Release Date October 23, 2026
Emily Kulyk
Julia Gartha has created something all her own.
Photo Credit: Cody Encinas
Julia Gartha has created something all her own. California’s Killing Me captures a time in her life when things felt different and a bit stagnant; she searched for the familiar within the unknown. It’s as vulnerable as it is special, with six tracks that reflect all the emotions that swirl within that blurry, complicated time.
She’s been making a name for herself alongside performers like Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter, and she's currently working on Harry Styles' “Together, Together” Residency at Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan.
Gartha’s interest in music began in Ontario, Canada, where she grew up, with piano lessons at 10 and penning her own songs at 12. Gartha’s ear for music came from learning to play songs off the radio. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2019.
Gartha’s style blends indie, folk, and pop, and her songwriting feels conversational on California’s Killing Me. The stories and themes feel like a conversation with a friend. It highlights the unknown, but there is hope for the answers on the other side. The push and pull of taking on what is in front of you, while wondering what comes next. “California’s Killing Me is ultimately about being caught between the life you have, the life you miss, and the life you’re still trying to build,” Gartha says. These themes are probably going to feel familiar to everyone. Caleb Dee had a hand in co-writing and producing the EP with Gartha.
Along with creating her own music, writing songs for others, and having the opportunity to work as both a live and studio performer, Gartha, like other performers, found success online. She is one of the top creators in Meta’s Commercial Library. There have been hundreds of thousands of Reels created using her songs. Chances are you have heard Gartha’s music without even realizing it. She also has over 74k monthly listeners on Spotify.
While Gartha has had a role working alongside others, this new path is all her own, one that fans will continue to be alongside her as she continues to walk down it, bringing fans and listeners with her.
Photo Credit: Cody Encinas
