Julius Black

Blending sculpted melodies with enveloping atmosphere, Julius Black sings with a sensitive, tender voice that molds itself to his moody music. Placing equal emphasis on art and pop, he developed his shape-shifting indie pop on a series of singles and EPs early in the 2020s, earning attention for his Dopamine EP and its brooding single "Summer." Over the course of a series of singles and EPs, including 2022's Together We Go Down in the Dark EP and the 2024 single "EYE4EYE," Black steadily sweetened his music.

Spending the first 13 years of his life in Shanghai, Julius Black relocated with his family to Christchurch, New Zealand, in time for his adolescence. At a young age, his father introduced him to the Beatles, sparking an interest in music that extended into studying classical music. Immersing himself in R&B, pop, and hip-hop, Black started writing songs at the age of 17, developing dreams of pursuing a musical career. Initially, he had designs to attend the Berklee College of Music in the United States, yet he changed direction after the onset of COVID-19, choosing to move to Auckland after he turned 18. Settling into his new city, he started writing the material that comprised his debut EP, Dopamine. First collaborating with Ezra Vine, Black developed a bond with Struan Finlay, who became the chief collaborator with the singer/songwriter on Dopamine, helping develop the elastic sound of the 2021 EP.

Black quickly followed with a pair of singles that arrived by the end of 2021: "Do You Still Dream?" and "Boomerang." The two songs were featured on Together We Go Down in the Dark, the EP that was his only release of 2022. Black issued three singles in 2023 -- "Wings," "After You," and "Marionette/House of Cards" -- then launched 2024 with the ballad "EYE4EYE." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine