Julia Wolf

Born Julia Jade Capello, Wolf was raised in Glen Head, New York, on Long Island’s North Shore. She began writing poetry and song lyrics at North Shore High School and later studied English literature before pursuing music full-time. She graduated from SUNY Purchase and studied music composition at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music.

Wolf began playing classical music at seven after her father gave her a white baby grand piano. She became a classically trained pianist and vocalist, performed in school talent shows, and wrote her first original song for a senior showcase. Her stage name came from a childhood nickname connected to her younger sister’s imaginary protective friend.

Wolf began independently releasing music in 2019, including the songs “Captions,” “Immortale” and “Chlorine.” Her early work combined lyrics-first songwriting with minimal, confessional production and drew attention on TikTok, Spotify playlists and Spotify’s Fresh Finds program. She writes lyrics in both English and Italian, and her bilingual song “Immortale” reflects her Italian heritage.

Her debut EP, Girls in Purgatory, arrived in 2021 as an eight-track project about femininity, vulnerability, self-image and the tension between protecting other people’s feelings and asserting oneself. The EP included “RBF: Part 1” and “RBF: Part 2,” which explored the social assumptions attached to a woman’s expression and the contrasting advantages and difficulties of appearing intimidating.

Wolf’s DIY approach developed partly from difficulty finding producers who understood her desired sound. She taught herself Photoshop and used online resources to create her own artwork, photography and videos, while also independently producing demos. Her songwriting begins with lyrics, followed by melody and production, and her visual work includes surreal collages influenced in part by Tyler, the Creator’s album artwork.

Wolf released her first studio album, Good Thing We Stayed, in 2023. The record paired introspective lyrics with layered electronic and guitar-driven production and addressed commitment, growth and creative resilience. Her collaboration with songwriter and producer Jackson Foote, of the electro-pop duo Loote, was important to developing the sound she had been trying to achieve. Foote first contacted her after seeing a clip of her performing on Instagram, and their first studio session followed a video of her performing at an open mic in Queens.

Her 2025 album Pressure moved toward darker alternative-rock textures, with heavier guitar, grunge and metal influences. Songs including “Jennifer’s Body,” “Kill You Off,” “Limewire,” “Loser” and “You’ve Lost A Lot of Blood” expanded her dark, gothic aesthetic while retaining her emphasis on emotional directness. Wolf described the album as a response to creative anxiety and a move away from making music that felt merely palatable.

“In My Room” became a breakout single after going viral on TikTok, particularly through fan-made edits connected to the Twilight films. Wolf later filmed a music video in Forks, Washington, and performed acoustically at the movie house used as Bella Swan’s home. Her connection to Twilight helped introduce the song to a wider audience.

Wolf’s growing profile led to a collaboration with Drake on “Dog House,” whose opening features her guitar-led vocals and melody. She has also appeared on songs with MGK, Maggie Lindemann, RJ Pasin and John Summit. Her touring has included headline performances in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as opening for Halsey and supporting MGK on the Lost Americana Tour.

Wolf’s music blends indie pop, electronic pop, alternative rock and R&B with diaristic lyrics about comparison, self-worth, longing and quiet insecurities. Her vocal style has been described as ethereal and honey-toned, while her writing uses stream-of-consciousness phrasing, concise melodies and a direct emotional perspective.

She has cited early-2000s pop, R&B vocalists, rap, Frank Ocean, SZA and the pop-punk band The Front Bottoms among her influences. She has also drawn inspiration from the cinematic mood of Twilight, and critics have compared aspects of her aesthetic with Caroline Polachek and Lorde while noting connections to alternative rock and shoegaze.