Juliet Ivy is redefining what it means to be small but mighty in the music world. Born and raised in New York City with Colombian-Chinese roots, this 23-year-old dynamo found her artistic voice at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. A natural storyteller, Juliet’s lyrical journey began with an existential edge, crafting songs that dance between youthful wonder and profound introspection. From her breakout single ‘breakfast song’ to her debut EP playpen, she’s been inviting listeners to explore life’s messier, beautifully flawed moments with her whimsical yet intellectually sharp lens.
Her sophomore EP, tiny but scary, solidifies Juliet’s knack for peeling back layers of girlhood, identity, and self-discovery. Tracks like ‘4 foot 2’ offer an intimate look at navigating mental health, while the playful melodies of ‘girl talk’ capture the universal intricacies of friendship and growing up. Juliet’s poetic storytelling, paired with gently compelling melodies, opens the door to her bedroom and childhood, making her inner world a canvas for shared human experiences.
Fresh off her first headline tour and a string of sold-out shows, Juliet is proving that small stature and big dreams are the ultimate creative combination. With over 65 million streams under her belt, she’s not just singing about figuring life out—she’s inviting the world to do it alongside her. We had the chance to talk to Juliet at the Alex Black Charlie Sessions 2024 to find out more about her new release as well as whats to come.
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Growing up in a Colombian-Chinese household in NYC where it is a melting pot of cultures, has your cultural background influenced your storytelling and musical perspective?
Oh, absolutely, 100%! Growing up in such a diverse place and being part of a multicultural family has shaped me into someone who’s incredibly open-minded. I’ve always cherished the unique blend of cultures that make me who I am, and I channel that love and appreciation into my songwriting. It’s not just about celebrating cultural diversity—though that’s definitely a part of it—it’s also about embracing the idea of blending and combining different elements in every aspect of the creative process.
Whether it’s fusing genres, mixing lyrical styles, or experimenting with new approaches to songwriting, I find joy in weaving together contrasting ideas to create something cohesive and fresh. That spirit of openness and curiosity—of welcoming different influences—is something I carry into my music. Even when it’s not overtly cultural, it’s more about the energy and mindset I bring to the creative process: a willingness to explore, experiment, and embrace the beauty of the unexpected.
You recently wrapped your first-ever headline tour. Did anything funny or unexpected happen on the road that you’ll never forget?
We had the wildest experience while driving one day. A truck ahead of us broke down or something, and out of nowhere, a ton of rocks spilled onto the road right in front of us. It was terrifying! One of the rocks actually hit our tire, and there we were, in the middle of nowhere, wondering if we were about to be stranded on the side of the road. We managed to get off the highway as quickly as possible, and—by some miracle—the tire gave out completely just as we rolled into a gas station. It was such a close call, but we were incredibly lucky.
On a lighter note, something really heartwarming happened on our flight to our first tour stop in San Francisco. We struck up a conversation with this amazing flight attendant and mentioned we were on tour. She was so sweet—she went above and beyond, bringing us three full bags of first-class meals, snacks, and even wine! It felt like such a generous send-off, and we ended up using all of it during the tour. It’s one of those moments I’ll never forget—it really set the tone for the adventure ahead.
On your new EP, you described tiny but scary as a deep dive into the intertwined emotions of girlhood. Was there a specific moment or memory that sparked this thematic focus?
Honestly, I’d say the most memorable moment was the session where I wrote ‘girl talk.’ I collaborated with Charlie Adams, and it was my first time doing a session with just another woman. It felt so magical to connect and bond over the complex, messy, and beautiful emotions that come with being a woman. There was something so special about being able to relate to each other on such a deep level through songwriting—it felt like we were tapping into something raw and real. That experience really solidified the concept for the song and made me realize how much I wanted to focus on those themes. It ended up being the spark that opened the door for the rest of the project.
You mentioned this EP is an invitation into your brain, your bedroom, and your childhood. What was your creative setup or ritual while writing songs for tiny but scary?
I usually just go into a session with a producer, sometimes with another songwriter, and we start from scratch to see where it goes. Sometimes I’ll bring in lyrics I’ve written, which I love doing since I’m really lyric-focused. But most of the time, it’s just like walking into a room with a blank canvas and trying things out together to see what happens.
If you could collaborate with any artist on future songs, who would it be and why?
It would definitely be Beabadoobee because she’s my absolute favorite artist. I love her rock sound—it’s so bold and raw, and it’s something I don’t typically do in my own music. Collaborating with her would be amazing, bringing together her badass, edgy rock energy with my indie-pop instincts and more polished, melodic vibe. I think blending those two styles would create something really unique and exciting—a fusion of both worlds that could result in something truly special.
In ‘4 foot 2,’ you explore mental health through the eyes of your inner child. What inspired you to use that perspective, and how did it shape the song's mood and lyrics?
That song came from such a genuine place—it was exactly how I was feeling at the time. I was going through a really hard period, and the one thing that kept me grounded was thinking about my younger self. It wasn’t even a planned concept or anything; it was just what had been on my mind a lot. Writing it was incredibly therapeutic for me. It helped me process everything I was struggling with mentally and gave me a sense of purpose, like I was protecting and honoring that younger version of myself. It was a way of finding strength and healing in the midst of it all.
You often draw from existentialism and introspection in your music. What’s the most “out of character” song you could imagine yourself writing?
Probably something like a heavy metal or screamo song—that would be wild! I have such a soft voice, so it’d be pretty insane to imagine myself doing something so intense. That said, I’ve actually made rap songs with my friends just for fun, so I can’t completely rule that out. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll end up doing it for real. But screamo? That would definitely be the most out-of-left-field thing for me!
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