As Drake continues the intricate roll-out for his upcoming album Iceman, fans are getting introduced to a new cast of characters in the Drizzy Cinematic Universe. Ever the tastemaker, Drake’s ear is constantly to the streets and it’s no surprise that on the intro to his latest single, “Dog House,” we hear from up and coming singer-songwriter Julia Wolf, who srikes a perfect blend between aughts-era emo and more contemporary bedroom pop. Though only present for the song’s opening seconds, Wolf’s verse has quickly gone viral, with some fans wishing there was more, and most everyone agreeing that her brief addition to the track is easily the most memorable part.
In May, the Queens New York native released her third album PRESSURE, which featured the single “In My Room,” which took off on TikTok and racked up more than 40 million streams since its release. Fans of Wolf conect to the singer’s lyrics, delivered in a sweetly melancholic tone, that tap into a longing, poetic sensibility. It was “In My Room,” that resonated with Drizzy, too. Wolf says after someone played him the track, he immediatley reached out, noting how the song struck a chord. Over time, the two would converse casually, with Drake offering support for Wolf’s music on social media. The pair would eventually collaborate on “Dog House,” after Drake asked Wolf for a few tracks and landed on the distinct opening lines on the song. “Chew me up and spit me out / Big dog loves a crowd” Wolf sings. “Well, tell ’em to search my house / I bet they find you face down.”
It’s not hard to guess why Drake, coming off the year he’s had, found himself conecting to these lyrics in particular. Ahead of her upcoming tour, Julia Wolf talked to Rolling Stone about getting the call from Drizzy, her songwriting process, and coming out of her shell as an artist.
What’s it been like having this song officially out in the world?
Oh my gosh, it’s been so validating. Of course, I feel like when I put my last album out just a couple months ago, I couldn’t get anyone to notice it or any PR looks. I was getting rejected by everyone. And then to have the biggest artist reach out and want to work with me has just been insanely validating. And just, I don’t know, he just really believes in the music, so it’s been insane.
Yeah, that’s cool. So how did it happen? Did he just reach out and kind of hear something or what?
Yeah, so the story goes that he was with a couple friends playing music, and I guess this girl who was a friend of a friend, he didn’t really know her, came up to him and requested my song, “In My Room,” which shout out the girls for always having my back. He said he heard it and then immediately just reached out. So then I was being woken up at six in the morning the next day being like, oh my God, Drake followed you. And then he reached out and we just started working together.
With this song in particular, what was the process of writing that intro?
Yeah. Honestly, it was so cool because he knows how introverted I am, and I am just kind of a shy person by nature, and so there was really no pressure. I do everything right here in my room. And it was one song out of maybe six or seven that I had sent him. I was just writing ideas, sending it to him in this kind of no pressure format, and then he heard it and was like, oh my God, this is my life. I relate to this so much, we have to use it. And that was it.
I think Drake’s music can kind of be compared to so-called sad girl music. Do you feel like there’s an overlap between Drake’s sensibility and yours?
I actually really do. I think Drake is extremely relatable, and that’s a part of why he’s so successful is that he is able to reach so many different kinds of audiences. And I think at the end of the day, he also is a sensitive guy. He’s in his emo bag too, and I think that’s why he’s telling me that he can relate to what I’m saying. I’m the most insecure chick on the planet, but I have the biggest rapper saying, oh no, but I understand you. I see what you’re saying. So I totally get the crossover.
Before this, had you been a Drake fan?
Oh my gosh. There are SoundCloud covers of me, which I probably shouldn’t even say because I don’t want people to find them. I’ve deleted them all. But yeah, I used to do covers and flips of Drake. And then he brought us out to his Wireless Fest show in London, and I knew every song. I was like, what is happening? How do I know all this? So yes, definitely have always been a Drake fan.
I feel like your audience definitely relates to your music very intensely. What’s your process like when you write songs in general?
It’s very much like a solo process, just because I am so self-conscious by nature. So I tend to write things just by myself, and then I work up the nerve to share it with someone in the hopes that they like it. And I think my audience has really helped me kind of get out of my head about that. And that’s kind of it. It’s just really me and my producer Scro and my manager Tanner, and we just get into Scro’s room and write together.
Your songs have that late 2000s pop-punk vibe. Is that an important era of music for you?
Yeah, I would say growing up, I definitely was such a Avril girl. I was a Panic at the Disco girl. But I think with my last album, I tried to make it a point to not solely box myself into one thing, and just play around with genres that I’m inspired by and just make what I think supports my lyrics the best. And so with a song like, In My Room, it’s going to come out in that kind of organic, rock, kind of grungy way. But on my album, I do a bunch of stuff just because to me, it’s like I’m very attached to the lyrics and then whatever kind of supports what I’m trying to say.
How did you get into writing music in the first place?
Oh man. I was in high school kind of always knowing I wanted to write music, but was too afraid to admit it. And then I used to eat lunch alone all the time, but I would do it in the music room because I didn’t have the guts to do it in front of everyone at the cafeteria. And then one day my music teacher was like, “Oh, Julia, if you want to do this senior showcase,” because I used to do the talent shows and things like that, he said it has to be an original song. And at first I was mortified by that, but then I just went home and tried it and realized it was such an outlet since I literally did not speak at all growing up, and then I became very attached to it and just kind of knew that was the only plan for me in life.
What was it like to realize, as someone who’s introverted, that other people out there connect to your music?
Oh my gosh. Again, just insanely validating and made me feel like I didn’t always have to hide in my own skin all the time. And it taught me that other people are looking for that connection and use my music as an outlet for themselves. So of course, I need to speak up. Of course, I need to say the things that are on my mind to make someone else feel more understood and less lonely. So it’s really kind of helped me get out of my shell a bit.
With this new song, when did you get to hear the final version before the rest of the world?
So I didn’t hear the Yeat one until very close to when it came out, but I heard the me and Drake one pretty long ago, I want to say, like two months ago. Honestly, I’m not sure exactly when. But Drake and I, he’s very open about sharing with me and kind of keeping me in the loop on what he’s thinking.
You’re relatively new to the music industry. What’s it been like to have someone at that stature as a part of your career now?
I know. It’s still so crazy. I wouldn’t have dreamed of landing a Rolling Stone interview even a couple of months ago. This is just, as a small indie artist, this doesn’t happen. And for Drake, I think he doesn’t need to be doing this, right. He just doesn’t need to be shining the light on me. But he’s just such a fan of music and is passionate about making stuff that’s exciting, and it’s just crazy that I am a part of that. He’s just such an impactful person. It’s insane to think I inspire him. So it’s just been literally such a dream.
Having just released an album a few months ago, have you noticed a growth in people taking an interest in your music?
Yes, which is insane. I feel like all the people who used to say no to me are starting to peer their heads again and actually say yes, which is the dream, of course. It’s been such an uphill battle. I’ve dealt with so many rejections, and finally now people are coming around to it, and it’s just so cool. I just went on tour and the whole tour was basically sold out. It’s just a lot of growth happening, and I’m very, very grateful for it.
I’m sure it’s pretty early to tell, but what are some of your aspirations now that you’ve reached this point?
Oh, man. I’m going to be announcing another tour pretty soon, so just to keep that moving and push the size of the rooms that I’ve been playing. And definitely some more collabs that are just kind of the dream artists here that you never think are attainable and somehow they kind of could be now. And just getting to work with other people and just putting out more music really.
Who would be a dream collab at this point?
Oh my goodness. I mean, after Drake, it’s hard to top Drake. I guess maybe Lana Del Rey or a Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, one of my fellow sad girlies would be really cool.
