Single Review: ‘Julia’ by Gal Musette
The most recent release from Gal Musette, ‘Julia’, delves into adolescent loneliness and mental health struggles through gorgeously put together, haunting and melodic indie-folk. Gal introduces us to Julia, who stands for the imaginary friend, voice or personality we lean on in our heads when we can't trust anybody else.
A lover of all things French, the artist, whose real name is Grace Freeman, fashioned her stage name from bal-musette, an accordion and waltz-based style of French music. Far from France, Gal experienced a childhood full of piano compositions and performing at open mic nights in her home of San Clemente. Then, aged 14, inspired by The Magnetic Fields’ ‘69 Love Songs’, she recorded ‘70 Love Songs’ and caught the band’s attention, swiftly landing herself opening slots on their U.S. tour.
Marking a turning point in her career, she’s since collaborated with Rufus Wainwright and opened for the likes of Macy Gray and Suzanne Vega. And, inspired by Joni Mitchell, Regina Spektor, Cocteau Twins, and The Cure, amongst others, an array of influences are packed into ‘Julia’ and the dreamy, carefully constructed music Gal Musette produces. The music has received steady support from popular outlets, including Earmilk and Atwood Magazine, which will only continue into the future.
‘Julia’ starts with striking piano chords and notes playing on their own for about 30 seconds. Airy and atmospheric, it sounds like something from a Jane Eyre film adaptation or an oddly specific, aesthetic YouTube playlist. Prettily done with tinges of Clairo’s latest album, strings and keys whimsically work together around Gal’s voice and lyrics. Interestingly, about mid-way, rumbling drums switch everything up and feed into a liberating tone. The song gets increasingly upbeat and fuller in sound as it goes on before dwindling and reverting to the piano playing it began with.
Gal’s voice comes in wistfully as she reveals Julia’s existence and instantly pulls you into the song with her storytelling, “Julia wakes up for breakfast and dreams every night just like we do.” Clashing the otherworldly with the mundane, striking characterisation builds up a story and gets Gal’s much deeper point across in tandem. Through the ghostly and eerie chorus, “I could see right through her…Julia’s awake, and her soul’s in the air,” we learn of an imaginary person, turned into folklore or fantasy yet constantly invisibly in the background. Reflecting the private, ever-present parts of people and the personality traits we try our best to bury, “It’s not me, it’s Julia.” Gal sings, uncovering how we hide behind other identities, picking and choosing what to display and the ways mental illness all too often splits people into pieces. Dainty yet daring, the song discusses the things we keep locked away with flowing, echoing instrumentation.
This autumn, if you’re in or around Los Angeles, you’ll be able to see Gal Musette live at the Hotel Cafe on September 29th. And, on October 1st, ‘Backwards Lullaby’, a debut album exploring the cyclical nature and complexities of life and love, will be released.
❀❀❀
Follow the links below to listen to Gal Musette and to learn more about her work.
by Lauren Burns (Editor)
Follow Lauren’s Instagram
Follow Gal Musette’s Instagram
Listen to Gal Musette on Spotify
❀