Julia Mendes is a songwriter from New Jersey who released her debut EP, The Park, last month. It features songs that were mostly recorded from her bedroom, including the single, “Plastic on the Loveseat”.
It’s a gorgeous and sparse slice of folk rock, with a piercing and gentle intimacy that features haunting vocals and arrangements that channel some of the biggest titans of the genre.
Speaking on the song’s inspiration, Mendes adds:
This song was inspired by a few things:
The quote, “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.” I’d heard this quote many times over the years, usually used in the context of scrutinizing the millennial/gen-z condition. I only learned recently that it’s from a novel by the author G. Michael Hopf. While my relatives didn’t actually cover their furniture with plastic, the metaphor stands. I wonder if my relatives would have take more risks, or would have been more interested in the arts or other hobbies, if they had the opportunity to explore a bit more.
The episode of “How to with John Wilson” called “How to Cover Your Furniture.” The minute the image of the plastic slip covered sofa came on screen, I had my title and began shaping the song around it.
You can stream the single below and find the entire EP available to stream + buy at Bandcamp.
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