Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin has announced her fourth studio album, The Gem, will be released on 25 September. The album is her first on the iconic independent label 4AD and is accompanied by the lead single, ‘Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)’, a track that premiered on triple j radio.
The new single marks a sonic departure for Jacklin, embracing an eighties jangle-rock feel that pays homage to the Melbourne sound she fell in love with after moving to the city. The accompanying visualiser, directed by Jacklin herself, captures the song's playful and energetic spirit. It is a vibrant introduction to a new chapter for the artist, whose previous albums, Don’t Let The Kids Win (2016), Crushing (2019), and PRE PLEASURE (2022), established her as one of Australia’s most vital and acclaimed songwriters, celebrated for her piercing lyricism and raw emotional honesty.
This new project is underpinned by a central, deeply personal theme, which Jacklin articulates as a fundamental conflict in her life.
A return to Melbourne roots
The album’s title, The Gem, is a direct reference to a small back-street pub in Collingwood, Melbourne. When Jacklin moved from Sydney to Melbourne in 2017, she found herself drawn to the unpretentious bar, where bands would simply push aside dining tables to perform on the floor. It was here, in this unfamiliar city, that she began to build a new home and a new community, forcing herself out of her comfort zone and into the local music scene.
Eight years later, with three celebrated records to her name, Jacklin found herself at a professional crossroads. Out of contract with her record label and looking for a new manager, she decided to make her fourth album entirely at home in Melbourne, something she had never done before. This decision allowed for a more organic and unhurried creative process, driven by instinct and friendship rather than industry deadlines. Similar pressures are facing the wider industry, as New Zealand music festivals disappear.
The Gem's unique recording process
To bring the album to life, Jacklin enlisted old friends and collaborators. She called on Robert Muinos, an old drinking buddy who owns Rat Shack studios, located directly above The Gem pub. The band was completed by Jacob Diamond on guitar, Mimi Gilbert on bass, and Jess Elwood on drums, with Jacklin and Muinos co-producing the record.
The recording sessions took place in the close quarters of a converted hotel room above the pub, a setting that came with what Jacklin calls “glorious constraints.” The sounds of the building, from foot traffic to a neighbouring hairdresser and tattoo parlour, to the bands and kitchen crew downstairs, all became part of the environment. Instead of fighting the noise, the band embraced it. If they needed a break, they would simply head downstairs to watch another band play. They even workshopped the new songs by playing two unannounced shows at the pub before committing them to tape.
Initially, Jacklin expected to finish the record in two weeks, her usual rapid pace. Instead, the process stretched to nearly a year of tinkering, digging, and refining. The extended timeline allowed the songs to evolve naturally, free from external pressure.
The Gem felt like a metaphor for the whole process, because a lot of it did feel like digging. I felt like I was doing it almost in the dark, just trusting I was going to find something.
The result is a soaring document of a songwriter’s journey back to herself, an album built on excavation, reinvention, and trust. The deep bond forged during the recording was commemorated on the final day of sessions when the entire band got matching tattoos of a small circle, representing an opal, Jacklin’s favourite gemstone. Fittingly, the tattoos were done by one of the bartenders from The Gem.
New music and upcoming tours
The Gem features 10 new tracks, including a collaboration with folk duo The Maes on the closing song, ‘I Wish’. The album will be available digitally and in a variety of physical formats, including CD, cassette, and standard black vinyl. A range of exclusive coloured vinyl editions will also be available through select retailers, including Turquoise, Green Opal, Ruby, and a Rose Quartz edition exclusive to JB Hi-Fi.
In two weeks, Jacklin will embark on a solo tour of independent record stores across the UK and Ireland, giving fans an intimate first opportunity to hear the new songs performed live. Following the album’s release, she will launch a full-band tour of North America, the UK, and Europe, beginning in October 2026 and continuing throughout 2027.
While dates for Australia and New Zealand are yet to be announced, fans can stay updated on future shows through her official website. The extensive international tour marks a welcome return to the road for the celebrated performer, whose live shows are as captivating as her records.
