When an artist blends nostalgia, innovation, and sheer pop brilliance, you get something that sticks with you long after the first listen. Enter Julianna Joy and her latest single, GoldStar, the first taste of her upcoming album Somebody Call the Firemen. Dropping on January 31, 2025, this track is an instant standout—a bold, intoxicating blend of shimmering melodies, deep basslines, and a chorus that demands to be played at full volume.
If GoldStar feels like the kind of song you’ll have on repeat all summer, that’s because it’s built for exactly that. The production, helmed by the insanely talented Dee Lilly (known for his work with Big Sean, Rejjie Snow, and Grouptherapy), gives the track an effortless groove—smooth, hypnotic, yet powerful. A pulsing bassline, not commonly heard in mainstream pop, sets the foundation, pulling you in before Joy’s sultry vocals take center stage. Comparisons to Billie Eilish are inevitable, but there’s a distinct edge to Julianna Joy’s delivery, something raw and fearless that makes GoldStar feel entirely her own.
Lyrically, GoldStar plays with themes of confidence, longing, and the ever-present desire to be seen as something extraordinary. Joy masterfully balances vulnerability with self-assurance, making every line feel like an anthem for anyone who’s ever wanted to shine a little brighter. The songwriting team behind the track, including pop heavyweight Jenna Shorey (who’s worked with New Politics and Jake Sinclair), helps elevate the storytelling, crafting a song that’s not just catchy but deeply resonant.
But to understand GoldStar is to understand Julianna Joy’s meteoric rise. The Chicago-born, Los Angeles-based artist first turned heads at just 17 years old with her debut single Nevermind, produced by Dylan Gardner. The track’s instant success landed her a publishing deal with Hipgnosis Songs Group (formerly Big Deal Music), setting the stage for a career that has only gained momentum. Her debut EP, Cherries, racked up over 6 million streams, a staggering number for a young artist carving out her sound in the competitive pop landscape.
From there, Julianna Joy continued pushing boundaries. Her 2022 EP, Garden of Eden, created alongside industry legend Teddy Geiger, featured an all-star lineup of collaborators, including John Ryan, Ariza, and Mags Duval. The project caught the ears of Zane Lowe, earned placements on Spotify’s Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds Pop, and cemented her reputation as a rising force in pop music.
By 2023, Joy was hitting the road, opening for Canadian alt-pop sensation Xana on her Pacific Northwest tour, playing to sold-out crowds. But instead of basking in the success, she got right back to work, releasing her third EP, Unhappy—a collaboration with Dee Lilly that found a home on Deezer’s Brand New UK editorial and Tidal’s Pop Artist playlists. With each project, she’s sharpened her sound, weaving together pop, indie, and alternative influences into something uniquely hers.
And now, GoldStar feels like the next evolution of Julianna Joy—a track that’s both forward-thinking and instantly timeless. The kind of song you hear once and immediately know it’s going to be big. Whether you’re blasting it on a night drive, dancing with your friends, or simply losing yourself in its hypnotic rhythm, GoldStar is a moment—one that signals Julianna Joy is not just here to stay, but here to lead the future of modern pop.
With Somebody Call the Firemen on the horizon, one thing is certain: if GoldStar is any indication of what’s to come, 2025 belongs to Julianna Joy.
