Julia Belle’s new single ‘Aurora’ is out this Friday, and so is its live debut: she’s playing a support slot for Floyd Marsden’s Good Times show at The Undercurrent in Wellington the very same night. It’s the first single from her upcoming sophomore EP, following on from 2025 debut Dreamland, and we caught up with her ahead of the release to talk about the timing, the song itself, and what she’s hoping people take from the night.
‘Aurora’ comes out and gets its first live outing on the same night, how are you feeling about that timing, releasing it and playing it live all at once?
It feels really exciting, especially because this song has actually been finished for over a year, so it’s been sitting with me for quite a while. I’ve technically played it once before, but I’m choosing to call that a very exclusive preview. Friday feels like the real beginning of this new chapter. ‘Aurora’ is the first single from my sophomore EP, so getting to release it and then immediately share it live feels like such a nice way to introduce people to where I’m heading next. I’m just really excited for this new EP chapter to finally start.
You’re opening for Floyd Marsden, how did that slot come about, and are you a fan of their stuff?
It came about through immersing myself in the local music community, which feels really special to me because I usually keep to myself. I’m quite socially introverted and anxious and can be pretty awkward, so those little moments of connection that happen through music mean a lot to me. I love the honesty in Floyd’s music, because that’s something I value highly in my own songwriting. Being really open and emotionally honest about what you’re going through is so brave. So I’m genuinely really excited to be part of the night and to support someone whose music I connect with.
Without giving too much away before Friday, how would you describe the mood or vibe of ‘Aurora’ in a sentence or two?
Aurora is dreamy and nostalgic, but there’s a sadness underneath it. It’s about feeling out of place in your own life, missing old versions of yourself and old loves while questioning whether the life you’re living is actually the one you want. I think that theme accidentally runs through the entire EP, and is something a lot of people find themselves feeling.
What can people expect from the rest of the set alongside the new track?
It’s going to be a really stripped-back, intimate acoustic set. I’ll play a few songs from my debut EP Dreamland as well as most of the new EP, and I want it to feel quite conversational. I’ll be talking a bit about where the songs came from and the stories behind them. I’m a pretty awkward person, so I think that naturally comes through in my shows, and I actually really love that. I want people to feel like they can relate to that awkwardness and vulnerability rather than feeling like they’re watching some perfectly polished performance. For me, that’s part of the magic of live music.
If Friday goes exactly how you’re hoping, what does that night look like?
I think I’d love for people to leave feeling understood in some way. Like maybe they’ve heard someone put words to those really deep feelings that we often don’t say out loud, and realised they’re not the only person who feels that way. That’s always what I hope people take from my music. Of course, I’d love people to go and stream Aurora afterwards too. As an independent artist, every stream is meaningful, especially in the first few days, because it tells the algorithms that people are genuinely interested in the music, which can help it reach people who might never have come across me otherwise. Mostly though, I just want it to feel like a really beautiful night and the beginning of this next chapter.
‘Aurora’ is out now. Julia Belle plays The Undercurrent in Wellington this Friday 25 September, supporting Floyd Marsden’s Good Times show.
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