Julia Adrian Embraces the New Era of Pop With “What’s the Harm?”

Julia Adrian is leaning fully into true-to-form pop with her upcoming single, “What’s the Harm?” and nailing it. A Boston native turned Nashville small artist, Julia has been creating her new sound with influences like Chappell Roan, Taylor Swift, and Sabrina Carpenter.

Previously dabbling in indie, jazzy, even R&B territory, she’s making a bold and refreshing pivot toward full-on pop. This shift feels authentic, exciting, and perfectly timed. Like her aforementioned pop contemporaries, Julia embraces this new wave of synthy production, cheeky vocals, and a hint of country twang. She is really proving she’s ready to play in the same league while still keeping her own style intact.

As she puts it, the song radiates delusional confidence in the best way. Fresh from a breakup, she shrugs off the pain with lines like, “Looking away must feel like divorce / because you’re married to my attention” and the obvious rationalisation, “I’m moving on either way / what’s the harm?” If imagining her ex suffering without her makes it easier to move on, then what’s the harm?

Production-wise, Julia really highlights the smaller details: playful background asides in the pre-chorus, twangy guitar slides, sparkly “dings,” clever talk-singing, and a bridge that bursts into scream-sung catharsis. It creates a great dynamic through the song that keeps listeners engaged. The euphoric electric guitar solo closes it out beautifully, leading into a cheeky, glittery final “what’s the harm?” that truly encapsulates the sound of it all.

Pop is evolving, blending country, indie, and bold choices. Julia Adrian is a great example of how fresh and fun that fusion can be. “What’s the Harm?” drops August 15th, 2025, so give it a listen.

Images: Julia Adrian

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