Songwriter Spotlight: Julia Michaels

Article Contributed by Monica Soriano It’s impossible to not have heard the name Julia Michaels or a song written by this talented songstress. The music she’s written is internationally listened to by millions of people. She dominates the charts through catchy melodies, powerful penmanship and an overall grasp on feeling out loud.

Photo from @juliamichaels on IG

The Hits

What do Sabrina Carpenter, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez have in common? Many things since they all have Disney Channel beginnings, but in addition to that a name that is common in the credits of their music - Julia Michaels.

She worked on “Bed Chem”, “Commander in Chief” and “Bad Liar” among many other tracks for the pop stars. Michaels is a hit writer and can work with just about anyone. Some may know her work such as “Close” by Nick Jonas featuring Tove Lo, “Miss Movin’ On” by Fifth Harmony or “Sorry” by Justin Bieber. The list goes on and the artists she writes with or for seems to be increasing yearly.

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Where It All Began

Julia Michaels’ first tangible breakthrough moment was writing the theme song for the Disney Channel show “Austin & Ally” when she was still in high school.

She continued her writing journey by writing for Selena Gomez, Kat Graham and Hailee Steinfeld. The songs she was writing started charting and her name became recognized within the industry. Her career in songwriting now surpasses the 15 year mark making her a true established name. Yes, she has many award nominations and chart topping hits but she also has not stopped working. She continues to evolve and expand her songwriting catalogue while also managing a solo career. Today, she is able to be both a songwriter for the biggest pop stars in the world and an artist herself.

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Vulnerability & Adaptability

There are moments where her vulnerability and that of the artists she writes with is woven into the music so naturally that it creates an explosion of feelings. Julia Michaels spoke on the Kelly Clarkson Show about how as a songwriter she has to be like a chameleon and adapt to who she is writing with. Michaels’ is able to carefully hold the feelings of someone and transform them into words and melodies that reach people.

Photo from @juliamichaels on IG

Through her own solo work as an artist she is able to express her own feelings with her own voice. Julia’s song “Issues” which was nominated for Song of the Year at the Grammys in 2018 is a perfect example of her telling her allowing her personal vulnerability to reach others.

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The Importance of Songwriters

Songwriters are a critical part of the industry and deserve support. They are the ones who bring out shadowed feelings, the ones who unintentionally or intentionally act as therapists and the ones that are often overlooked. Most of the time songwriters can also be artists but not all artists can be songwriters therefore it is crucial to uplift their artistic endeavors.

Julia continues her journey as one of the leading names in pop music bringing not only her talent but her bright spirit as well. We look forward to her continuous evolution as a songwriter and artist.