You may know of Julia Blair from her singing in the Appleton, Wisconsin country-rock group Dusk, who released their self-titled debut album on Don Giovanni Records in 2018 and received some critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork and Stereogum for their 2015 single “Too Sweet." You might also know of her as co-conspirator in the experimental folk-collective Holy Sheboygan! or even as co-founder of the Crutch of Memory Enterprises label and recording studio. This February, Julia’s releasing her first official full length solo album on Crutch of Memory - entitled Better Out Than In. And today, Blair releases her lead single "Relax," a super fun 90's-esque pop song with an anti-folk flare. Featuring synth melodies, swoony country-rock guitar riffs, Sheryl Crow-esque vocals, and hyper-relatable lyrics, "Relax" is a feminist anthem standing up to the frustrating sexism Julia has faced both in the music industry and in her personal life.
The song was premiered by The Alternative, who wrote: "There’s much that can be said about DIY, indie-folk artist Julia Blair. Hailing from Wisconsin, she’s built herself a steady foundation singing in the likes of Wisconsin-based, country rock band DUSK as well as dabbling in a more experimental, folk collective with Holy Sheboygan! Both groups have received high praise from the music community and critics alike over the course of their career. Now she’s stepping out on her own for the first time with a new solo album, Better Out Than In, dropping February 2nd. Released through Crutch of Memory, the record pushes Blair to new heights as she refines her soulful, poppy flare while still holding tight to those raw, folk-laden roots from which she’s blossomed. Lead single, “Relax,” is out today which acts as a time capsule into the past— The 1990s to be exact. The track holds a very upbeat, ’90s pop sound that has one itching to throw on a babydoll dress with lace-up boots or perhaps some bike shorts and a halter-neck crop top. Swaying in and out of synth melodies and gritty, country-rock guitars, the song’s biting lyrics detail Blair’s frustration with sexism both professionally and personally. The feminist anthem is further powered by her strong vocal that sounds like a love child between Sheryl Crowe and Alanis Morissette."
On the track, Julia shares: "I started writing this song in the car when I was pissed off for being blown off by a young man our band was collaborating with who would not talk to me about the project and kept insisting on funneling all communication through one of the men in our band. Also, right around the same time, I had a weird experience with an older man who tried to start a romantic relationship with me in the most roundabout, unspoken about way."
Stream "Relax" here and check out the super fun DIY music video that accompanies it here (directed by Art Kohl-Riggs), and keep an eye out for her debut LP, Better Out Than In, out February 24th via Crutch of Memory. | 
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