Recommended Tracks: “Monsters Out of Men,” “Cut From the Sequel,” “JAB!”
Artists You Might Like: Billie Eilish, Reneé Rapp, Lorde
Who was it that said, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?” Because whoever said it was absolutely right. Women don’t need to be messed with, they don’t need to be played, and they certainly don’t need a man to tell them how to live. When a woman feels betrayed, whoever did them wrong is truly asking for it—the “it,” in this case, being JULITH’s debut EP, This Is A Kindness. Throughout the project, JULITH, formerly known as Julia Pratt, burns down what she had and resurrects a strength and resilience from the ashes. She doesn’t forgive. She doesn’t forget. She just shares her truth and uses it to her advantage.
The EP opens with “Will She/Won’t She,” a scathing alt-pop track that makes you suspicious of JULITH’s actions. While the track is elegant, refined, and smooth-sounding with the dreamy piano and pop melodies, there is a hint of danger that comes through. JULITH sings, “Will I? Won’t I? / Wait and see / I’ll take you down with me” and “Do I make you uncomfortable? / I’ll simmer down / I’ll light it up,” the tension building with each question she asks. Toward the end, this tension explodes as she gives us sassy, vengeful lines to round out the story and set up our narrative for the rest of the project.
After dealing with someone who just doesn’t get you or someone who hurts you on multiple levels, it is likely that you will have thoughts. Many thoughts. On “Monsters Out of Men,” JULITH realizes, “You can’t love the monsters out of men,” no matter how hard you try. Her emotion spills out of lyrics like, “You cry like it’s not your fault / You took all that I had left” and “You had me screaming in silence / You had me blaming myself,” allowing the hurt to flow freely. She then regains control on “Right From Left,” a playful and rhythmic track that is full of attitude. This is definitely the song you play for someone when you need them to know that you have the upper hand. JULITH will never let anyone convince her to do things she doesn’t vibe with, especially when they don’t know “right from left.”
At this point in the EP, we all know that JULITH doesn’t hold back. She feels so deeply, and she sings from the heart. So, on “Phantom Limb,” JULITH gets vulnerable. She explains that the people who come into your life—for whatever reason—will never truly leave you. There’s a lounge-like quality to this track, due to the piano, bass, and relaxed pace. Meanwhile, JULITH shares, “Phantom limb / I’m cutting you off / Yet, you reappear again / On my skin / In my bed / As if you never left,” challenging the haunting quality of someone who isn’t even around. With “JAB!” however, JULITH regains her groove—literally. Over the cool alt-pop beats, she calls out a man who disappointed her. She tells him, “You’re not half the man you like to think you are” and “I’m calling you out and you call me crazy,” letting him know how much of a loser he really is, and in turn, preventing him from winning.
With “Cut From the Sequel” and “Pure Spite,” JULITH ends This Is A Kindness in a position of power. There’s an eclectic mix of emotion on “Cut From the Sequel,” as it ranges from conniving to sweet to cut-throat. Those out there who have been betrayed or have had someone to blame for their villain origin story can relate to the vengeful messages. Lines like, “Leave it to a man to make a woman turn evil / Want a second chance, I don’t know if that’s legal” and “Still acting like a clown / Same circus, different town,” come across as witty and empowering, and they also happen to be my personal faves. In the end, JULITH knows who she is, and she will live out of “Pure Spite” if necessary. Again, there’s a cool combination of elegance and bitterness that oozes out, drenching listeners in these different sides of JULITH. If you didn’t already know, she is not afraid to tell you again: “Ain’t nobody gonna tell me shit / Pure spite…that’s how I live.”
All in all, This Is A Kindness is a project that captures doubt, hurt, power, and conviction and unapologetically puts them on display. Listeners can hear it all play out from song to song, with JULITH using her phenomenal storytelling to fight against her own pressures and society’s expectations. She previously mentioned to the press, “It follows my journey to where I am now—speaking on the abuse, standing in my truth, and calling on others to stand up for one another and themselves.” When listening to the EP, there is never a sense that JULITH feels shame or feels as if she can’t overcome the situations and the people that were put in her way. She gives us permission to have our own struggles but not be fully defined by them. When it comes down to it, there is also a peace in saying how you feel, because “sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is tell the cold hard truth,” as JULITH has also shared. After hearing these songs, she makes a convincing point.
This Is A Kindness is out now. You can listen to it here.
Keep up with JULITH: Instagram // TikTok // YouTube // Website
This content feels like a warm hug when I need it most 💕