23-year-old singer-songwriter Julia Duclos, who’s a familiar face in the local open mic arena, officially makes her mark in the Malaysian music scene with debut single, “Further”.
Produced by prolific Singaporean musician Charlie Lim, and recorded in Singapore — One quick listen to the mid-tempo ballad will instantly make you fall in love with Julia’s hauntingly ethereal voice and smooth R&B vibes, armed with subtle pop influences and hints of jazz. Woot woot! 🙌
“Further really is about realising that you don’t have to be dependent on someone else to make yourself feel whole. Sometimes, you really do need that distance to get closer to who you really are,” Julia said of the heartbreak anthem.
As the song was written and told from a woman’s point of view and penned based on Julia’s own personal experience, the singer hopes women around the nation will see that the end of the relationship isn’t the end of everything.
Now, let’s find out more about the charming and warm-hearted songstress:
1. Signed to Sony Music Malaysia at age 22
Know the name; Julia Duclos — because you’re about to see this sultry singer all over the nation soon! Julia is also set to release a second single in the last quarter of 2018.
2. She dropped out of music at a young age
While music is her everything now, growing up, Julia struggled to find comfort in the dreams of pursuing a music career. At a tender age, her parents sent her to study music, only for her to subsequently drop out. However, it was none other than her brother and fellow singer-songwriter Taylor Swift that inspired her to pick up the guitar. To supplement her self-taught guitar skills, Julia also attended vocal lessons.
3. Hayley Williams (Paramore) kinda changed her life
As her passion for music began to grow—thanks to the guitar and her singing lessons—Julia started to delve into songwriting. Soon after, Julia found herself performing in plays and school musicals. However, despite the exposure, she still wasn’t entirely sure music was a stable and reliable path to fall into —that is, until she got the chance to meet Paramore front woman, Hayley Williams, during the American rock band’s tour stop in Kuala Lumpur.
“Being able to see Hayley connect with her fans during the show was life-changing for me. It was that exact moment I knew, even if pursuing music was unconventional and to some degree deemed risky, the human connection and experiences you build through music is just priceless,” said Julia.
4. Julia opened for Jake Bugg’s KL show
With music now truly her number one passion, Julia has gone on to conquer both the small and big stages. In April 2018, she was the opening act for British indie-rock singer Jake Bugg’s intimate Kuala Lumpur showcase. In the future, she hopes to work with artists like Kimbra, French Kiwi Juice (FKJ), Froya and SonaOne.
5. Music runs in the family
Her brother was a guitarist/vocalist for I, Revival, one of Malaysia’s biggest metalcore acts in the scene which comes alongside the likes of Massacre Conspiracy, SOG and The Padangs.
6. Subang Jaya represent
Like fellow local musicians Yuna, Nyk and Talitha Tan, homegirl Julia is also based in Subang Jaya, Selangor!
Can’t get enough? Connect with Julia Duclos by following the songstress on Instagram to stay updated with her busy lifestyle. Check out her Spotify and Youtube channels too while you’re at it!