Australian-Chinese singer Julia Wu studied classical piano from a young age, before discovering jazz and pop music in secondary school. Influenced by Western divas such as Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, she wanted to master their elaborate vocal runs and decided to become a singer.
After deciding to pursue a singing career, Wu's family encouraged her to take part in talent competitions such as The X Factor. She said: “At first, I think they [my parents] still hoped I would continue down the classical music path. But later, they realised that I genuinely loved singing and gradually came to accept it.”
Much of Wu's music in recent years has involved collaborations with other musicians. In January, she released the new song “Night Drive” with Japanese musician STUTS and Thai singer Phum Viphurit, and in February, she and STUTS released the EP “With U”. She said that although her collaborators came from different cultural backgrounds, there was little difference when it came to the creative process. “We are all there for the music, so once we begin creating, it is as though we enter the same musical world. You forget the language and other external differences, and focus only on the song itself.”
She added with a laugh: “I think musicians all work in similar ways. We all procrastinate a little and often submit our files quite late.” Still, she believes musicians remain highly professional. “When it is time to deliver, everyone does, and the finished product often exceeds my expectations.”
Four songs completed in five days
Recounting the process of making the EP with STUTS, Wu said they had previously collaborated on a song included on his album. She was later invited by STUTS to perform in Japan several times, and the pair remained friends. This year, they deliberately set aside a week, with Wu flying to Tokyo to complete the EP's four songs in five days.
She recalled that during five days in Tokyo, the two spent their days in the recording studio from morning to night. “We probably ate 7-Eleven food most often, because there was a 7-Eleven downstairs. I really love their onigiri — they are convenient and delicious.”
Where does her creative inspiration come from? Wu said the songs on the EP were not necessarily narrative-driven, but were more about capturing the feelings that emerge while listening to music. She said: “One day, STUTS, Daichi [a Japanese rapper] and I were in the studio. The three of us sat together, listening to music while writing down and recording the images that came to mind. Halfway through, we went downstairs to 7-Eleven to buy some food. It was autumn, around sunset, and the sunlight was beautiful. There was an autumn-leaf atmosphere, with shades of red and gold. We wrote these images and details into the lyrics.”
Wu was invited to Singapore in September 2026, where she took part in a live house performance and enjoyed local dishes such as bak kut teh and Hainanese chicken rice. Asked whether there were any local singers she liked or hoped to collaborate with, she said Stefanie Sun and Tanya Chua were her favourites. “They are both such iconic singers. I have listened to their music for many years and have always liked them. It would be wonderful if I had the chance to collaborate with them one day. It is definitely on my wish list.”
However, she has yet to attend either singer's concert, which she finds regrettable. She is especially fond of Tanya Chua's “Parabola” (《抛物线》). As for Stefanie Sun's songs, she said with a laugh that there are simply too many classics, and they are always among her must-sing choices at karaoke.
