“I’m Not Going To Wallow... I’m Going To Look At All The Possibilities”: JULIANGK Talks New Single “Waves Of Change”

7 hours ago
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A photo of JulianGK sitting by a brick wall, next to the title of his new single, "Waves of Change" — [photo: JulianGK]

Blending high energy with toe-tappingly catchy riffs, JULIANGK is carving out his own space in the music scene. Born in Costa Rica, Julian spent time with bands throughout LA and across the United States, moving to London afterwards. 2024 marked the debut of Julian's solo project, which carries on into the new year with his latest single, "Waves of Change".

The single marks the first tease of Julian's upcoming 2026 releases, signaling a bolder, stronger direction for the project. After reaching out to me, I was keen to talk to Julian and find out about the release, the story behind it, and what we can expect over the next 12 months.

R: Hi, great to have you on the page! How have you been?

J: Doing great! It’s been a crazy few months for me. Loads of changes in my life, which feels really positive, to be honest. Thanks for asking.

You've recently released your latest single "Waves of Change". What was the writing process like?

A big change in my life was announced to me in September 2025. After three years, I was being made redundant from a job. The day I got the news, I got this feeling that took over my body and mind.

It reminded me of my time surfing where I grew up, in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica. The waves there can be up to ten feet at times, and they are super heavy. You can drown. It can be, and it is, dangerous. When you get swept up by one of the big ones, you hold on for dear life. When that passes, you know there’s never just one wave, so you expect a second one. When you are between the wave that just passed and a new nine foot wall of white water, you go into this survival mode, where you can’t even complain about the wave that’s coming. You just do whatever you must to get through the next one.

"At the time, all I cared about was writing songs and playing as many gigs as I could"

When learning about my change in circumstances I thought… Alright, I’m not going to wallow about this. I’m just going to look at all the possibilities and opportunities around me and take as many actions as I can. "Waves of Change" was my attempt to put that emotion into sound.

Single artwork for "Waves of Change" by JulianGK — "Waves of Change" is out now [photo: JulianGK]

There's a distinct pop punk sound to the track - were there any bands that stood out to you as direct influences?

For this one, I based the lead guitar riff off of a song by The Bronx called "Side Effects". I love the way they do this super energetic and aggressive punk but still manage to make it rock'n'roll and very melodic. I have been on a quest to blend my two loves for punk rock, that aggressiveness of new punk bands like The Bronx and Turnstile, mixed with the poppy songwriting done by bands like The Descendants, Social Distortion and Green Day.

This year also marks 10 years since you moved to London. How have you developed as a musician in this time?

I moved here in March 2016. At the time, all I cared about was writing songs and playing as many gigs as I could. Everything else in life fell by the wayside. Over time, I have learned that there is more to being a musician than just the writing and the playing shows. I have also learned that having a fulfilling life outside of music is also important to feed your creativity. Spending time with friends and family, fun activities (like almost drowning in the Pacific Ocean), seeking business endeavors, all make you a better musician in one way or another.

"I have been on a quest to blend my two loves for punk rock, that aggressiveness mixed with poppy songwriting"

This is your third release, and you've already started teasing more in the pipeline. What can audiences expect throughout the year?

I have two new singles coming out after this one. The next two, Here Goes Nothin and Terra Firma are produced by Alex Copp, who’s worked with bands like As December Falls and Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes. He really managed to take my songs to the next level. I’m really stoked on the direction those songs are taking.

Those songs are, in my eyes, a better blend of those two genres I was talking about earlier. I’m getting to that sweet spot I envision.

And lastly, describe "Waves of Change" in three words.

Optimistic, powerful, fierce.