Introducing: Julius Eastwood

With a sharp lyrical edge and an ear for atmospheric alt-pop, Welsh artist Julius Eastwood is making waves. His latest track, You Don’t Want to Change the World, drops on February 21st, blending shimmering electronic elements with a message that cuts deep—tackling apathy and privilege head-on. Fresh off winning Best Music Video at the Shropshire Music Awards and being named BBC Introducing’s Artist of the Week, Julius continues to carve out his space with thought-provoking songwriting and a unique sonic palette. If his previous single Mirror (I Saw Me) is anything to go by, this next release is set to resonate.

Your new single, You Don’t Want to Change the World, tackles themes of apathy and privilege. What inspired you to write this song, and what message do you hope listeners take away from it?

The track was inspired by my move to London and meeting people from wealthy backgrounds. I started to see how, more often than not, they live in blissful ignorance because they can afford to - nothing will affect them anyway. I want listeners to feel inspired to engage in politics, because at the end of the day it's everybody's duty to be informed on what's going on in the world, we all have the power to enact change and that's really important.

Your music blends alt-pop with electronic influences, drawing comparisons to artists like Marina and London Grammar. How did you develop your unique sound, and who are your biggest inspirations?

I developed my sound quite organically, just trying out what sounds right and what works well with the songs that I'm writing. For me, each track is it's own little world, and the production is so important for creating that world. I begin each song with the lyrics, then I write the chord progression on the piano and finally go into the studio to create the right atmosphere for the story. For this track we were really inspired by early 2000's producer William Orbit and bands like The Verve. Marina is one of my biggest inspirations, she's such a unique storyteller and her melodies are insane.

You’ve already gained recognition with a BBC Introducing Artist of the Week title, a Focus Wales nomination, and a Best Music Video win at the Shropshire Music Awards. How has this early success shaped your journey as an artist?

I'm so early in my career and I'm an indie artist, so everything that happened in 2024 was completely unexpected! The recognition from the industry at this early stage has been incredible for platforming my music, bringing new opportunities and helping my songs to reach more people! It's been a bit of a whirlwind but it's incredibly exciting too. This new track is already connecting with people which is so cool, and I'm hoping I can build on the momentum.

You come from a working-class background and often explore themes of identity, politics, and class in your music. How important is it for you to use your platform to spark conversation and reflection?

The only reason I make music is because I have a perspective that I want to express through song. Storytelling is such a cathartic process for me. I think it's important for the music scene to platform diverse perspectives and stories from marginalised communities.

With You Don’t Want to Change the World marking the second release from your upcoming debut EP, what can you tell us about the full project? Will it continue exploring these social themes, or are there other personal stories woven in?

So what can I tell you about the EP? Well, it's called Visions and it's a love-letter to electronic music - we have a bit of ambient electronica, indie-alternative and then the next track is a full on dance-pop tune! I am so excited for it to come out - it's probably the catchiest song I've ever written, and it's my first heartbreak song! So yeah, it's not all social themes, there's definitely lots of themes on the EP, it's quite personal. We're currently planning a music video for that track, and will have a release date soon!