julie
my anti-aircraft friend
Atlantic Records [2024]
Album Overview: julie is an art-rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 2020 after Dillon Lee and Keyan Pourzand met in high school. They bonded over alternative rock bands like My Bloody Valentine and Henry’s Dress. Along with bassist Alex Brady, the trio began releasing music, leading up to their 2021 EP Pushing Daisies. my anti-aircraft friend marks julie’s first full-length project and represents a significant step, showcasing a more defined musical identity. The album builds on their earlier EP, introducing new complexities in composition and thematic depth. All ten tracks exemplify a contrasting dynamic and intricate vocal layering found throughout the album. Each song plays with shifts in volume and tone, reinforcing the band’s nuanced sound while maintaining an experimental edge that blends shoegaze, dissonant Sonic Youth-style noise, and grunge-driven guitar rock. For a debut, julie sound like seasoned veterans, as my anti-aircraft friend bursts with raw energy from beginning to end, making you want to hit replay as soon as it’s over.
Musical Style: julie blends shoegaze, grunge, and noise-pop, using textured guitars and intricate arrangements to craft their sound. The music features sharp contrasts, shifting effortlessly between quiet and intense sections. Their layered vocal delivery enhances the depth of their compositions, creating a sound that feels both expansive and intimate. This mix of influences draws from multiple genres without settling into one.
Evolution of Sound: Starting with their early singles and Pushing Daisies (EP), julie’s sound has evolved from raw shoegaze into something more multifaceted. my anti-aircraft friend represents the culmination of this evolution, expanding their arrangements and diving deeper into structured chaos. Their music now balances tight, melodic sections with chaotic, distorted elements. The album reflects the band’s growing confidence in pushing musical boundaries.
Artists with Similar Fire: Fans of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Hum, and Been Stellar will likely find julie’s music familiar. Their sound also echoes the rawness of Polvo and the experimental edge of black midi. The guitar muscle of a heavier band like Elder also comes through. These influences manifest in julie’s use of dissonance, feedback, booming guitars, and dynamic shifts, creating a soundscape that blends noise-pop and grunge.
Pivotal Tracks: “clairbourne practice” hits hard and introduces the listener to the vocal interplay and fluctuating dynamics central to my anti-aircraft friend. Other key tracks include “piano instrumental,” which showcases the album’s layered guitar work, and “feminine adornments,” which builds on the band’s earlier sound with more complexity and experimentation. Each track reveals new facets of julie’s approach to noise and melody.
Lyrical Strength: julie’s lyrics explore themes of conflict, misunderstanding, and personal introspection, often delivered through fragmented, impressionistic phrases. The layered vocals between two singers create a sense of conversation or internal struggle, enhancing the emotional weight of their words and adding depth to their introspective, charged lyrics.
JULIE LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp | Atlantic Records
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