Three teenage musicians uploaded a song to Spotify during the early days of the pandemic. Their only hope was to avoid the dreaded ‘less than 1,000 listens’ marker. This simple beginning transformed Julie from an unknown band into one of modern rock’s most compelling success stories. According to NME’s cover story, their modest start led to a streaming phenomenon that nobody could’ve predicted.
The Birth of ‘Flutter’
‘You know how Spotify has that less than sign for songs that have less than 1,000 listens?’ Julie’s guitarist/vocalist Keyan Pourzand recalled about their April 2020 debut. ‘We all just said: Please let us have more than that.’ The band, completed by Alexandria Elizabeth on vocals/bass and Dillon Lee on drums, saw their humble wish greatly exceeded. ‘Flutter’ surpassed the 1,000-stream mark and received 42 million plays on Spotify alone.
Julie proved their staying power in the industry unlike many acts that fade after a viral breakthrough. Their career following ‘Flutter’ started to bring results. They secured a major label deal with Atlantic Records, and released their debut album ‘My Anti-Aircraft Friend’ in September 2024. They also shared stages with Alex G, Faye Webster, and the Foo Fighters.
Who is Julie?
According to The Fader, Julie’s journey began in Orange County, California. The three members united in 2019 through their shared likes for Sonic Youth and The Breeders. This later became influential in shaping their sound.
Destroy Exist notes that ‘Flutter’ is a gritty and raw take on shoegaze and noise rock. The band consistently pushed against confinement to any single genre, and their sound is a new interpretation of these influences rather than a mere revival.
