Julia Rose is a treasure from up on the Gold Coast that’s been sharing her talent in various guises for the past decade. Still performing in a collection of bands, she has released her second solo EP, Stairway to the Moon, and is currently embarking on a limited Australian tour.
With a three-octave range and multi-skilled musicianship, it’s a wonder her Aussie folk ballad-style hasn’t taken over the world yet. “The Rain it Came” is a revolving melody that’s catchy as hell. A fast-paced roots number that ducks in and out of an incredible violin accompaniment while Rose walks you through stormy Queensland weather via operatic vocals.
The rest of her EP follows similar lines: fun guitar licks, multi-instrumentation and flawless vocal technique. What strikes me most about Rose though, is that she’s writing some brilliantly honest tunes. She uses her music to tell narratives that comfortably transport you to where she is. Maybe she’s a better storyteller because of the genre she is working in but listening to a tune like “Melbourne Town” tells me otherwise. Such scope as she croons in ballad and is backed by a beautiful string section and jazz-influenced folk rhythms: she is bending genres to fit her style and not working for anything.
“Gina” steps into Cabaret territory in the same fashion as The Cat Empire with an energetic and comical vocal performance. Her operatic asides pitch it to a new level though; I’m shuddering trying to compare her against anything or anyone else.
What is clear is that this talented beauty is anti-essentialist and damn entertaining. This week she’s reminded me why I love music so much, and it’s been a while.
Julia Rose is currently touring around Australia but unfortunately won’t be joining us in Melbourne. Her second EP Stairway to the Moon is out now through Human Records.
REVIEW BY STEF ITALIA