P&P Spotlight: Julia Adrian

As she transitioned from a traditional law school career path to a more fulfilling, enjoyable one in music, Julia Adrian tapped into her lifelong knack for telling stories about her personal experiences. Pieces that started as a means for her to process the moment, helping her understand herself better by putting words to complex feelings, have now reached an audience that feels less alone thanks to her. 

Fast-forward to now, she’s developed a very recognizable sound, blending clever wit and conversational, diary-like lyricism. Her versatile thirteen-song discography ranges from dry, humor-filled anthems to gut-wrenching power ballads — including the Thanksgiving-themed “Cold Turkey,” an ode to the holiday season’s coldest goodbyes. Against layered indie-pop production, she explores the aftermath of a relationship that ended abruptly and without explanation, resulting in a song that feels both intimate and cinematic. The track moves through moments of reflection, frustration, and acceptance, mirroring the emotional journey that inspired it.

Recently, Playlists & Polaroids had the privilege of catching up with Julia! Keep reading to learn more about the real-life events that inspired “Cold Turkey,” her approach to songwriting, and the reasons she learned to trust her creative instincts! 

Image credit: Lene Wessels, graphic created by Karly Ramnani

YOU'LL LOVE JULIA ADRIAN IF YOU LISTEN TO: Taylor Swift, Maisie Peters, Alec Benjamin, Reneé Rapp, Olivia Rodrigo, Conan Gray, Sydney Rose

What artists did you grow up listening to, and who’s on your playlist now? How have those influences shaped the way you create music today?

I grew up listening to a really wide range of artists. Taylor Swift was obviously a huge one for me. I remember being in sixth grade blasting “Our Song.” I also loved all the Disney Channel soundtracks, but my dad’s playlists were a big influence too. He played artists like The B-52s, The Carpenters, and Fleetwood Mac, so I was exposed to a lot of different styles early on. I was also really drawn to vocal powerhouses like Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey. When I was younger, I would watch YouTube videos of singers and try to imitate what they were doing vocally. That was honestly a huge part of how I practiced and learned to sing.

Right now my playlists are a mix of newer pop artists and songwriters. I’ve been loving Claire Rosinkranz’s recent music, as well as Maisie Peters. I’ve also been listening to Karol Aades and Tiffany Stringer, and I’ll always love a good main pop girl moment like Sabrina Carpenter. I think all of those influences show up in my music in different ways. I’m really drawn to poetic lyrics and finding unique ways to say something personal. Vocally, I still gravitate toward that pop and R&B style that a lot of those powerhouse singers brought into their music.

What inspired your passion for music, and what ultimately led you to pivot from law school toward a career in music?

Music has always been something I loved from a young age. I grew up performing in different ways, whether it was dance, theater, cheerleading, or singing. Being on stage always felt natural to me. At the same time, I’ve always loved writing. I’m kind of fascinated by words and the way a really specific phrase can hold so much meaning. That love of storytelling is a big part of what draws me to songwriting. I like being able to share my perspective on experiences and emotions, and sometimes even bring a little humor into it, because that’s often how I process things myself.

After graduating college in 2020, I moved to New York and was working for a law firm while studying for the LSAT. Eventually I reached a point where I had to decide whether to continue down the law school path or try something different. I realized that if I was going to spend so much time networking and building connections, I would rather do it for something I actually loved. Around that time I found a short-term living opportunity in Nashville and decided to take a chance and move there for a few months. I ended up loving it and have now been there for over two years. It was definitely a big pivot, but it also gave me a new perspective on what I really wanted to pursue.

You’ve written, recorded, and performed music across NYC, LA, and Nashville — in what unique ways has each city shaped your artistry?

I love each of these cities for different reasons, and it’s been really interesting experiencing the different cultures between them. Spending time in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville has definitely shaped the way I understand music, the industry, and even myself as an artist. It helped me figure out what I need creatively — the kind of people I want around me, the type of support system that works best for me, and the environment where I can create my best music.

Nashville has such an incredible sense of community, and I really appreciate the collaborative energy there. I’m someone who thrives when people are supportive of each other, and Nashville has so many amazing writers who genuinely want to work together. New York, on the other hand, has always inspired me with its energy. I lived there for two years, and every time I’m back I feel like I’m in a movie — I’ve always been the kind of person who romanticizes life a little bit, so walking through the city or watching the rain outside a window can spark ideas for songs. LA gave me a different perspective too. Even though I’ve spent less time there, I loved meeting new people and going to shows, and I really admire how confident and performance-driven artists are there. Each city brings something unique, and I’m grateful I’ve had the chance to experience all of them.

Image credit: Zayne Isom

Emotionally, where does “Cold Turkey” sit for you? Does it feel more like anger, acceptance, empowerment, or something else?

That’s a really good question. I think the song lives somewhere in the space of acceptance, but it also moves through a range of emotions. When you’re going through something like that in real life, it’s rarely just one feeling. There’s confusion, sadness, frustration, and eventually a moment where you start reflecting on everything that happened. “Cold Turkey” feels very much like storytelling to me, walking through those emotions and processing them in a way that feels honest.

At its core, the song is me looking back at the situation and almost speaking to that person again, saying, “I thought things were okay, so what happened?” There’s a sense of acknowledging how strange it felt to be cut off so suddenly while also accepting that it’s part of my story now. Ultimately, I think it lands in a place of acceptance and personal closure. I’m really happy with where my life ended up, and if that experience hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be where I am now. My hope is that the song feels empowering and cathartic for anyone who has gone through something similar.

How did you balance the vulnerability of “Cold Turkey” with its healing and empowering qualities? Would you say that writing and recording this song provided you with your own sense of closure?

Absolutely. When everything first happened, I actually wasn’t actively recording music, so by the time I started writing and recording songs about that period of my life, I had already moved on emotionally. I wasn’t sitting in the heartbreak anymore. I was happy, dating other people, and living my life. But when I reflected on that relationship, I realized there were still so many things I wanted to say and so many different emotions tied to that experience. It was my first love, and there were so many beautiful moments in that relationship that I’ll always be grateful for. At the same time, the way it ended was really difficult, and I did feel hurt and a little betrayed. When writing the song, it was important to me not to villainize that person, because he’s not a bad person and I didn’t want the ending to erase the good memories. The vulnerability in the song comes from being honest about those conflicting feelings. Writing and recording “Cold Turkey” definitely gave me a sense of closure. It allowed me to process everything in a thoughtful way and turn that experience into something meaningful and empowering.

Do you tend to process experiences like this through music right as they happen, or does it take time before you’re ready to write about them?

It honestly depends. Sometimes I write about things right as they’re happening, even if it’s just little pieces of a song at first. I’ll jot down lines in my notes app or save ideas when they pop into my head. There have definitely been moments where I’m driving or out somewhere and suddenly think of a lyric and have to stop and write it down. I like capturing those feelings in the moment, even if I’m not ready to turn them into a full song yet.

Other times it takes a little more space before I can fully write about something. I’ve had songs that came together instantly — like one I wrote entirely on a plane while I was traveling to see my grandfather for the last time. But there are also experiences where I collect those thoughts over time and come back to them later with a clearer perspective. In those cases, I’m able to reflect on what I was feeling at that moment and shape it into a more complete story once I’m ready.

Image credit: Zayne Isom

How did you approach building the sonic identity of “Cold Turkey,” especially in the percussion and synths?

It’s funny because even though I’d been thinking about the idea for “Cold Turkey” for a while, the actual production came together really quickly. My producer, Corey Shore, was in the middle of moving to Los Angeles at the time, so we only had a few days to finish the track. I came into the session with the chords and a clear idea of the energy I wanted. I was aiming for something a little dreamy and slightly trippy in the verses, so we experimented with reversing some of the guitar riffs to create that swelling sound you hear throughout the track.

I also knew I wanted the chorus to hit in a really distinct way. The verses feel more conversational, but when the chorus comes in, the drums and synths get bigger and more powerful. Corey and I have worked together on several songs, so we’ve developed a really natural creative flow. Because we were on such a tight timeline, I didn’t have the chance to overthink things — I just had to trust my instincts and make quick decisions. In the end, that actually helped shape the sonic identity of the song in a really exciting way.

As you continue releasing music, what excites you most about where your sound is heading?

I’m really excited to keep letting things flow more freely creatively. I still care deeply about putting thought, emotion, and intention into my music, but I also want to give myself space to have fun with it. Sometimes there are lines or ideas that I wonder might be a little silly or unusual, but I’ve realized that those moments can actually be the ones listeners connect with the most. Life’s too short not to enjoy the creative process and take those chances. There have been times where I’ve written a line that I wasn’t completely sure about, or someone in my life didn’t quite understand it, but it ended up being a favorite for listeners or blogs covering the song. That’s been a really encouraging reminder not to overanalyze everything. Moving forward, I’m excited to keep experimenting — whether that’s adding an unexpected measure, playing with key changes, using unusual chord progressions, or just making creative choices that feel interesting and fun in the moment.

Finally, the Playlists & Polaroids classic! What’s a lyric from “Cold Turkey” that really stands out to you? Walk us through the process of writing it and how it speaks to you personally.

One lyric that really stands out to me — and one that a lot of people have picked out — is: “Immediately two weeks in solitary, confined to the walls of January.” I love the imagery in that line because it references the idea of solitary confinement. When you’re going through a breakup like that, it can feel like you’re trapped in your own thoughts, replaying everything over and over again and feeling stuck in that moment. What I find interesting about the lyric is that it can apply to both sides of the situation. At the time, we were both probably experiencing that same kind of isolation in different ways. It was actually one of those lines that just came naturally while I was writing, without overthinking it too much. Sometimes those free-flowing moments end up being the most powerful because they capture exactly what you were feeling in that moment.

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With “Cold Turkey,” Julia Adrian identifies universal themes within one of her personal anecdotes, transforming it into a song that feels validating and uplifting at the same time. When she was left with no goodbye and just silence, “Cold Turkey” helped Julia create closure for herself, and it inspires listeners to do the same. Filled with thoughtful choices in its writing, production, and performance, “Cold Turkey” turns heartbreak into empowerment. Here’s a playlist we’ve curated to capture her world!