Julia Jacklin

A childhood fascination with Britney Spears is where Julia Jacklin's story starts, and it is a long way from the sound she now makes. Born in 1990, she grew up in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, and her records move between indie pop, indie folk and alternative country, a mix critics have been quick to describe. Four studio albums in, her songs still hinge on small, precise observations rather than grand gestures.

Jacklin's path was not straightforward. She worked at an essential oils factory to save for recording, then in 2016 began touring so heavily she could no longer manage her day job. Her debut album, Don't Let the Kids Win, followed that October on Transgressive Records, recorded with Ben Edwards in Lyttelton, New Zealand. After a 2016 SXSW showcase drew rave reviews, the 2019 follow-up Crushing arrived to warm reception, averaging 85 on Metacritic across 26 reviews. Pre Pleasure, recorded in Montreal, came in 2022, and in 2025 she became lead vocalist of Binspoon, a Grinspoon tribute act. The Gem followed in 2026.