Julia Jacklin

Julia Jacklin (born 30 August 1990) is an Australian singer-songwriter from the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales. Jacklin's musical style has been described as indie pop, indie folk, and alternative country. She has released three studio albums, Don't Let the Kids Win, Crushing (2019), and Pre Pleasure (2022). Jacklin has also performed with the band Phantastic Ferniture, with whom she released the debut single "Fuckin 'n' Rollin" and a self-titled album in 2018, followed by subsequent singles.

Early life and education Jacklin grew up in the Blue Mountains, Australia, in a family of school teachers. Her father is from Northampton. Inspired by Britney Spears, at the age of 10, she took classical singing lessons before joining a high school band which did Avril Lavigne and Evanescence covers. She studied social policy at Sydney University, and after graduating she lived in a garage in Glebe, a suburb of Sydney, and worked in a factory making essential oils. Growing up, Jacklin did not know anyone who was a full-time musician, and her family did not understand what it meant to be a musician: "They didn't really see it as being something that was going to work out, at all," Jacklin says in an interview with Sound of Boston.

Career Jacklin continued to perform locally, and formed the band Salta together with Liz Hughes in 2012.

2014-2016: Santafel and Don't Let the Kids Win In 2014, Jacklin released her debut solo EP, Santafel. thumb Jacklin gained an audience and significant critical acclaim through her first two singles, "Pool Party" and "Coming of Age", which both received radio airplay on BBC Radio 6 Music. She toured extensively from March 2016 in the US, UK, Europe and Australia, appearing at various festivals (most notably End of the Road Festival, Electric Picnic and South by Southwest). She has played headline gigs and has also supported artists such as First Aid Kit, Whitney, Marlon Williams and Okkervil River. In 2016, Rolling Stone Australia tipped Jacklin as one of their "Future Is Now" artists, while Triple J nominated her for a J Award for Unearthed Artist of the Year. Jacklin did not consider herself a full-time musician until August 2016, when she really started touring and figured she could not manage her regular job anymore.

Her debut studio album, Don't Let The Kids Win, was released in October 2016 on Transgressive Records. Jacklin was working at an essential oils factory to save money to record with producer Ben Edwards, having been inspired by Aldous Harding's debut album. The album was recorded and produced by Edwards in Lyttelton, New Zealand over a three-week period. Vogue, Brooklyn Vegan and NME. Off the back of SXSW she signed with Transgressive Records, Polyvinyl Record Co. and Liberation Music and showcased at The Great Escape Festival in the UK. Following the release of the album, she went on to perform at major festivals including Glastonbury Festival, Latitude Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival.

In January 2017, Julia Jacklin was named "Next Big Thing" at the FBi SMAC Awards for 2016 before she embarked on another extensive tour of Europe. She achieved various award nominations including ARIA Charts Female Artist of the Year, J Award for Album of the Year, as well as APRA Music Awards of 2017 Song of the Year for her single 'Pool Party'.

2017–2020: Crushing

In September 2017, Julia Jacklin released a 7" single featuring two songs, once again recorded with producer Ben Edwards in Lyttelton, New Zealand. Touring in support of the single, Jacklin headlined Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on top of selling out shows in Los Angeles, New York City, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney and cities throughout the United Kingdom.thumb In March 2018, Jacklin confirmed, via social media, that she had completed her second album. The album was recorded with producer Burke Reid (Courtney Barnett, The Drones) and features Blain Cunneen (guitar), Dominic Rizzo (piano), Clayton Allen (drums), Harry Fuller (bass) and Georgia Mulligan (backing vocals). Singles released prior to the album's release included "Body", "Head Alone", "Pressure To Party" and "Comfort". Crushing was released in February 2019, and was warmly received by critics with an average score of 85 on Metacritic, based on 26 reviews from mainstream publications. In light of the release of Crushing, Jacklin came at number 4 in Happy Mags list of "The 15 Australian female artists changing the game right now".

Jacklin has stated that the song, "Head Alone" was written about personal boundaries, contrasting with the encroachment of her personal and physical space during album tours and relationships.

The tour in support of Crushing included festival dates at Shaky Knees Music Festival, Latitude Festival and Forecastle Festival, as well as sold-out headline shows for the majority of her world tour.

In October 2020 Julia Jacklin released a 7" single for the fifth volume of the Sub Pop Singles Club containing two new songs, "To Perth, Before the Border Closes" and "Cry".

2022–present: Pre Pleasure and The Gem On 10 May 2022, Jacklin announced her album Pre Pleasure with a 26 August release date via Polyvinyl. She accompanied the announcement with the release of her single "Lydia Wears a Cross". The album was recorded in Montreal, Quebec and was released in August 2022.

In 2025, Jacklin became the lead vocalist of a Grinspoon tribute act called Binspoon.

Jacklin announced in June 2026 she will be going on tour in North America and Europe. The tour coincides with her signing with British record label 4AD. The album is scheduled to release on 25 September 2026.

In May 2018, the band released their debut single "Fuckin 'n' Rollin", accompanied by a music video directed by Nick McKinlay. In July 2018 the band released its self-titled album, produced by drummer Ryan K Brennan. The album featured subsequent singles "Gap Year", "Bad Timing" and "Dark Corner Dance Floor".

Following a hiatus, the band released two new tracks, "Change My Mind" and "Dare to Fall in Love", in September 2025.

Musical and visual style Allmusic described her music as a "meld of dreamy indie pop and confessional alt-country", She has also mentioned Fiona Apple and Leonard Cohen as influences.

In an episode of Amoeba Records' long-running What's in my Bag?, Jacklin listed her connections to Fiona Apple, Edith Piaf, Silverchair, Iris DeMent, The Drifters, Laura Jean, Goblin, Emile Mosseri, Zap Mama, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Britney Spears, Björk, and Neil Young.

Discography Studio albums TitleDetailsPeak positions AUS NZ UK Don't Let the Kids WinReleased: 7 October 2016 Label: Transgressive, Polyvinyl, Liberation Format: LP, CD, digital download 42 — — CrushingReleased: 22 February 2019 Label: Transgressive, Polyvinyl, Liberation 8 22 67 Pre PleasureReleased: 26 August 2022 Label: Transgressive, Polyvinyl, Liberation 2 11 56 The GemReleased: 25 September 2026 Label: 4AD — — —

Extended plays + List of EPs, with selected details Title Details Santafel Released: December 2014 Label: Julia Jacklin

Singles

Awards and nominations AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Herself Breakthrough Independent Artist

Don't Let the Kids Win Best Independent Blues and Roots Album 2019 Herself Best Independent Artist

Best Independent Album

Best Independent Blues and Roots Album "Don't Know How to Keep Loving You" Independent Song of the Year

Pre Pleasure Independent Album of the Year

"I Was Neon" Independent Song of the Year

APRA Awards The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". 2017 "Pool Party" by Julia Jacklin

2020 "Pressure to Party" by Julia Jacklin 2023 "Lydia Wears a Cross"

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Jacklin have been nominated for eight awards. Nick McKinlay for Don't Let the Kids Win Best Cover Art

Best Female Artist

Best Independent Release Best Adult Contemporary Album Nick McKK for Crushing Best Cover Art

Engineer of the Year Producer of the Year

Best Solo Artist

Best Independent Release Best Adult Contemporary Album "Lydia Wears a Cross" by Julia Jacklin Best Video 2023 Pre Pleasure Tour Best Australian Live Act

Australian Music Prize The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. It exists to discover, reward and promote new Australian music of excellence. 2019 Crushing

2022 Pre Pleasure

J Awards The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J.

Themselves Unearthed Artist of the Year

Don't Let the Kids Win Australian Album of the Year 2019 Themselves Double J Artist of the Year 2022 Pre Pleasure Australian Album of the Year 2023 Julia Jacklin Australian Live Act of the Year Music Victoria Awards The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.

"Lydia Wears a Cross" Best Victorian Song

Julia Jacklin Best Solo Artist

Pre Pleasure Best Album

"Love, Try Not to Let Go" Best Song National Live Music Awards The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016. 2016 Herself The Heatseeker Award (Best New Act)

Live Voice of the Year

Live Country or Folk Act of the Year International Live Achievement (Solo) Best Live Voice of the Year (People's Choice)

2018 Herself

Live Voice of the Year

International Live Achievement (Solo)

Julia Jacklin Live Voice in Victoria

Rolling Stone Australia Awards The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year. 2023 Pre Pleasure Best Record