By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Melbourne, Australia. In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary indie music, few artists possess the ability to bridge the gap between stark, modern vulnerability and the sun-drenched sentimentality of the past quite like Julia Jacklin. The Australian singer-songwriter, known for her piercingly honest lyricism and crystalline vocal delivery, recently stepped into the studios of Triple J to participate in the long-running "Like A Version" series. Her choice of material, however, took many listeners by surprise, as she reached back into the late 1990s to cover Sugar Ray’s 1999 smash hit, "Every Morning." While the original track is often associated with the breezy, frosted-tipped optimism of the Mark McGrath era, Jacklin’s rendition transforms the song into something deeply personal, serving as a prelude to her highly anticipated upcoming album, The Gem.
The decision to cover Sugar Ray is a testament to the enduring cultural footprint of the millennial upbringing. For many who came of age during the turn of the millennium, the blend of alternative rock, pop-sensibilities, and light hip-hop influences championed by bands like Sugar Ray formed the sonic wallpaper of their childhood. Though Sugar Ray has not seen a chart-topping hit in a quarter of a century, their presence remains indelible in the collective memory of a generation. Jacklin, a quintessential voice of her demographic, approached the cover not with irony or kitsch, but with a profound sense of reverence and emotional continuity.
In her discussion regarding the track, Jacklin revealed a deep-seated connection to the song that dates back to her earliest years. She described the process of performing the song as a form of temporal bridge-building, an opportunity to commune with her younger self. "I’ve liked it since I was a little kid," Jacklin remarked, explaining that she views such musical explorations as a way to maintain a connection to the source of her creative identity. The performance, she noted, felt like a duet across time—a collaboration between the seasoned artist she is today and the child she was when the song first dominated the airwaves. This sense of gratitude and vitality is what drew her to the track, noting that the "spirited" nature of the composition makes her feel profoundly connected to the "source of life."
Musically, Jacklin’s version of "Every Morning" departs from the upbeat, acoustic-guitar-driven tempo of the original. Instead, she leans into a downtempo, atmospheric arrangement that highlights the underlying melancholy often overlooked in the 1999 version. By slowing the cadence and allowing her voice to linger on the melodic hooks, Jacklin unearths a layer of yearning that recontextualizes the lyrics. It is a hallmark of her artistry: the ability to take a familiar piece of pop culture and strip it down to its emotional marrow. The performance showcased her band’s tight yet understated chemistry, providing a glimpse into the collaborative energy that defined the recording of her forthcoming record.
The timing of this cover is significant, as Jacklin is currently preparing for the release of her next full-length studio album, The Gem. Scheduled to drop on September 25, the album marks a major milestone in her career as it will be her debut release under the prestigious 4AD label. Known for hosting legendary acts such as Cocteau Twins, The National, and Big Thief, 4AD is a fitting home for an artist of Jacklin’s caliber. The move to a new label often signals a period of creative growth and expanded horizons, and The Gem is expected to be her most ambitious project to date.
The title of the album itself, The Gem, carries a local significance that grounds the project in Jacklin’s current reality. Named after a beloved pub in Melbourne, the title reflects the communal and grounded environment in which the music was conceived. Jacklin recorded the LP at the pub with her band, opting for a setting that prioritized comfort, familiarity, and a sense of place over the sterile confines of a traditional high-end studio. This choice suggests that the album will lean into the raw, live-band energy that has become a staple of Jacklin’s recent tours, moving away from the more solitary folk-leanings of her debut, Don’t Let the Kids Win.
To understand the weight of Jacklin’s current trajectory, one must look at the path she has carved through the indie music scene over the last decade. Since her emergence, she has been celebrated for her ability to articulate the complexities of intimacy, autonomy, and the transition into adulthood. Her 2019 album, Crushing, was a critical triumph that dealt with the aftermath of a breakup and the reclamation of one’s physical space. It established her as a premier songwriter capable of turning the mundane details of daily life into profound universal truths. Following that with the nuanced and sonically diverse Pre Pleasure in 2022, Jacklin proved she was not afraid to experiment with more expansive arrangements and pop-forward textures.
The inclusion of the Sugar Ray cover in her current press cycle serves as a reminder that Jacklin’s influences are as broad as they are deep. While her own music often draws comparisons to the likes of Angel Olsen or Sharon Van Etten, her appreciation for the "spirited" pop-rock of the late 90s suggests a lack of pretension that is refreshing in the indie world. It highlights a broader trend among millennial artists who are reclaiming the music of their youth—music that was once dismissed by critics as "disposable" pop—and finding within it a genuine source of joy and inspiration.
As the release date for The Gem approaches, the anticipation within the music community continues to build. The album represents not just a new collection of songs, but a new chapter in Jacklin’s evolution as a performer. By recording in a Melbourne pub, she has embraced a "local-first" philosophy that contrasts with the global reach of her new label. This duality—being an Australian artist rooted in her local scene while simultaneously operating on one of the world’s most influential independent stages—is a balance Jacklin navigates with grace.
The Triple J performance of "Every Morning" will likely stand as a highlight of the year’s "Like A Version" installments. It captured a moment of pure musical synergy, where the past and present collided to create something entirely new. For fans of Sugar Ray, it was a nostalgic trip; for fans of Julia Jacklin, it was a masterful display of her interpretive skills. More importantly, it served as a spiritual palate cleanser before the arrival of The Gem.
In the weeks leading up to September 25, Jacklin is expected to share more insights into the making of the new album. If the Sugar Ray cover is any indication, listeners can expect a record that is both grounded in the realities of the present and deeply cognizant of the influences that shaped her. Whether she is singing about the intricacies of modern relationships or the simple gratitude of being alive, Jacklin remains a vital voice in the contemporary landscape.
As the music industry continues to grapple with the fast-paced nature of digital consumption, artists like Julia Jacklin remind us of the power of slowing down. Her downtempo reimagining of a radio staple encourages the listener to take a second look at the familiar, to find the "source of life" in the unexpected, and to appreciate the continuity of the human experience through song. With The Gem on the horizon, Jacklin is poised to continue her ascent, carrying with her the lessons of her younger self and the spirited energy of the Melbourne streets where her new music was born. The countdown to September 25 has begun, and if this latest performance is any indicator, the wait will be well worth it for those seeking music that speaks to the heart, the memory, and the soul.
