Jule$ has been counting the days. When his new song, What It Seems, arrives on Friday, more than 500 days will have passed since he last released music.
In that time, Tulita 18-year-old Julian McPherson has seen his brother-in-law pass away and has overcome anxiety that at times kept him trapped inside the house.
What It Seems is a track designed to talk about everything that’s happened to Jule$ in that time.
On Thursday, a day ahead of the song’s release, he spoke with Cabin Radio about what’s motivating him and how he overcame anxiety.
This interview was recorded on December 12, 2024. The transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.
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Ollie Williams: What do we need to know about you?
Jule$: My name is Julian McPherson. I come from Tulita and I started making music in 2019. I’m putting out a song on Friday. I’ve been dealing with some health issues over the past year and now I feel like I’m more ready to release new music. It’s been 503 days.
Tell us about the track you’re releasing.
It’s just like a being-grateful type of song. I’m saying how grateful I am for everyone who’s listening to me and explaining what I’ve been doing. I talk about my brother-in-law, he passed away earlier this year, and then about all the things I’ve been doing. It’s just one song to catch up everybody.
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You mentioned health issues and a bereavement. What are the things happening that are informing the music you want to make?
In October of last year, I started going through really bad anxiety. It was hard to go out of my house. It was hard to do most things, like record music. I was just stuck in my house.
Finally, in December, I got introduced to a counsellor who would help me with my mental health, and they put me on these anti-depressants to calm me down when I get an anxiety attack. I finally started going out in May. So I was in the house all that period.
My brother-in-law, he passed away in late June and it really messed me up. All these emotions that I’ve been dealing with, I put them into the new music that I’m making.
How does that help you?
I kind-of feel a lift off of me if I start talking about it. The weight comes off my chest a little bit. Just talking about it makes me feel better.
What does success in music look like to you?
A lot happened this year. Out of nowhere, people started recognizing my music. The numbers that I saw this year are so unreal and every milestone that I hit, it’s like, how crazy is that? Just a kid from Tulita. I feel like any achievement is one more step ahead to being known all over. That’s why I’m aiming to just help people who’ve been through the same things I’ve been through, like anxiety or grieving or anything like that.
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Are there role models that you look up to? You make me think a little of someone like NorthSideBaby, who grew up in northern Alberta and now has a lot of fans in NWT communities who feel like he makes music that speaks to them.
He has paved the way for most of us, for people who are just starting, and he’s helping them see what path they should be heading into. Because not many people really follow their dreams – they give up before they achieve anything, they don’t believe it any more. So he is definitely one, and some of the more mainstream artists.
And of course, my family around me help keep me going. This time last year, I didn’t think I would go out again or ever just be the same again. Everyone around me, in my circle, has been helping me since I first started.
Are you thinking of playing shows?
I started getting booked last year, and I was such in a rough place that I couldn’t. Not that long ago, I felt like I was ready. The anxiety got so much better.
I always said I’d do my first show in Tulita, when I have enough time to rehearse – probably in early January – and then start playing other places.
