Though she might not be the most obvious influence when you listen to Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin's wry, folk-tinged indie rock tunes, "spiritual guide" Céline Dion apparently played a huge role in the rising artist's new album.
In a new interview with Consequence, Jacklin expanded on her previous citations of the Canadian icon as a preeminent inspiration for PRE PLEASURE — her third studio album, out tomorrow (August 26) — which she recorded with her regular cast of Canada-based touring musicians (including Ben Whiteley and Will Kidman of the Weather Station) in Montreal. When in Montreal... one's heart simply must go on?
"Well, I think it's not so much a sonic inspiration as much as a psychological one," the Aussie told Jonah Krueger of her Dion allegiance. "It's more about not taking myself so seriously and not feeling so trapped by the indie rock world of cool, which can feel very suffocating."
Jacklin continued:
I think Céline is less in the sonic texture of the record and more about having fun and embracing how much I love singing and melody, even in the orchestral moments, and having chimes on the record. Things that maybe in the past I'd be like, "But is it cool?" It just helped me to open up just a little bit and have fun with the process. She's more of a spiritual guide, not really influencing the production of it.
And Céline Dion is really… I feel like it's a bit of a personality test for me now. If someone is shit-talking Céline Dion, I'm like, "What do you find joy in?" I'm not saying everyone has to like Céline Dion, but it's so easy to not take that kind of artist seriously. But they are so beloved and they obviously are doing something that really connects with people, and that is so valuable.
I don't know, it was kind of a beautiful little thread during the recording process as well, because half the crew in the studio were French-Canadian, so they were more familiar with her French music. Laurie, who plays drums, is a big Céline fan and she was showing me her early French songs, and when we had finished tracking, we went to [Céline Dion's] deli. It was just a nice, positive thing, especially while making an emotional indie rock record.
And who better than Dion, who is continuing to recover from severe and persistent muscle spasms after cancelling 2022 North American tour dates to focus on her health, to get you in touch with your inner power balladeer? In sum: it's all coming back to Jacklin now.
PRE PLEASURE follows 2019's Crushing and 2016's Don't Let the Kids Win.
In a new interview with Consequence, Jacklin expanded on her previous citations of the Canadian icon as a preeminent inspiration for PRE PLEASURE — her third studio album, out tomorrow (August 26) — which she recorded with her regular cast of Canada-based touring musicians (including Ben Whiteley and Will Kidman of the Weather Station) in Montreal. When in Montreal... one's heart simply must go on?
"Well, I think it's not so much a sonic inspiration as much as a psychological one," the Aussie told Jonah Krueger of her Dion allegiance. "It's more about not taking myself so seriously and not feeling so trapped by the indie rock world of cool, which can feel very suffocating."
Jacklin continued:
I think Céline is less in the sonic texture of the record and more about having fun and embracing how much I love singing and melody, even in the orchestral moments, and having chimes on the record. Things that maybe in the past I'd be like, "But is it cool?" It just helped me to open up just a little bit and have fun with the process. She's more of a spiritual guide, not really influencing the production of it.
And Céline Dion is really… I feel like it's a bit of a personality test for me now. If someone is shit-talking Céline Dion, I'm like, "What do you find joy in?" I'm not saying everyone has to like Céline Dion, but it's so easy to not take that kind of artist seriously. But they are so beloved and they obviously are doing something that really connects with people, and that is so valuable.
I don't know, it was kind of a beautiful little thread during the recording process as well, because half the crew in the studio were French-Canadian, so they were more familiar with her French music. Laurie, who plays drums, is a big Céline fan and she was showing me her early French songs, and when we had finished tracking, we went to [Céline Dion's] deli. It was just a nice, positive thing, especially while making an emotional indie rock record.
And who better than Dion, who is continuing to recover from severe and persistent muscle spasms after cancelling 2022 North American tour dates to focus on her health, to get you in touch with your inner power balladeer? In sum: it's all coming back to Jacklin now.
PRE PLEASURE follows 2019's Crushing and 2016's Don't Let the Kids Win.
