"Oh, I wish I had help back then/ Oh, I wish I had better friends." That is a truly heavy sentiment, expressed about as directly as it can possibly be. It's the opening line of "I Wish," the devastating new single from the Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin. Get ready for this thing to fuck you up.
It's been about four years since Julia Jacklin released Pre Pleasure, her last album. Last month, Jacklin signed to 4AD and announced a big tour and a new LP called The Gem.
"I Wish" follows "Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)" as the new record's second single, and it's one of the periodic songs that Jacklin writes to her younger self. It's a spare, haunted acoustic-guitar reverie with swirling harmony vocals from Elsie and Maggie Rigby, the two siblings who make up the Australian duo the Maes.
This is honestly just a great song. When I was clicking through possible posts this morning, it stopped me in my tracks. Hear it for yourself below.
The Gem is out 9/25 on 4AD.
