Album Review: Julia Wolf - "Pressure"
In the modern alt-pop landscape, few artists are as unflinchingly honest as Julia Wolf. On her new album, "Pressure", she not only solidifies her place as a brutally introspective songwriter but also pushes her sound into a darker, more defiant space. Released on May 23, 2025, the album is a defiant act of emotional reclamation, where Wolf confronts self-doubt, industry expectations, and personal ghosts with a raw vulnerability that is both unsettling and revolutionary.
While her 2023 debut, "Good Thing We Stayed", leaned into a glossy pop minimalism, "Pressure" embraces a more chaotic, genre-fluid approach. Produced by Scro with additional input from artists like Lynn Gunn (PVRIS), the record is a dizzying mix of pop, emo, shoegaze, and even moments of metalcore. Tracks like the opener, "Kill You Off", showcase this new sonic palette, blending bouncing drum-and-bass rhythms with wailing metal guitars and a lyrical venom that sets the tone for the entire project.
The album's title is a direct reflection of its content. As Wolf herself has stated, "Pressure is what sets me free." The lyrics are a journal of intrusive thoughts, bitter realisations, and the constant battle with comparison. "Jennifer's Body" (a nod to the cult-classic film) explores the painful insecurity of feeling invisible next to someone who effortlessly captivates a room. On "Girls", she grapples with the duality of supporting other women while wrestling with her own self-doubt. These themes are not just explored; they are laid bare with a poet's grace and a punk's ferocity.
Among the standout moments on the album is the track "Fingernails". It stands out as one of the record's more vulnerable and raw offerings, with Wolf delving into the anxieties of a new relationship. As she revealed in a track-by-track interview, the song is about the "fear and vulnerability that comes with loving someone so much." The lyrics paint a picture of wanting to give a person everything, even at the cost of sacrificing parts of yourself, while being tormented by the uncertainty of how the other person feels. It is a powerful and relatable exploration of devotion and longing, capturing the push and pull of being seen while simultaneously being unsure of what that means.
Beyond the lyrical depth, "Pressure" is filled with standout moments that linger long after the final note. "Loser" is a gut-punch of a track, with Wolf’s trembling voice confessing to "chugging NyQuil" just to escape the feeling of unworthiness. It's a raw, agonising follow-up to her viral hit, "In My Room", which is included on the album and remains a devastating snapshot of obsessive self-sabotage. In contrast, "FYP" showcases her signature dry wit and self-aware swagger, turning the burnout of online fame into a triumphant anthem.
"Pressure" is not a comfortable listen, and it's not supposed to be. It's a cathartic, at times jarring, journey through the mind of an artist who refuses to filter herself. The album has been met with positive critical reception, with outlets praising its honesty and willingness to experiment. Julia Wolf isn't just telling her story on "Pressure"—she's demanding to be seen on her own terms. In a music world that often favours polished facades, her unfiltered and fearless work is truly impossible to look away from.
