Sarah Julia – Therapist’s Daughter

The sister duo of Sarah Julia shares the final single ahead of their highly anticipated debut album, The Fear That is Real, with the warm yet melancholic “Therapist’s Daughter.”

Starry-eyed chords of inquiry give way to raw intimacy and confessional style lyricism reminiscent of Blue-era Joni Mitchell. As the daughters of a therapist, the duo brings a witty, personal edge to the narrative. The crystalline melodies, wrapped in intricate harmony, make this a true standout on the full-length.

Their debut album is pockmarked with heartbreak, longing, hope, and pain. The sisters approach each with self-awareness, gazing inward and outward with magnetic intensity. Together with producer Phil Weinrobe (Big Thief, Adrienne Lenker, Florist, Sam Evian), at his studio in Woodstock, NY, Sarah Julia drew inspiration from a town known for a rich history of timeless songwriting. Inspired by some of the greatest songwriters, they soaked up the energy and even captured album visuals at the famed Big Pink House, which immortalized Bob Dylan and The Band.

“Therapist’s Daughter” follows the delicate “Wishing Stone,” which received high praise from John Mayer on his SiriusXM show, saying, “…it’s one of those tunes I’m going to run and figure out how to play. It’s gorgeous, stunning, dreamy.” Elsewhere on the album, songs like the angsty “Whatever It Takes (Break Your Heart),” the spellbinding “Bigger Picture,” and the intimate “Conversation,” make The Fear That This is Real an instant classic.

Over six days in the Fall of 2025, they tracked the record live with a small group of musicians, with producer Phil Weinrobe at the helm. They often played late into the night by candlelight. Weinrobes’ communal, headphones-off approach allowed the sisters to channel deeper feelings from the gut. It was different from anything the sisters had previously experienced. There was no time to mind any fear.

Surprisingly, music wasn’t their first artistic pursuit – both sisters grew up in theater. “It took us quite a long time to figure out we should be making music together,” says Sarah. “We were used to having a script–” “and telling other people’s stories,” agrees Julia, finishing her sister’s sentence, as they frequently do. Once they tried songwriting, it soon became a shared language. “It feels easy to be upfront when we write,” Sarah says, noting that Dutch people are known for their bluntness. “And then as sisters, we’re able to say everything to each other, that’s our bond and our connection.”

Sarah and Julia both describe the process of recording The Fear That This Is Real as grounding, giving them a glimpse of life’s bigger picture. The result sounds like an unburdening, as if the ensemble and environment allowed this music to exhale, to indulge in contemplation. The arrangements unfurl into places both spacious and sparse, sonically and emotionally. Throughout the album, phrases recur like mantras. “Open up your eyes,” “Everything’s temporary,” “What really matters?” The latter question is posed on the clear-eyed “Bigger Picture.” The Fear That This Is Real offers a reassuring hand to step into the unknown, together.

Sarah Julia are also excited to return to the US supporting Mon Rovia next month, followed by their first UK/EU headline tour! The US dates kick off on September 15th in New York City, taking them through Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and more, concluding in Seattle, WA on October 13th. In November, the girls launch their UK/EU headline run of shows in Glasgow on November 14th, finishing on December 5th with a special hometown show in Amsterdam.

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