There’s no mistaking it—Julianna Joy’s debut album SOMEBODY CALL THE FIREMEN! is a bold ignition of raw emotion, electric vulnerability, and sonic adrenaline. Blending theatrical alternative pop with sharp storytelling, the 8-track record is both a personal exorcism and a creative renaissance. With singles like “Goldstar,” “The Year I Lived as You,” and “Better” already lighting up the indie scene in Los Angeles, the full album cements Julianna as a voice not just worth hearing—but worth following.
Raised between Indiana and Illinois, Julianna first picked up a guitar at age 9 and has since written over 200 songs. Her evolution from small-town songwriter to synesthetic pop auteur has been a long time coming—her past releases like Cherries, Orange, and Spirits reveal a steady, emotional growth steeped in reflection, resilience, and an unshakable love for melody.
Now under the mentorship of industry luminary Teddy Geiger and backed by Hipgnosis Songs Group, Julianna‘s music is not only reaching ears—it’s resonating. SOMEBODY CALL THE FIREMEN! isn’t just a debut album; it’s the sound of an artist fully stepping into her own flame.
We sat down with Julianna Joy to talk about the stories behind the record, her journey from bedroom ballads to LA indie stages, and what fans can expect next.
Interview with Julianna Joy
Julianna: The first song that I initially wrote for this album with the album in mind was this song called two. I got inspired to write this song after watching Pretty Little Liars for the second time in my life. I really wanted to capture the feeling of self-doubt that I saw in every character on the show. It also just so happened to be something I felt deeply as well about people in my own life.
Julianna: The title is inspired by the line in my previous song Apollo where I say “I lit fires in the 630.” So much of this record is about me trying to address how I grew up in the environment that led me to feeling the way I felt about myself. Firemen are required to respond to every emergency response that they receive no matter how intense the situation actually is, and I feel like I sometimes cry wolf. That’s where the idea came from.
Julianna: I feel like the three of them encapsulate the bright and dark sides of the album really well.
Julianna: Teddy was such a huge inspiration to me and still is. I think her work and how she approached producing my music really impacted how I viewed building tracks in the future. I also think that she was unafraid to experiment with my music and that led me to being more experimental, and I feel like that impact has helped create the unique sound that I strive for.
Julianna: I feel really lucky to be here because the indie scene in LA is so strong and so powerful. Everybody knows everybody and from what I’ve experienced, many people have been incredibly supportive of each other and everybody’s really excited about new music when it makes waves throughout LA. It feels really cool to be a part of that experience. I get the luxury of getting to work with many different people and write for other artists as well as writing for myself. I feel like every experience that I have in this industry makes me a better artist.
Julianna: I would say it’s pretty autobiographical. I tried to be really honest. I don’t like the feeling of lying. It makes me nauseous.
Julianna: I think I find everything that’s liberating also really terrifying, so it’s hard to say exactly what I feel about it. I just know that I really love every part of it.
Julianna: It’s just going to be a lot of fun. I’m very excited about the show we’re about to put on and the band sounds great.
Julianna: I definitely think I’m gonna continue down the synth-heavy production and continue to make weird alternative music as much as I can. I’ve already started working on the next record and it’s definitely a very interesting blend between alternative pop and straight-up synth pop.
Julianna: I would say that they should listen to two because it was the first song that really defined what the rest of the album was going to sound like.
With SOMEBODY CALL THE FIREMEN!, Julianna Joy has firmly staked her place in a new generation of alt-pop storytellers—fearless, introspective, and unafraid to set her past (and future) ablaze. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the heat, this is one artist worth turning up for.
🔥 Listen to the full album now and catch Julianna live at the Moroccan Lounge on August 6. Follow her on socials @juliannajoy69 or visit www.juliannajoy.com.
