Julia Jacklin's stunning 'PRE PLEASURE' is out now!

August 26, 2022

Julia Jacklin's critically acclaimed new album, PRE PLEASURE, has arrived. The Australian's third full-length is a masterclass in songwriting and cements Julia's status as one of the most important songwriters of our time. Order your limited edition Early Bird vinyl on Cloudy Magenta (pictured above) shipping now from the Polyvinyl Store.

The binary of casual crisis is a powerful force in Julia Jacklin’s music. Since releasing her debut album Don’t Let The Kids Win in 2016, the Melbourne-via-Blue Mountains singer-songwriter has carved out a fearsome reputation as a direct lyricist, willing to excavate the parameters of intimacy and agency in songs both stark and raw, loose, and playful. If her folky debut announced those intentions, and the startling 2019 follow-up Crushing drew in listeners uncomfortably close, PRE PLEASURE is the sound of Julia gently loosening her grip.

PRE PLEASURE was conceived upon returning home from a mammoth world tour, and finished in a frantic few months of recording in Montreal with co-producer Marcus Paquin (The Weather Station, The National). The 10-track offering sees Julia once again putting intensely personal thoughts and feelings to paper whilst expanding on her signature sound; and, at the same time, attempting to inject some joy back into the process.

“Once music becomes your job, you can lose the purity of music fandom. I spent the last two years trying to reconnect with that. I didn’t play much, I just listened. Especially to a lot of big pop music like Celine Dion, Robyn and Luther Vandross – music that wasn’t so heavy, big feelings, big production. You lose sight of what putting on a big, beautiful song can do.”

PRE PLEASURE reflects this source inspiration and showcase Julia's willingness to explore new terrain as both a producer and songwriter, once again presenting her most authentic and genuine self and translating it into deeply personal, timeless songs.

Stirring piano-led opener "Lydia Wears A Cross" channels the underage confusion of being told religion is profound, despite only feeling it during the spectacle of its pageantry. "I Was Neon" quickly became a fan favorite with Consequence of Sound celebrating its “unbreakable brightness”. The gentle pulse of "Love, Try Not To Let Go" and dreamy strings of “Ignore Tenderness” betray an interrogation of consent and emotional injury (beneath the sheets you’re just a cave/ a plastic bucket, or a grave/ who said you’re not what you get/ you are what you gave away). The stark "Less Of A Stranger" picks at the generational thread of a mother/ daughter relationship, while the hymnal "Too In Love To Die" and loose jam of “Be Careful With Yourself” equate true love with the fear of losing it. Gorgeous string-drenched closer “End Of A Friendship” offers a grand gesture of post-communication – an effort to bestow fireworks on a friendship that’s fizzled out.

Today's album release sees Julia and co. embark on a worldwide run of dates across US, Canada, UK and Europe, including appearances at Here and There Festival & This Ain't No Picnic in LA this weekend. The tour will span several months and see Julia perform at her biggest venues to date, including iconic rooms like the 3000-capacity Roundhouse in London, and 1800-capacity Brooklyn Steel in New York –tickets onsale now.