JULIA MICHAELS: POP MUSIC'S SECRET WEAPON

What does Justin Bieber's "Sorry", Selena Gomez's "Hands To Myself" and "Love Myself" by Hailee Steinfeld all have in common? That would be Julia Michaels who co-wrote these top 40 hits as well as having a hand at creating music for other pop acts currently on the charts like Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Fifth Harmony, Gwen Stefani, John Legend and Britney Spears, just to name a few. While this only twenty-three year old prolific songwriter has amassed a large number of songs that have shaped the pop music landscape, Michaels is also a singer but has been reluctant to put herself out there as a performer. She has displayed a little bit of what she can do when Michaels, along with Norwegian DJ, Kygo, sang during the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

She has now decided to push herself further by just releasing her first single, "Issues". Michaels felt this was the first song she wrote that sounded like herself and couldn't bear to give it to another artist. With production assistance from fellow hit makers, Benny Blanco and Stargate, it's no surprise this tune is catchy. But it's clear from Michaels' vocals on this track that all the singers that have covered her songs clearly used her breathy delivery as a guide on how to perform them. No date is set for her debut album but I think you will be hearing a lot about Julia Michaels, the singer throughout the rest of the year.