Julia Kwamya’s modus operandi is one of sheer authenticity: first she feels, and then she writes. The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter’s unique sound—an ethereal mix of moody disco and synth-y sadcore—stems from the most vulnerable of places. Heartbreak, while almost entirely universal, is the running theme for two of her singles, “Wonderhow” and “Cruel,” both of which she produced alongside Kurt Feldman (Ice Choir, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart). But despite its ubiquitous nature, not everyone has the knack to the channel the pain—and subsequent soul-searching—of emotional anguish into musical form.
Enter GERMANS, Kwamya’s independent musical project she started in 2013. Recalling the new wave movement of the ’80s with a tinge of dreamy tempo beats, Kwamya’s music is both deeply poetic and reflective of the human condition, leaving anyone who stumbles upon it reveling in a celestial glow. Now, on the heels of the release of her third track, “Dead Bird,” which received critical acclaim from Billboard, Kwamya is slated to release her first-ever full-length album in January. Co-produced by Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Kwamya’s tracks will draw heavily on introspection—what she calls “feeling good about feeling bad.”
What’s more, Kwamya has just announced a worldwide, three-month-long tour with The Radio Dept. next year, performing with the Swedish dream-pop band at La Maroquinerie in Paris, Berghain in Berlin, El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, Bowery Ballroom in New York City, and more.
