Words by: Alyson Brinkley
Julia Wolf is back, but not for love. Her newly released EP, Girls in Purgatory is overflowing with songs we can best describe as lyrically edgy and antagonistic. Her most recent single previous to the EP release, “Falling in Love,” was anti-romantic, and an opportunity for listeners to pry themselves away from the black hole of the dating world. It was just a glimpse of the wisdom she imparts on the rest of the EP, which has Julia staring stormy eyed at the traditional narrative of going out to find love. When asked her spin on “Falling in Love” and the themes of some of the other songs on the EP she states,
“It’s music for people who haven’t made “falling in love” their end all be all. Sometimes when I go out to clubs with my friends, people think it’s crazy that I’d actually prefer to dance with them the whole night than meet a guy to go home with. As if being on your own and doing your own thing is bad? It never made sense to me how much pressure people put on needing a significant other. To that point, of course, I’m not anti-love or anything, but I wanted to be a voice for others that feel the same way I do and help them see there’s nothing wrong with choosing to focus on yourself and your goals first!”
Julia Wolf
Additionally, she shared the meaning behind the title.
“The title comes from the constant battle I feel between doing what’s best for me, while also navigating through everyone else’s feelings. So many situations leave me in my own purgatory where the best road to take is rarely ever clear. This EP is a reflection on moments where I feel like that most.”
Wolf is stern and determined throughout the EP. Her song “Checkmate” is a classy “f*ck you” to anyone that every doubted her. As she states, “You stab backs, I stay polite.”
Although she is known for her unearthly aesthetic, the EP stands out amongst her older, milder singles like “Hoops” or “Pillow.” It’s a completely remorseless sound that aligns with her values of chasing your dreams, no matter how timid you may be. “Nikes” is a reflection of an inner confidence everyone wishes to channel in a relationship. She went on to explain her last straw to writing so unapologetically on this EP, and provided advice for women with the same feelings towards dating right now
“My last straw was at a club named Tao in the city. A guy had approached asking me to dance or get a drink, and I had kindly said thanks but it’s a girl’s night (aka the TRUTH). Anyways he called me a bitch for not accepting his offer and I was shook by the audacity. Like he was truly perplexed by the idea of a woman choosing her friends first. My advice is to follow your gut and live life for yourself. There’s no point in dating because it’s “expected” of you. That leads to settling and years of life down the drain. When it happens, it happens and there’s no right or wrong time for that to be.”
After listening to the EP on repeat since the release on October 7, it’s safe to say we’ve deleted our dating apps and are saying “no” when we truly mean it. With that being said, we’ve found this year’s fall anthems.
Published by: Kadijat Salawudeen
