Gorgeous Girls, Free Therapy, and the American Dream: A Conversation with Jules!

Gorgeous Girls, Free Therapy, and the American Dream: A Conversation with Jules!

Jules! is the kind of artist who walks into a room and instantly shifts the temperature — bright, sharp‑witted, and unafraid to turn life’s chaos into something melodic. Fresh off her performance at We Found New Music at Bar Lubitsch, the Siberia‑born, Los Angeles‑based singer/songwriter sat down with us to talk about immigrant resilience, dating‑scene disasters, the beauty of jealousy, and why making art is the only way she knows to bring light into a messy world. With humor, honesty, and a spark that’s entirely her own, Jules! is carving out a space that feels both fearless and deeply human.

We’re here with Jules! — with an exclamation point. You mentioned before the interview that you’re based in Los Angeles now, but originally from Siberia. What was the music scene like there?
I honestly have no idea. There are independent artists for sure, but most of them go to Moscow to perform and build their careers. I don’t think there are many artists in my hometown. I actually started writing songs only after I moved here, so I never pursued music back home.

Tell me a little about your hometown. You mentioned that the writer of Crime and Punishment has a connection to it?
Yes, Dostoevsky wasn’t from my hometown, but he was sent there to prison. Cute, right? That’s basically what the town is known for — him being there and being tortured. That’s kind of the claim to fame.

Let’s come back to Los Angeles for a moment. What do you think of the local music scene here?
It’s awesome. There are so many talented people and so many incredible small artists. I just went to see a friend play — literally three people in a parking lot — and it was a great show. You can find a great show anywhere in LA. I’m really grateful to be surrounded by artists all the time. They’re amazing.

You just played We Found New Music. What was that experience like?
It was stressful — mostly because of technical stuff. And I invited so many people that I was worried no one would show up. But about half the people I invited came, which meant a lot. They’re my friends or people I’ve met somewhere along the way, and they showed up for me. That was really special.

For those who missed your set, what can someone expect from a live Jules! show?
A lot of fun and good vibes. That’s what I’m trying to bring. Whatever kind of day you had, I hope that when you come to my show, you’ll have a good time — no matter what happened before.

Before launching Jules!, were you involved in any other bands or projects?
None. This is my first. I started writing music about a year and a half ago. Before that, I was acting and in film school. I always wanted to start an artist project, but I was scared and unsure if I could do it. Then I couldn’t find acting jobs, and writing was frustrating, and I needed to put that creative energy somewhere. So I started writing songs, and the project just happened. This is my first-ever solo project.

At the show, you debuted your new single “Gorgeous Girls Will Go to Hell.” What inspired that song?
I’m often jealous of girls — which is hard to admit, but once you do, you realize everyone has felt that way. I was at a show once and saw this beautiful, graceful girl, and I thought, “I’ll never be like that.” I’m more of a fun person; I’ll never be that elegant girl everyone wants. That feeling inspired the song. I actually wrote it for a songwriting class, and everyone liked it, so I thought maybe I should release it.

Early in your set, you played a song called “I Think He Died.” What’s the story behind that one?
It’s a hundred percent a true story. I went on a date and thought it went really, really well. Then the next day, he never texted me. I had a songwriting session with my friend, and I told her the whole story — how great the date was and how confused I was. We joked that the only possible explanation was that he died. So we started brainstorming all the ways he could have died, and that became the song.

You also have a song called “American Dream.” Tell me about that one.
It’s very hard to be an immigrant here — especially when you don’t have family around and you’re navigating everything alone. Being from another country limits you in ways people born in America don’t always realize. I had so much paperwork and so many obstacles, and one day I was so frustrated that I wrote the song. It was me saying, “This is hard. My American dream just crashed into reality.”

Is there another song we haven’t talked about yet that you’d like to highlight?
Maybe my second unreleased song, “Free Therapy,” which was in the set.

Let’s talk about that one. What inspired it?
“Free Therapy” came from being completely frustrated with the dating scene in LA. I just hit a point where I thought, “I can’t do this anymore.” My friends and I wrote it together, and the idea was basically: I’m not giving out free therapy to men. That’s the whole vibe.

If you could open for any artist — from now or from the past — who would it be and why?
Olivia Rodrigo. I adore her. I love her as an artist and a songwriter. She’s brilliant, and I would love to open for her one day. That would be incredible.

Here’s a fun one: if the music of Jules! were a donut, what kind would it be and why?
Oh my god, that’s such a hard question. I think it would have multiple parts — like a build‑your‑own donut. A chocolate one, a strawberry one, a birthday‑cake one… all in one. Because that’s how I feel about my music: a lot of different pieces coming together.

What are your goals for the rest of 2026? What do you hope the year brings?
To release as much music as possible and get more people listening. That’s my ultimate goal. And to perform more.

Do you have any upcoming shows or events?
Not at the moment, but hopefully soon.

Do you have a message for other independent artists reading this, or for people discovering your music?
We just have to push through this crazy time on Earth. We have to keep making art and keep creating, because that’s the only thing that brings light into the world. That’s it.

In Conclusion

Jules! is still early in her artistic journey, but she carries herself with the kind of honesty and spark that makes you pay attention. Her songs are sharp snapshots of real life — messy dates, immigrant resilience, jealous‑girl confessions, and the stubborn hope that creativity can still cut through the noise. After her standout set at We Found New Music, it’s clear she’s building something authentic, piece by piece, donut‑style. And as she continues releasing new music throughout 2026, one thing feels certain: Jules! isn’t just chasing a dream; she’s shaping one of her own.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Jack Lue)

Jules! on Instagram