Jupiter is the new single from Toronto-based musician Jules, and on it, she brings forth a beautiful, baggy form of folk pop.
With an understated, glassy vocal style that evokes the wonderful sound of Clairo, Jules’ style is both restrained, and yet emotive. Whilst her Great-Grandmother sang professionally in World War II, both Jules and her siblings grew up as closeted singers, a fact that potentially explains the restraint she demonstrates here, now she is singing in the open.
In her performance, Jules demonstrates a marked vulnerability, as she sings about the struggles of maintaining mental wellbeing amidst the demands of modern life. There is a desperate sense of distance and removal in Jules’ tender vocals, as she sings “Feels like I’m on Jupiter, not Earth” in the song’s chorus.
Describing the song, Jules says:
‘I wrote the song at a time when I was feeling a bit stuck or stagnant in where I was in my life, maybe a little lost or unsure. This was causing me to look back and wonder about if I’d taken a different path in life. I was starting to feel like I wasn’t sure I was in a place that I was able to grow if I stayed where I was.
’There are also strong themes tied into the song about mental health. I was trying to capture this feeling that I’ve felt a lot in my life — I guess which was feeling like I just couldn’t keep up and everyone around me always seemed to have it so together — I’ve felt this way many times in my life.’