening verse. The lyrics speak of ambition and high expectations that lead to pressure. The vulnerability of it all makes us instantly warm to Julia, and we’re keen to find out more about her world and thoughts.
While Heavy Moon lulls us into a dream state, Paranoid Sleeping takes us to a more nightmarish world. Heavy electronic bass mingles with indie rock elements and Julia’s vocals take on a slightly sinister quality. The two tracks nestled against each other at the start of this EP prove to be a powerful duo.
The aforementioned Youth comes next. Sat here in the heart of the EP, we get a moment of more typical indie rock, albeit with Julia’s unique twist on it. Forest gives us Bowie-esque experimental blues, jazz and rock. It’s a highlight. Virtual Dehydrated goes heavy and industrial in a brooding, offbeat number before All Words gives us a big finish through its slow-building, atmospheric jazz rock composition.
The persona of Julia Sole gives a certain liberty to being free and open for the woman behind the mask, and her music is all the richer for it. First Floor : Inhale is a heady, unsettling mix of dreams and paranoia which soothes and challenges in equal measure. I’m really excited about what Julia Sole is putting out into the world. I’m looking forward to hearing about all her floors.
You can check out First Floor : Inhale below.
