For Julia Davo, all the world really is a stage. From her early roots in theater, to busking in Brooklyn, to taking the stage at American Idol, where Lionel Richie said she reminded him of an early Lady Gaga, everything Julia does is over the top—and that’s exactly how she likes it. Her latest single, “Muse,” is just another example of that, with her Kate Bush and MARINA-inspired vocals wrapped up in a ball of optimistic energy that can only be described as signature Davo.
“I was always kind of a theater kid,” Julia says. “I like over the top, I like the theatrics, I like to tell a story, make a statement. Not even just through lyrics, but through tempo, volume, movement, fashion.”
For Julia, it all dates back to these theatrical roots, which can be seen in the early threads of her career, tying together her outlandish skits and powerhouse bravado, embracing the mishaps and chaos that make the moment special. What originated as performing on the streets of Brooklyn can now be seen everywhere from her live performances, her social media, and even the stage. The beauty of it all, she says, is in the imperfection. In taking that shapeshifting versatility, and her unapologetic edge, to, as she says, comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. It’s about the rawness that comes from experimentation and living in the moment.
“I know the feeling of a full production, a head mic, a spotlight, a costume, maybe even a wig. Busking taught me how to perform without the bells and whistles. To perform in the midst of chaos. And sometimes those performances are the most raw and impactful.”
New York born and raised, Julia Davo eventually moved to Los Angeles, where she currently resides. And although she confesses that transitioning from street performances to platforms like TikTok was initially difficult, you’d never know it by the way her fanbase responds to videos like the viral “Media,” which had fans around the world resonating with the idea of being a “freak”, “geek”, and “girl on the stair.”
@juliadavo Replying to @BigYellowBonnet #juliadavo #media #marina #davidbowie #katebush #socialmedia
And I suppose this is what I appreciate so much about Davo and her music. So often, being an independent musician can feel fraught with decision, like you’re one wrong move away from losing everything (or one right move away from earning it all) but for Davo’s part, she embraces everything as one big experiment, and I think that’s what’s allowed her to grow at the pace she has, to find her sound and her fanbase, and to, honestly, just have a ball doing it.
“It’s cool to have people watch me experiment,” she says. “The people who like my music are so great, and they just understand. I don’t have to change a thing about myself, and neither do they.”
I have to believe this is what’s led to her success. Whether she’s performing for a few people or a few thousand, she still shows up as the same Julia Davo, each and every time. It’s something we can all take away, I think—that relentless passion, the putting yourself out there and daring to fail. To live in the experiment of it all, and simply play with the way it all takes shape. It’s living art, and it’s what makes this whole thing so exciting in a world quickly becoming consumed by cookie cutter posts and emotionless AI.
You can follow Julia and keep up with her upcoming EP at:
