Singer/songwriters tend to be a dime a dozen these days. They range from the earnest wannabes that think they can change the world to the shy introverted ones who cautiously go about their craft, always softly treading in self doubt but at the same time driven by that urge to create, emote and tell stories through music.

Where does Sydney’s JuliaWhy? fit into all this? She seems to inhabit that part of a songwriters life where they have been writing songs for quite a while, gradually building their confidence. Once they’ve taken that step and musically exposed themselves before an audience the fires burn brighter and they start to see a reality appearing before them where their bedroom musings are appreciated in the public domain. The journey has really begun.

At Kings Cross’ World Bar JuliaWhy? stands solo with guitar, sometimes strumming, sometimes picking out traditional folk styled melodies while over the top she pitches her voice high and digs deep with songs about love, observations on human emotions and the frailties we encounter daily. You can hear 90s indie influences tinged with more classic styles. She delivers her songs with gentle pacing, never falling into the trap of nervous acceleration. The songs are there, especially the newer ones she tells us have only just been written. They show a more settled and flowing form to her music and with the prospect of Julia putting together a live band you can imagine the songs shuffling and blinking into the light with even greater impact. The key will be to retain that vulnerable side the she so successfully weaves into her songs.

The following week Julia expands on her plans to flesh out her sound with other musicians, “I think a band would add a lot more depth to the songs I’ve already got. Plus being in a band is so much more fun! I’m hoping it’ll give  me the confidence to let loose on stage with that alter ego of mine that has been kept in the dark too long. I’m writing songs now that are much more suited to a band I think but I will always play solo as well,” she says.

Playing with others is just another stage in the development of her writing which has changed a lot since her earliest efforts. “I think my song writing has changed a lot because over time I’ve had more and more experiences. I moved cities and travelled overseas so I’ve met heaps of different people and been exposed to different ways of life. I’ve also learned to appreciate music that’s a lot more intelligent than the stuff I used to listen to when I was young. The songs I wrote when I was younger were so innocent and naive (and cringe-worthy!). Since then I’ve grown up- so I think that’s influenced my songs a lot,” she admits.

Some artists can conjure up musical inspirations but Julia lets the muse find her when the time is right. “ I never actively search out inspiration. I’ve tried but it never works. I can never just say to myself ” Ok today I will write a song.” Instead it just kind of happens – I feel something and that puts me in a certain “songwriting mood”. I might get angry about something I read in the news, I meet someone inspiring, I fall in love, I have a psychedelic dream and all these things bring images into my mind that create metaphors that I use in my songs. I can’t control it which can actually be kind of frustrating – sometimes I won’t write a song for months and then in one week I might write 5 songs- depending on what’s going on in my life.”

Catch JuliaWhy? playing around town over the coming months and I recommend you check out demos of her lilting indie folk songs at MYSPACE.