With a sharp lyrical wit and a sound that nods to the unapologetic energy of 80s new wave, Julia Kate delivers a striking statement with her latest single ‘fake friends’. A track that bridges generations, it blends the attitude of Debbie Harry and Dale Bozzio with the bold lyricism of today’s rising indie-pop voices like Chappell Roan, all while maintaining Julia’s own distinct artistic stamp.
The track’s origins trace back to a Blondie concert at the Greek Theater, an experience that deepened Julia’s admiration for female-fronted rock and planted the seeds for this infectious anthem. The result? A song that channels the rebellious spirit of The Go-Go’s and The Bangles, yet feels completely attuned to 2025’s digital age. With pulsing rhythms, shimmering guitar licks, and Julia’s confident vocal delivery, ‘fake friends’ captures the hollow facade of online personas and surface-level relationships, distilling it into a hook-heavy, danceable earworm.
Unlike her last release ‘beverly hills’, which was rooted in personal experience, ‘fake friends’ is more of an observational anthem, reflecting the universal experience of navigating friendships in the era of curated online personas. “All I know is fake friends make me feel so alone,” she sings. It’s a sentiment that will undoubtedly resonate with a generation growing up in the midst of social media’s contradictions.
At just 20 years old, Julia Kate is proving herself to be a dynamic voice in modern indie-pop, seamlessly weaving together nostalgia and contemporary themes. With ‘fake friends’, she delivers a glittering, biting, and wildly catchy anthem, one that not only celebrates her musical influences, but firmly cements her own place in the ever-evolving indie scene.
