Best New Music: Julie Hill “Be Well”

Despite being still hot off her sophomore album, 2024’s glow serene, Brooklyn-based artist Julie Hill isn’t stopping anytime soon based on the release of her latest single, “Be Well.” Hill, who has made a habit of looking inward in her songwriting while holding her own as a producer, has zeroed in on growth for “Be Well,” which explores how she keeps herself well through the years.

“The last few years really taught me how important it is to find community, how important it is to communicate and connect with the ones you care about,” said Hill. “‘Be Well’ is about self-growth, and how being kind is being human.”

At first, the single flutters with jittery glitches reminiscent of an old Windows XP booting up, before it finds its footing and allows Hill to come into the fray, serving as a guiding light through the evolving electronic production. But what’s most impressive about “Be Well” is how the instrumental complements the songwriting throughout the runtime.

When Hill sings lyrics like “I’m looking deeper into myself,” the drum loops and jolts from the synths follow along, whether it’s bursting with excitement via electric guitar during the cathartic chorus or settling into a perfect harmony devoid of abrasive energy underneath the vocals.

“The song speaks to the mental/emotional challenges (anxiety, stress from work, or something else) that everyone deals with and about how being well means grounding yourself from the inside,” said Hill. While that is certainly true, “Be Well” also doubles as proof of her mastery over all things synth music in an incomparable single.

Visit Julie Hill on Instagram and her Bandcamp to stay updated on new releases and tour dates.

Listen to “Be Well” the new single from Julie Hill below!