Australian songwriter Julia Jacklin has released her new studio album The Gem, out now via 4AD / Remote Control Records.
The 10 track album was produced by Jacklin and Robert Muinos and recorded entirely in Melbourne at Rat Shack between December 2024 and December 2025. Muinos engineered and mixed the record, with Jordan Power handling mastering and Anne Taegert completing the vinyl mastering.
The album takes its name from The Gem, a bar in Collingwood that Jacklin discovered after moving from Sydney to Melbourne in 2017. The venue became closely connected to the making of the record, with Rat Shack located in converted hotel room accommodation above the pub.
Jacklin recorded the album with Jacob Diamond on guitar, Mimi Gilbert on bass and Jess Elwood on drums. The sessions took place in close quarters, with the residential setting placing limitations on when they could record. The band also played two unannounced shows at The Gem to try out the songs before recording them.
What was initially expected to take two weeks instead developed into nearly a year of recording and tinkering. Jacklin describes The Gem as a metaphor for the process, saying she felt she was working “almost in the dark” and trusting she would find something.
At the centre of the album is the tension Jacklin describes between wanting to love and be loved while also wanting to be free. The record includes ‘If I Had The Hand Of God’, written about a surreal trip to Nashville and reflecting on the life of a touring musician and the importance, or unimportance, of legacy.
The Gem follows Jacklin’s previous albums Don’t Let The Kids Win, released in 2016, Crushing, released in 2019, and PRE PLEASURE, released in 2022.
The album features 10 tracks: ‘Brand New’, ‘God Sometimes’, ‘If I Had The Hand Of God’, ‘The Hardest Thing’, ‘Angel Vision’, ‘Real Life’, ‘Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)’, ‘You Turned On The Tap’, ‘Walk On Me’ and ‘I Wish’ featuring The Maes.
To celebrate the release, Jacklin returns to The Gem for three sold out intimate shows this weekend, joined by Jacob Diamond, Jennifer Aslett, Jess Ellwood and Rob Muinos. Each show will feature two sets, beginning with covers before a set of original songs.
The Gem is available digitally, on CD, cassette and vinyl, including exclusive colour editions in Turquoise, Green Opal, Ruby and Rose Quartz.
The Gem is out now via 4AD / Remote Control Records.
Purchase / Stream The Gem: https://juliajacklin.ffm.to/thegem
|
