Shifting somewhere between Blondie, Gloria Gaynor and PJ Harvey is no mean feat, but the new single from Mancunian Julia Bardo manages to span genres in a seamless and thoroughly enjoyable manner.
Bardo was born in Italy but moved to Manchester. Name-checked as an influence too is the legendary Lucio Battisti. Her Italian roots come to the fore in a brief spoken section of the song that adds a certain element of nostalgia and sadness. The chorus is infused with this sense of yearning and, antithetically, hope.
“I was in a relationship that didn’t work for me. I felt like I lost my inspiration—There was no colour in my life. I started to think, ‘Is this how I want my life to be? Is my life over at 24? Is this really the way I want to be loved?’ So I started to write about the way I see love. I’ve always wanted to feel special for someone, I’ve always wanted a fiery and intense, passionate love. And eventually I got it.”
The single is off Bardot’s forthcoming EP entitled ‘Phase’ to be released on 6 March 2020 via Wichita Records.
This is an indie delight: danceable and melancholic and very cool. Of the video, Bardot says:
“In the video, I impersonate an older version of myself — a more mature woman, almost like a retired film star from the ’60s, who’s been waiting her whole life for something to happen, for love to come” she comments. “The video is about this never-ending wait — waiting for something to end, waiting for something to start, waiting for someone to come home, for a phone call, for someone who’s going to love me.”
The single is available through Wichita Records and you can get this and pre-order the EP here. You can catch Bardo on tour in February and March, with some supports for the magnificent The Oreilles (whose Henry Carlyle helped co-produce ‘Phase’):
Julia Bardo Live Dates:
2/27 – Stoke, UK @ The Sugarmill *
3/01 – Brighton, UK @ Chalk *
3/02 – Bristol, UK @ SWX *
3/05 – London, UK – Annie Mac presents show @ Shacklewell Arms +
3/08 – Leeds, UK @ Headrow House
3/11 – Manchester, UK @ YES
3/12 – Derby, UK @ The Venue
3/13 – Liverpool, UK @ Studio 2
3/14 – York, UK @ Fulford Arms
3/19 – London, UK @ Pin Ups
3/21 – Sheffield, UK @ Delicious Clam
3/28 – Halifax, UK @ Orange Box
* w/ The Orielles
