Jules Walcott is not waiting for permission. And we’re living for it! She is an alternative dark pop artist from Long Island who decided to pursue her own career in music after teaching it following a tour with High School Nation in 2019.
Since then, she has amassed 800K Spotify listeners, 500K YouTube subscribers, 87M+ YouTube views, and 370K Instagram followers, along with a collaboration with Arctic Fox, and a feature in the Playboy’s Gen Z rebrand.
Her debut album Young & Reckless is a culmination of her experiences thus far and an insight into who Jules is during quiet, intimate moments and loud, confident bursts. We had the chance to catch up with her about being a social media influencer as well as a music artist, her debut album Young & Reckless, and of course, her hair!
About Jules Walcott
You’re from Long Island, New York, which saw the rise of artists such as Billy Joel, Lou Reed, and Blue Öyster Cult. Did growing up in that environment influence you as an artist?
Definitely, although probably in a different way than people expect. New York is tough, and I got bullied a lot growing up because I had really big dreams. Where I grew up on Long Island, there was a lot of emphasis on the traditional suburban life, and I didn’t see many people around me dreaming about the kind of future I wanted. There’s nothing wrong with that lifestyle, but I knew I wanted something different, and people made me feel ridiculous for believing I could have it. That experience gave me a lot to write about. So much of who I am as an artist comes from being that girl who felt out of place but kept dreaming anyway.
You’ve built quite a following on social media! How do you maintain a sense of self when people online are quick to criticize and assume?
Honestly, the commentary online doesn’t really affect me. It’s usually an account with no profile picture, some angry older man, or someone who seems to have a lot of judgment and hate in their heart. I’m not for everyone, and that’s okay. I have bright-colored hair and a big attitude, which not everyone understands, and that’s perfectly fine. I don’t need everyone to understand me to feel comfortable being myself. As long as I’m someone I would have looked up to when I was younger, that’s what matters to me.
How has being on social media helped or hurt being a musical artist?
It’s helped me find people who connect with me and my music without having to wait for someone in the industry to give me permission. That’s something I’ll always be grateful for. The difficult part is getting people to slow down and really listen when everything moves so quickly. You can spend so much time figuring out how to get someone’s attention that you barely have energy left for the thing you wanted their attention for. I love connecting with my fans, but I’m still figuring out that balance.
You have an interesting wardrobe: masculine and comfortable oversized clothing to cabaret-esque pieces. How would you describe your style? What attracts you to an article of clothing?
I’d describe my style as rockstar meets doll-like, with a little Gothic influence and a little streetwear. Sometimes I want something oversized and comfortable, and sometimes I want to look like a haunted doll who’s in a band. It really depends on my mood.
I’m drawn to pieces with personality, whether that’s the silhouette, the texture, or a detail that makes me build an entire outfit around it. I like being able to play with different sides of myself and still have it all feel like me.
About Young & Reckless
Congratulations on releasing Young & Reckless! How would you describe the album in three words?
Unfiltered, restless, vulnerable.
We’re also loving the return of the Pink Hair Princess! How did you know you wanted to have pink hair again during the release of your debut album?
Pink was the first color I ever dyed my hair when I was fifteen, so it feels connected to the girl who first had all these dreams. The Pink Hair Princess has also been such a recognizable part of my identity, especially for the fans who have been here for a while. Bringing her back for my debut album felt like a homecoming. I’ve spent so much time being told what I should look like and who I should be, so there’s something really special about stepping into this moment looking how I want to look. Pink can be sweet, loud, romantic, chaotic—it gives me room for all of it.
You discuss heartache and insecurities in Young & Reckless; the lifeblood of teenage angst. How did you know you wanted that to be the central theme of your debut album?
Those were the feelings I needed to put somewhere. There’s something embarrassing about admitting how much someone hurt you or that you still want their love even after everything.
Music lets me say those things without cleaning them up first. And I don’t think those feelings magically disappear when you stop being a teenager. You can know better and still want the wrong person. You can be ambitious and confident and still wonder why you weren’t enough for someone. I wanted room for those contradictions.
‘Sent By The Devil’ to ‘Diva’ is energetic and self-assured whereas ‘Heartless’ to ‘Sad Forever’ is more withdrawn and melancholic. I interpreted this change as growing up: having to calm down and be realistic. Was that shift intentional?
I love that you heard growing up in that shift. To me, those sides belong to the same person. You can go out, feel beautiful, act like nobody can touch you, and then get home and wish one specific person had called. The confidence is real, but so is what comes up when everything gets quiet. I think growing up can mean getting more honest about that. I don’t necessarily want to become less wild; I want to understand myself better.
If you could have an artist featured on Young & Reckless, who would you pick and on what song?
Charli xcx on ‘DIVA’ or Trippie Redd on ‘Sent By The Devil.’
I can hear Charli bringing so much attitude and personality to ‘DIVA’—it would be such a fun song to hear her play with. And I’d love to hear Trippie’s voice on ‘Sent By The Devil.’ He has that mix of intensity and melody that I think would fit so well. Those would be two very different collaborations, but I’d be so excited about either.
Also, in honor of your partnership with Arctic Fox, if you could assign each song on Young & Reckless a color, what would that look like?
I’d give the album a mix of really bold colors and softer, moodier shades. This would be my palette:
‘Sent By The Devil’ – Deep Cherry Red. Temptation, heat, and knowing you’re probably getting yourself into trouble.
‘Loaded Gun’ – Gunmetal Gray. Something cold and metallic, with tension underneath.
‘Heaven’ – Soft Violet. Romantic and almost dreamlike, with sadness in it.
‘Thats Just Who I Am’ – Electric Purple. Expressive, a little rebellious, and comfortable standing out.
‘DIVA’ – Hot Pink. Loud, playful, and very aware that you’re looking.
‘Heartless’ – Icy Silver. Beautiful, but cold to the touch.
‘Cant sleep’ – Midnight Blue. That color the room turns when you’re still awake and everyone else is asleep.
‘Sad Forever’ – Faded Blue. The color everything seems to turn when you miss someone.
With Young & Reckless, what thoughts and feelings are you hoping people have after listening?
I hope there’s a moment where someone thinks, “Oh my God, I thought I was the only person who felt that.” Especially the feelings you don’t want to admit to your friends because you’ve already told them you’re over it. My fans have given me somewhere to belong, and I want the music to give that back to them. They don’t have to have everything figured out to be part of this. Neither do I. I just hope they finish the album feeling closer to me and a little less alone.
We’re considering Deep Cherry Red for ‘Sent By The Devil’ or Soft Violet for ‘Heaven.’ What song and color pair speaks to you? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JULES WALCOTT:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
