Florida raised singer-songwriter Julie Williams is among the crop of artists paving their own way in the music industry, taking full control of her career and carving out a niche. Having grown up singing in Church and bars, Williams has been quietly garnering attention in the worlds of Country, Americana and Folk. Her 2023 self-titled EP featured the song ‘Southern Curls’, which has become somewhat of a breakout moment. Now Williams is moving to the next stage of her career with 5-track EP ‘Tennessee Moon’.
The ethereal sound of the title track opens the EP, with an acoustic melody providing the perfect backing for Williams gorgeously beautiful voice. The lyrics capture a picturesque lakeside moment that Williams is keen to hold in her memory. Her voice delivers each word with such emotion, that you can’t help but be pulled into her world. It’s also nice to have a modern song clocking in at over 5 minutes in length, allowing a story to be told and giving it room to breathe rather than dashing through two minutes in the hope of TikTok glory.
The EP’s second song is the acoustic-driven ‘dirt’, a song that deals with working through trauma and coming out the other side. It picks up on similar themes to ‘Southern Curls’, as Williams sings about wondering what she’ll become if she stops seeing herself through the eyes of others. This one hits in the feels. Hard. The recently released ‘reckless road’ sits at the middle of the EP and it’s a classic banjo-driven Country song. Think The Chicks around the ‘Home’ era, and that’s the kind of sound Williams has captured here. Lyrically the song is about two people in a relationship who are different roads, but one of them is taken by surprise when things break down.
‘just friends?’, the EP’s first single, is one of the highlights here. Williams’ stunning tone allows her even to curse and make it sound delightful. The song is a heartfelt meditation on a meaningful same sex friendship that verged on being something more. It’s a coming-of-age moment looked back upon tentatively, even though the narrator knows what was really going on. The final song on the EP is a ‘moonlight version’ of ‘southern curls’, and I’m not afraid to admit it made me cry like a baby. This new version really puts emphasis on the lyrics, and as someone who has most definitely felt like an ‘other’ in the eyes of other people, it really struck a chord. For Williams, the song is an exploration of her roots, her identity and her background. It’s awe-inspiring.
Julie Williams isn’t just a superb artist that deserves a wider audience, she’s a vital voice that music so desperately needs. As TikTok and AI take over, and hits are made by committee, Williams brings it back to authenticity with her bold and personal approach to songwriting. Her voice is other worldly and her stories need to be heard. We could do with a lot more artists like Williams in music, and I have a feeling she’s only just starting to scratch the surface of what she can do.
Track list: 1. tennessee moon 2. dirt 3. reckless road 4. just friends? 5. Southern curls (moonlight version) Record label: Julie Williams Release date: 17th October 2024
