Julie Paschke haunts & hypnotizes on “Cold In Your Town”
With “Cold In Your Town,” Julie Paschke delivers one of those rare, quietly devastating singles that creeps up on you and refuses to leave. The Melbourne-based songwriter has built a world through her music, one that stems from stream-of-consciousness lyricism, endless emotion, and an uncanny ability to turn her thoughts into something eerily beautiful. Her latest track feels like a beautiful culmination of everything she’s shared thus far.
Paschke writes, performs, and records every element of her songs before sending them to producer Dan Duszynski at Dandy Sounds, who subtly enhances the edges without ever disrupting what makes her music so unique. That creative approach is felt in every moment of “Cold In Your Town.” The song unfolds like an internal monologue, where it’s general enough lyrically to apply your own meaning, but also gives you a tiny glimpse into who Julie is as a person.
Built on crisp, beautifully recorded acoustic guitar, the track honestly feels a bit stripped back at first, but that absolutely changes as the song trucks along. Duszynski’s production adds just enough darkness and atmosphere to thicken the air around Paschke’s playing. By the end, it’s like everything is swirling around you as her vocals have been the constant from the opening notes.
Of course, her voice is the soul of the song. She sings with such a quiet intensity, but you can’t help but hang on every last word. She leans into themes she often circles in her work like delusions, disconnection, and the difficult terrain of human relationships. It’s haunting, vulnerable, and incredibly compelling.
At 3 minutes and 40 seconds, “Cold In Your Town” makes every second count. Subtle vocal effects are added for some texture and they really add almost a ghostly quality to the whole song. The acoustic guitar remains clear and forward as another constant that the whole song relies on. For us, it felt like a late-night headphone listen that pushes you to slow down and collect yourself.
In a world full of over produced singles and predictable pop arcs, Julie Paschke carves out something bracingly honest and beautifully unsettling. She’s putting out some outstanding indie folk in Australia, and sincerely, we cannot wait for more releases just like this one. Go ahead and click those links below to listen in, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for more.
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