Track of the Day: Julia Kate – fake friends (2025)

Inspired by the likes of Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Lana Del Rey, singer-songwriter Julia Kate presents a modern-day take on pop; however, this is not all there is to Kate. Drawing on love of Blondie’s Debbie Harry – she has a poster of the group on her wall – Kate leans toward the 80s pop/new wave scene. Breathing life into whispers of yesteryear, but with the edgy rush of modern-day music, the US-based musician weaves old and new in a nostalgic but fresh style. The latest addition to her discography is the single ‘fake friends’.

Following her well-received 2024 single ‘beverly hills’, Julia Kate saunters into 2025 with her song, ‘fake friends’. Recorded and produced in Los Angeles with producer/co-writer Nick Rosen, ‘fake friends’ glides from the smoother ‘beverly hills’ to a pulsating slick of synth-pop, electronic pop and new wave bound in an indie-pop wrapper. While drawing on the sounds of Blondie and The Bangles, ‘fake friends’ presents as one of those trendy songs you hear on popular radio stations… then turn it on full-volume while driving much to your delight and the chagrin of stuffy neighbours.

For me, ‘fake friends’ is a smile-inducing concoction of shimmering synths, pulsating beats, and Kate’s sugary-sweet vocals. Toe-tapping and laidback, you can twirl about on Cloud 9 with ‘fake friends’; however, just as there is vintage Britney Spears poppiness, a darker, heavier and more profound edge lingers beneath. Kate’s dulcet tones flit between jovial and gritty perfectly aligning with the duality of its timeless theme – the complexities of having “fake friends”. Vulnerable fragility locked in abrasive discontent, Kate explains:

“…the lyrics are very much a reflection of our social media obsessed world in 2025. With the rise of social media, almost everyone my age (20) has a friend that is kind to your face but speaks poorly of you behind your back…”

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In addition to the single, Julia Kate released an official music video for ‘fake friends’. You can view the video below and on her YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses effects that can trigger migraines and/or seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Find out more about Julia Kate on her official website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator

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Listen to more indie-pop music on The Other Side Reviews Indie Pop playlist: