Julia Jacklin Starts Again on The Gem

Hélène Calderin

Writer

October 2, 2026

After a four-year hiatus, Julia Jacklin comes back to the indie scene with a new album, The Gem. Originally having a different album completed, she took a step back and scrapped it after realizing she wasn’t appealing to herself anymore. When writing this album, she brought back her personal sound and what she wanted to be known for. Her uniqueness and personal connection to the songs allow for a raw and deeply personal album. Recording this newest album in an upstairs studio above a bar she frequents called The Gem, she creates an atmospheric sound throughout the record. It’s simple yet impactful, and incredibly meaningful to both her and her audience.

This album is raw and emotional, exploring themes of love, grief, and power. Melodically, the album is much slower and more mellifluous. The Gem consists of 10 tracks, each with its own message and impact. Using religious metaphors in songs such as God Sometimes and If I Had the Hand of God, Jacklin explores the balance of power and how she interprets power through God. These metaphors allow her to expand beyond worldly thoughts and experiences, creating a deeper connection to her music. They also allow her audience to connect with the idea of power that exists outside of their control.

Jacklin also explores the theme of being true to herself, especially as she questions whether she has always stayed true to who she is throughout her musical career. Her songs Walk On Me and Angel Vision both explore self-identity and what a person allows others to do to them. She relates these songs to how she changed herself musically for her fans instead of staying completely true to herself. Closing the album with I Wish provides a sense of closure, tying together many of the personal themes explored throughout the record.

Jacklin acknowledges the hardships she has faced to get to where she is today, tackling themes of grief, lack of support, and the sense of survival she has had to overcome to reach where she wants to be.

The Gem is filled with a mixture of acoustic and electric melodies. Jacklin’s vocal work is incredibly important to the composition of the album, creating a gentle and intimate tone throughout. The album stands as a reminder that staying true to yourself can allow you to live life as freely as possible, even if it means trying again. Jacklin creates an album that explores what it means to be human and serves as a connecting point for many people on their journey toward self-love.

Edited by: Stephanie Rodriguez