Julia Calvin only came across our radars this week, but we’re already in love. The Costa Rican and American singer-songwriter creates a very sincere pop sound which is instantly captivating.
‘is it?’ is an introspective song that is relatable to anyone who has a habit of putting other people ahead of themselves. The track marks the moment when Calvin finally decides that enough is enough – and to not be swayed just for the benefit of others.
“As a recovering people-pleaser, I have a tendency to overly seek reassurance. This song was born during a time when I was in a long-distance relationship and I wasn’t getting the reassurance I felt I needed that things were okay. It was an admission that, while I was bringing old subjects back up, I also needed to be met in the middle – ‘it’s really not much to meet me halfway, is it?’ I’m an older sister (if you know you know), and I have a tendency to over-extend myself and put my needs aside for others. This song was the beginning of standing my ground, and realizing that ‘I don’t wanna be a nice girl if nobody ever listens.’ I took the idea to the last writing session I did in LA before moving to NYC a year ago, and we finished it so quickly and effortlessly. Favorite kind of writing session!”
Calvin’s music first gained recognition in 2019, when she won the BMI Foundation’s Peermusic Latin Scholarship Award that year. Since then she’s released two EP’s – ‘Boxes’ in 2022 and ‘Everything to Gain’ in 2024. You can listen to both records here.
Julia Calvin | Ones To Watch Playlist